[AT] Old weathered used-looking tractors

[Mike Sloane]

If I acquire a tractor that looks pretty grim, I will clean it up and 
slap a coat of paint on it, but I don't get to excited about runs or 
blemishes - mainly it is to protect the metal from the weather. I once 
bought a Farmall Cub from a guy who had painted it with Ford gray (he 
said that was what he had on hand when it was time to paint!). I quickly 
painted it red. Oddly enough, I also bought a Ford 2N from him later, 
and he claimed that it was painted Farmall red (although, when I dragged 
it home, the color was "rust"). I am also storing a 1952 Farmall Cub 
that he painted yellow and white. If I ever come to own that tractor, it 
too will get painted red.

Mike

Dean Vinson wrote:
> Now and then I think about repainting my Farmall M, once I get done with
> tinkering on its various mechanical problems.  But the closer I get, the
> less I like the idea of painting it.
> 
> I *like* being able to lay a wrench on the hood and not worry about
> scratching anything.  And I like the sense of history implied by the various
> dings and scuffs and the various colors and patches of faded, farmer-applied
> paint.  It's not as personal as if it had been the same tractor I grew up
> with, but still, I'm getting pretty fond of it as is.
> 
> Not sure where I'm going with this post other than to wonder out loud about
> it.  Anybody else wrestle with this decision?
> 
> Dean Vinson
> Dayton, Ohio
> www.vinsonfarm.net