[AT] Can you name the first three tractors you drove?

[hank at millerfarm.com]

Took me a while to remember, but a fun question to think about.

I didn't grow up on a farm, but some of my earliest memories are  
sitting on someone's lap and pushing the starter button of the 8N or  
860 Ford.   (possibly 830?)   Both the 8n and 860 are one-owner  
tractors, grandpa bought them new, and grandma still uses them  
(grandpa died a few years ago)!

First tractor I drove was a 1970s Titan model that my great uncle made  
after he retired.   He was having a show/parade of his tractors (about  
20 that he had made over the years), my dad taught me to drive it so I  
could show it in the parade.   Then others decided I was too young to  
drive it, so someone else showed it in the parade.   On hindsight this  
was a good idea, but I wasn't happy at the time.

There were several garden/lawn tractors in here, but I don't count  
them.  They were not fun.   I also did summer jobs for farmers, but  
never needed to move a tractor (start and turn on the PTO maybe, but  
never drive).

After I was out of college before I finally got to drive the 8n on my  
own.   Grandpa wanted his boat moved from winter storage closer to the  
house and he had me drive it.   Hooked the trailer to the front and  
pushed it up to the house. (Is it backing or driving - the tractor was  
in forward gear, but the boat was moving backwards)  We did a bunch of  
other spring projects that day, but this is the only one involving a  
tractor.

Next was grandpa's 1939 John Deere B.  Just took up for a fun spin up  
the road one day after grandpa restored it.   It had sat around the  
yard not moving (but probably in running condition, just unneeded)  
since before I could remember, after he retired grandpa repainted all  
the tractors or factory colors.    If I had the room I'd take this  
home - there would be a fight over the 8N and 860 (3 point and  
hydraulics), but I don't think anyone else cares for a hand start  
tractor.  Better to sit in a shed than outside at my house.

I've never driven the 860 (at least not that I can recall).   Maybe someday.

Quoting Indiana Robinson <robinson46176 at gmail.com>:

> I first drove the Ford 9N when I was about 7 with my father standing
> nearby pulling fence post. I had "steered" while sitting in his lap
> but that was the first time I "drove" it. I would back up to the post
> and he would hook the chain. Then I raised the hydraulic lever to pull
> the post and after he unhooked the post I drove to the next post and
> backed up to it. The 9N was traded for a new Jubilee Ford.
> -
> The next tractor I drove was the McCormick 10-20. I didn't drive it
> very much because I could not really handle it safely. To me it seemed
> like a behemoth... I really want one now even though they look pretty
> small now. :-) It was traded for a pretty decent 1939 Chrysler 4 door
> in 1951.
> -
> The third was the Ferguson TO-20 he bought new in 1949. It was sold in
> nicely restored condition about 1970 after my father finally gave in
> to my mother's constant nagging and complaining about us having too
> many tractors... :-(
> Maybe that is why I want so many now. :-)
> Naw... I just love old iron.  :-)
> -
> Can you name the first three you ever drove?
>
>
> --
> Have you hugged your horses today?
>
> Francis Robinson
> aka "farmer"
> Central Indiana USA
> robinson46176 at gmail.com
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