WVHillbilly520H 10,369 #26 Posted June 15, 2018 I bought my first brand new (a left over) Anniversary 520H in March 1998, I was 26 at the time and traded a Cub Cadet in on it still left me with a $6300 price tag with only a 48" deck an I've gathered up snow plowing/blowing equipment and tiller through the years and still own it today, as well as 2 more 520s (sold 1) and a 523Dxi and 520xi (sold both xi), maybe if I could talk my old dealer in a price I would be willing to pay he still has an (NOS) unsold 522xi that I wouldn't mind having yet, Jeff. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TDF5G 2,051 #27 Posted June 15, 2018 (edited) My Dad owned Wheel Horses, so I grew up with them (see the Vintage Pics thread). The first of my very own was a 68 Commando 8 I got from my uncle around 1993. I don't even remember what I paid him for it. Had to overhaul it. Edited June 15, 2018 by TDF5G 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnymag3 2,445 #28 Posted June 15, 2018 Its truly awesome to see all of your tractors, hear all of the stories, good and bad..... The vintage photos bring back wonderful memories. I guess Wheel Horse tractors have indeed proven their readiness, and dependability through the years. Keep the posts coming, they are truly a testament as to how much we love that "Darn Good Red Machine" 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 51,750 #29 Posted June 16, 2018 My first recollection of loving a was at a lawn and garden show when my dad was looking at a new RJ-35 in '57. I was twelve years old and looking forward to riding around cutting the lawn and cultivating the garden. It was a bit more than dad could afford so he bought a walk behind rototiller and I was walking behind it and the mower; what a letdown. Fast forward to about twenty years ago living in Florida and the wife and I bought a piece of property that was going to need to be mowed and a bit of fill dirt moved. I went to the Florida Flywheelers Show with a friend and found a 1055 with a 36" deck, grader blade and a cart for $ 350, love at first sight. It did everything I could ask and I developed a great deal of respect for the quality product the Ponds had given us. A few months later the same friend was visiting family in Ohio and called me about a 953 that was part of an estate sale up there. At the time I had no idea what a 953 looked like, but took his word that it was cool. It wasn't running but the price was right ( $ 200 with a deck) so I bought it sight unseen and he delivered it a couple days later. Had no spark so I cleaned the points, still no spark, took the coil from the 1055 and the 953 fired right up and ran fine. I have added a few to the herd since then including the '57 RJ-35 I never got as a boy, it is a project. I have also added several more 953s, a GT-14 with loader,310-8, 418-C, and a couple '58 RJ projects. That first 953 is as found without any paint to speak of and I have no intention of changing a thing. The 1055 has been my go to snow plow machine for the past dozen years but it may get a fresh coat of paint some day. 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeek 2,284 #30 Posted June 16, 2018 This Raider 12 I bought in 2010 that began the hobby for me . . . I restored it and sold it to a guy in Indiana last year who wanted that specific model cause his dad had one. The way I bought it . . . The day it left my house . . . 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites