Does your WH collection have a theme?

[wh500special 2,264]

OK, yes the obvious themes to any tractor collection could be the brand (like WH) or just the fact that they are tractors...But what I mean is:

For those of you who own more than one tractor, do you have a "reason" behind owning the Wheel Horses you do? Or, do you just snap up any old thing that comes along at the right price? Or, do you give no thought to price?

The reason I ask is mostly for entertainment value. But I am currently doing some reconfiguration of my collection and have decide to make it fit a "theme". in my case I am picking the tractors that I think were "milestone" machines to WH. You know, those that represented "the first" of something, or a "huge improvement" over previous tractors, or the introduction of a new style of machine, or an "evolutionary leap".

So, what I am aiming at would go something like this:

1. Lever Steer

2. Walk away

3. Senior (RS83)

4. Junior (RJ35)

5. RJ58

6. 701

7. 953

8. Lawn Ranger

9. GT14

10. Vertical shaft

11. blah blah blah

I am getting closer with what I have and am in the (slow) process of selling off the duplicates and others that don't "fit" into what I am trying to do. i used to take the shotgun approach...if it was a WH and it was cheap I'd buy it. But now I find I am more discriminating and really only pull the trigger if it fits the theme or is a potential money maker so I can trade for something that fits the theme.

Really, a theme could be anything: Perhaps you focus on the C-series. Or the Round Hoods. Or the Vertical Shafts. Or the really oldies. Or only the red ones . Or just the Grays (forgot about those for a second, didn't ya?)

SO...Does anybody else have a goal like this? Or, am I just a wierdo (yes, loaded question )?

Steve

[Rollerman 290]

I guess I'm one of them non discriminateing buyers that just snaps them up when I can.

Didn't think you had to have a theme to be in the club....

I've been fortunate to find some of the rarest of the rare...even dumb enough to sell one...my Senior.

Now that I know more about the various Horses I tend to stick with certain ones.

I've even branched off with a few other brands in my collection just cause the price was right & I liked them (AC Big Ten & a JD 110)

[mailman 1]

So far I have only "collected" one. But I know I am not stopping there. I am looking right now for an older one, (mines a 2006 Classic), to use.

That being said, I definately look for certain things and rule out others. maybe thats my theme.

I really like kohlers 8 to 12 hp,

gear driven transmissions

Pre 80's ?

300.00 tractors that run great! (ok, maybe 350 )

My favorite? It has to be my Classic at the moment.

BUT.....I know my next tractor is out there right now.(maybe a Raider? or B80 or 100 or C series......just need to find her and give her a place in the garage.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,602]

No theme here. Except, I might concentrate on tractors where attachments can interchange (which should broaden the range). Currently I have two, a C-141 Automatic and a Classic 314-8. I have one that hasn't made it yet that's outside this theme, a 753. So I am open to those that won't interchange attachments. :thumbs:

[combatmp29r 27]

Hmmmm Does my herd have a theme??? Anybody else want to answer this for me? n

Steve mine definately has a vertical shaft theme. I know guys DUH!! I started out with a 69 commando V8 13 years ago free from a neighbor. Its now the V18. It had a briggs on it, so I did some research and found out what it should have on it. Searched and searched for an original engine. After doing alot of research on the tractor I decided I wanted to find 1 each of the 4 models of it. 69 Charger/Commando V8 (kohler) , 70 Charger/Commando V8 (tucky). Well that goal is reached. So now I have started to work on into the 70s with the herd. Yes I have 1 V7 and have decided to fill out that 4 piece set before searching for the CGs and 73 no name vert. I have started to pick up some of the vert lawn rangers as they were a decent deal and they would be coming soon anyhow in the collection. Also I have a few odd balls in there B-81, and soon to be added B-165, but they were the too good to pass up deals. So do I have a theme and a master plan?? Yes very much so. There is a madness to the vertical shaft guys method Or the other way around which ever you prefer

Oh and for those of you saying what about the horizontals he owns?? The 312-8 was a good deal that I intended to repair and sell that was confiscated by the old man , and the D was a horse trade for 3 non running junk A series horses. It has no motor, but I am keeping it so that when I get a chunk of land maybe I wont have to buy a JD compact or a Kabota to do everything I need

Sorry for the book Guys, but Steve asked :P

[kpinnc 14,608]

A theme? Aside from most either not working or missing an engine?

I guess "red with four wheels" covers mine...

Kevin

[CasualObserver 3,411]

I'm partial to the 1968 model year. No particular significance for me, just the year I picked. I like it being the first "named" year. There's only a few years that were named, the rest have all been numbers of some sort. I have 4 of the 9 models offered from that year (I have one of each pair...Raider, Charger, Commando, LawnRanger), and original literature for all the tractors I own. I also have a couple that were the right price. Sometimes the deal is just too good if you know what I mean.

I also have the whole snowmobile thing going. I have nearly a complete collection of original snowmobile literature. Someday, I hope to start adding actual sleds to that line of the collection. There's not that many... They only made 9 models over the three years... unless you count the Sno-Flite line they bought in mid-production in 1969. Then there's 5 more. 9-14 snowmobiles is totally do-able... it's just the finding them that's the hard part!

I like your idea Steve, seems like a good one. Thanks for sharing, and looking forward to the pictures as it progresses. Oh... and one more for your list. A Spanish RJ-58 with the redesigned front axle!

[Rod(NASNUT) 1]

:thumbs: I guess I also am one of them non discriminateing buyers that just snaps them up when I can.

