Here's Two Unique 2-Cylinder Tractors

Here's Two Unique 2-Cylinder Tractors AG WORLD Ag World 14-6-20 Hundreds of green and yellow tractors dotted the grounds around the Waterloo, Iowa, airport during the recent "Poppin' Johnny" exposition of antique 2-cyl. Deere tractors produced between 1918 and 1960. Sponsored by Two-Cylinder Worldwide, an international organization of antique tractor collectors, more than 10,000 people showed up to see the 400 tractors on display. It was the second expo of its kind. Thy first was held in 1987 to celebrate Deere & Company's 150th anniversary. Expo III will be held in 1992 at the same site in observance of the 100th anniversary of the Froelich tractor, the first tractor manufactured in Waterloo. Deere later bought the Froelich company. One of the most unusual tractors at the recent expo was a John Deere 60. Although built in 1954, it has less than one hour of use registered on it. Melvin and Annette Warren of Weldon, Iowa, discovered it sitting in a shed in Nebraska several years ago. The original owner had parked it there following a dispute with his tractor dealer over a pair of batteries. During the tractor's 35 years in storage, a tree grew up in front of the shed. The Warrens had to cut down the tree before they could remove the tractor. When pulled outside, the tractor had plenty of air in the rear tires but needed a little air in the front ones. Another unusual entry was displayed by Jack Kreeger, Omaha, Neb. He owns a reconstructed model "Y" which was the predecessor to the John Deere 62. Deere built only 24 "Y" tractors, and they were all scrapped. Kreeger and a friend obtained an original engine and many other original parts. They duplicated the parts they couldn't find. Kreeger obtained photos of the tractor from a former Deere engineer, and the pictures helped him identify parts used in construction of the "Y" model. "There are over 300 hrs. of shop work in the tractor," he notes. Organized in 1984, Two-Cylinder Worldwide now has 16,000 members. Dues are $16 for U.S. memberships and include a subscription to the bi-monthly TWO-CYLINDER magazine. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Two-Cylinder World-wide, P.O. Box 2275, Waterloo, Iowa 50704 (ph 319 232-3402).

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