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Farm Family Sells Oliver Collectibles
"I love Oliver tractors. That's why I started this business," says Jerry McMillan, Bradford, Ohio, who's been doing a booming business for the past two years selling a growing line of Oliver-related memorabilia including a company history "album", limited edition toy tractors, T-shirts, old company literature and shop
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Farm Family Sells Oliver Collectibles AG WORLD Ag World 15-2-19 "I love Oliver tractors. That's why I started this business," says Jerry McMillan, Bradford, Ohio, who's been doing a booming business for the past two years selling a growing line of Oliver-related memorabilia including a company history "album", limited edition toy tractors, T-shirts, old company literature and shop manuals, clocks, thermometers, and so on.
McMillan, who works as a diesel mechanic and farms part-time, says that de-spite the growing success of his mail-order business, his first love has always been his collection of Oliver tractors and other equipment.
His most challenging restoration job was his 1953 Oliver 99 diesel that he found in a junk yard. With a blown engine and teetering on just three wheels, the ditched tractor had been used in a stationary position for many years to run a saw mill. He hauled the tractor home and spent 9 months and $3,000 rebuilding it. He believes that there may have been only about 200 diesel 99's made in 1953.
McMillan says the most popular collectible item he sells is the Oliver Collector's Album, which he already has sold to collectors in Germany, New Zealand, Canada and about 43 states. The album contains 26 full-color prints of Oliver equipment, manufacturing plants, and other related items. "It's for the guy who doesn't want to spend a fortune on old literature. In time we plan to cover the entire Oliver line from its start in the mid-1800's to the mid-1970's. You have to see this album to believe it. It's truly one of a kind, with high-quality beautiful laser color prints," says McMillan, noting that the limited edition albums sell for $205. Additional prints are sold yearly.
His old shop manuals, available for a variety of Oliver equipment, sell for $13.95 to $17.95.
One of McMillan's most popular items is a limited edition Oliver 18f27 toy tractor. Only 136 were made and they sell for $175. He's also had a lot of interest in his 9 3/4-in. Oliver clock and 12-in. dia. round thermometer. They sell for $26.95 and $24.95, respectively. A variety of tractor and equipment literature is available, as well as a line of Oliver "Widow" T-shirts, aprons, oven mittens, potholders, cookie tins, and other items for wives and girlfriends of Oliver enthusiasts.
For more information, contact: FARM 'SHOW Followup, McMillan's Oliver Collectibles, 9176 U.S. Rt. 36, Bradford, Ohio 45308 (ph 513 448-2216).
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