[WheelHorse_of_course 99]

Hmmm,

several themes I guess

1) Cheap (but running)

2) Working class - function over form; dirt over looks

3) Similarity to the two I worked with years ago:

854 is a round hood sort of similar to the 550 I used as a kid. I may eventually try to get something closer to the 550 if it can still meet theme #1

The Charger 12 is similar to the C-120 Auto I had in the early 90's before moving back to an apartment.

[charger10us 1]

I got my first W.H. when I was 14 & I still have it now & will soon be 50, whitch is a 1968 Charger 10.. Cents then I've bought & slod alot of them,, some that I wish that I keep, & some that I was glad to see go. A couple of years ago I got into this thing about the BIG wheels ( 15" ) & now I have 2-C-195's ,,2-D200's,, a D-250,,C-121,,C-145,,1969 Charger 10,, & of corse my 1968 Charger 10...

The prolem with the big ones is that they take up ALOT of space.. AWW yes I for got the 60" 30 hp Koler Toro Z-turn..

Billy in Va. with a full 18'X31' !!!!!

[wh500special 2,264]

I knew I wasn't the only one who tried to make some sense of this madness! Although having a theme isn't the least bit necessary, it does make it kind of fun to have a goal to work toward.

Perhaps it makes it easier to rationalize 30+ tractors to the wife...I dunno.

All it takes is money. And in the case of the really old ones, LOTS of it!

I am on my way to filling in the list, but know it may take another 20 years for me to come up with all of them that I', interested in. On the bright side, another 20 years of depreciation will make that 523Dxi a little cheaper to procure.

Thanks for the replies so far - Keep 'em comin'!

Steve

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

I don't have a theme, but if I did it would probably be to get one of each model produced for a single year.

[BPjunk 184]

Well Steve,

You have seen some of my collection and have even been there when some were purchased, but I like the low hp models Tecumseh powered tractors. You can get a lot of work done with only 6 horse power! I also have certain models that appeal to me and would like to find.

1) The POWER HOUSE models. 520-8, C-175-8 and C-160-8 (single cylinder Kohler)

2) The early Hydrostatic Transmission models. 875 and 1075

3) Tecumseh H-60/H-70 Powered models. 605, 606,607, 657 and WORKHORSE 700

4) Six Speed model. 867 and Raider 9

5) Round Hood models. 854, 552 and 502

6) RJ and Suburban models. 551, 550, 1955 RJ-35 and RJ-25

I am not too sure my collection is a "theme" ...... well I do know my neighbors certainly don't call it that!

Bill in Richmond, Va.

[Curmudgeon 28]

Mine are all girls...... Barn full of mares, not a stallion in the bunch.

[Brrly1 1,146]

Well Steve I guess I would have to say that there is no particular theme in my garage. I have a for the GT14's. I feel that this is one of the best tractors they ever built ( my opinion ) but I am entitled to that. I also have three 57 RJ's which was the year I was born ( kind of partial to them also ) and then I guess I have a few of alot of other horses. My mom keeps telling me she knows when she told me to come and get my Dads GT14 that she didn't plan on this happening as far as my colllection goes, but I told her that this is a whole lot better than me hanging out in bars and doing stuff that I shouldn't be doing. She agrees, just something I enjoy doing and I have become aquainted with alot of good people

John

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Mine are all girls...... Barn full of mares, not a stallion in the bunch.

Fast Eddie's a GIRL? short for ..... Edith? :thumbs:

[Rideawaysenior 25]

My theme goes a little like this.

Honey, can I get this? and the ones she just finds in the yard go a bit like this. "Oh, I've had that one for a while now. " I just try to get what I can, and try like heck to get away with the rest . Fortunatly the wife doesn't venture out towards the shed since she saw a gardner snake by it last year.

Jack in MA sneaking another one by the wife.

PS those of you who know her please don't give away my secret. :D

[C-Series14 15]

Only theme I can see in my barn is the letter "C"! Of course, the RJ is the daddy of them all!!! :thumbs:

[Sparky-(Admin) 23,139]

No theme here. Just buy anything I can if the price is right. Even if its a tractor I'm not "hot" for it can be sold to fund one I am "hot" for. I use many of my tractors for chores around the house so I like them to be able to accept my Attach-A-Matic attachments(plow/deck/sno-chucker).

Mike.........

[TT-(Moderator) 1,162]

The theme for my collection?.....

They must have this name on them somewhere:

Get the picture? :thumbs:

[hoosier 1]

No theme, unless old is a theme. My favorite is of course Wheel Horse. Can't seem to find alot of them around here, though. I will, however, snap up almost anything of the older stuff, no matter what color. I want to save them from the scrapyard if that's where they're headed. Of course, they may end up there anyway when I'm gone :thumbs:

[Curmudgeon 28]

Fast Eddie's a GIRL? short for ..... Edith?

Fast Eddie was already named when I got her, complete with name painted on the sides of the hood. Unfortunately, her birth certificate didn't come with her, and she's not talking, so I have to assume whatever her full, given name is, she hates it!!! Just prefers Fast Eddie, and who am I to argue with a woman?

[DOC in Kentucky 178]

No real theme for me, just what I find or what looks like a good deal on e-bay.

Then also friends and family, that think I am nuts but they always tell me when they see one for sale in the paper, on the road or a friend of a friend.

I keep saying "no more" but then there's always another added to the herd :thumbs:

[baerpath 517]

As you can see by my profile no theme around here And I just like running the D 250's :thumbs:

[Kelly 1,033]

I buy them all, but I'm starting to focus on the short frames,(857, 656 1055, 1075 ECT...) I like the look of them and see them as the afordable older ones, round hoods are getting hard to get and expensive, but still out there, I even buy off color stuff.