The way it was.

Dad and I went to a tractor show Saturday, it was short on what I usually look for, namely parts, tools, and flea market stuff, but long on immaculately restored tractors in showroom (Or far better) Condition. Beautiful, spotless, perfect machines.

Not to be critical, but, they were not built that way, show tractors are in a way, like movie actresses, people just don't look that good in real life, and IH never made a tractor that perfect. When they were built, they rolled them out in a hurry, they had to look good long enough to get sold. It was far more important to run well and pull implements than it was to shine like a factory fresh Oldsmobile, And seldom did these machines live a sheltered life after they left the dealer.

I like looking at show tractors, I don't want one, don't want to have to worry about it like that. Mine are all ugly, they are three shades of red and two more of primer. You can tell what I've fixed by the new paint, fresh from an IH rattlecan. And whenever I get the chance they get fresh mud on worn, cracked tires, and clean spots rubbed on the drawbar.

Later all,