[AT] 8020 Antique - comments about tractor size
Grant Brians
sales at heirloom-organic.com
Tue Nov 2 08:59:55 PDT 2010
Here in California we have had the contrast between small and large tractors
since gasoline powered tractors came along (over a century). I have
mentioned that I got a 1954 D8 - a dozer originally used for mining - that
tractor is over 150hp drawbar. These were very, very common for fieldwork
in the larger operations in the Central Valley from the 1950's onward and of
course Caterpillars were developed and originally all built here in
California. I also have the 1970's D6 that is factory rated at 140hp
drawbar, but with judicious adjustment were frequently changed to over
150hp. Apparently nearly all of the direct drive Caterpillar ag tractors of
the 1960's onward were sold within 200 miles of here....
On the other hand, the top selling tractors by numbers in this valley
(Santa Clara Valley) in the 1930's to 1950's were Cat small gasoline
tractors then the D2 and D4, as well as 20hp to 40hp tractors for light
orchard and vegetable work - IH, Oliver, John Deere, Allis Chalmers, Ford.
No MM, Avery, very very few Case or other brands.
Articulated tractors certainly are found here and are used, but never
in the numbers or popularity as the crawlers.
Grant Brians
Hollister,California
Vegetable, Nuts and Fruit farmer
-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com]On Behalf Of Cecil Bearden
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 4:53 AM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] 8020 Antique
Here in OK, we did not see these big tractors until the 70's.
Cecil in OK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene Dotson" <gdotsly at watchtv.net>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 8:47 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] 8020 Antique
> Dean;
>
> I certainly will not debate you over 1 year's time in in my
> recollections from 50 years ago. Whether it was 1958 or 1959 adds nothing
> to
> what I wished to communicate. I was not around this tractor from 1960 to
> 1964 while I was in the Air Force. In 1967 I became friends with Jim and
> visited the farm often and operated the tractor, even putting the 35 Foot
> Krause disc into a fence during a turn. They also had a Versatile of about
> the same power, I believe a 900?
>
> I did find the third post containing the same message rather tiring.
>
> Gene
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dean VP" <deanvp at att.net>
> To: "'Antique tractor email discussion group'"
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 7:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] 8020 Antique
>
>
>> Gene,
>>
>> In an attempt to avoid further misstatements, the JD 8010 has been
>> reported to have been first announced in September of 1959 in
>> Marshalltown, IA just prior to the rest of 10 series of New Generation JD
>> tractors announced later in 1960 (2010-5010). It is
>> reported that all but one were recalled by JD to fix some
>> transmission/clutch problems and then re-model numbered/re-serial
>> numbered
>> as 8020's during the 1961-1964 period. According to tractordata.com the
>> lone remaining 8010 is now in Walter Keller's collection in
>> Wisconsin. I can verify that a 8010 is in Keller's collection based on a
>> picture I took in 2006 during a tour given by Walter
>> Keller. See 8010 Picture:
>>
>>
http://public.fotki.com/deanvp/tractor_shows/2006/gog_2006/keller_collection
/dcp_3057.html
>>
>>
>> Amazingly, of the 100 8010's built close to 75 8020's have survived to
>> this day. This 8020 at this auction may be the 74or 75th
>> found. The original plow that was offered with the 8010/8020 was a fully
>> integral 8 bottom moldboard plow which was obviously very
>> unwieldy. Several of these Category IV three point plows have survived as
>> well. JD had some trouble selling these $30,000 plus,
>> 26,000 lb plus tractors and many ended up being rented/leased out by JD
>> and also being used as Industrial tractors. 150 HP at the
>> drawbar. A tractor quite a bit ahead of its time but was a forewarning of
>> tractors to come.
>>
>> Dean VP
>> Snohomish, WA
>>
>> Change occurs "when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the
>> pain of change!"
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
>> [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Gene Dotson
>> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 10:06 AM
>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> Subject: Re: [AT] 8020 Antique
>>
>> There are a few misstatements in this story. The 8020 was a follow on
>> to
>> the 8010 which was first produced in 1957 or 1958. I was privileged to
>> see
>> the first 8010 tractor in Ohio at 1958 Case Farm-O-Rama near Richwood,
>> Ohio.
>> The Walton-Case families were big farmers there and had close working
>> relationship with John Deere Company and hosted this show for several
>> years.
>> Russell Case bought the 8010 and used it on the Walton-Case farms for
>> several years. This tractor originally had a fully mounted 7 bottom
>> moldboard plow that lifted completely off the ground when raised from the
>> furrow. Russell's wife, Meriam, drove the tractor regularly and when
>> turning
>> at the end of the field, the plow extended quite a distance behind the
>> tractor and swung directly behind the tractor. Meriam was known to
>> misjudge
>> the length behind her and destroyed a few telephone and electric poles.
>> Fences were not a problem as the plow raised high enough to clear the
>> fences. The 7 bottom mounted plow was traded for a 6 bottom semi mounted
>> plow for the second year.
>>
>> My good friend, Jim Gillfillian worked on the Walton-Case farm for
>> several years. I have driven this tractor several times and ridden with
>> Jim
>> even more times. The tractor was upgraded to 8020 specs some time in the
>> early 60's by John Deere. I don't know if the Walton family still has the
>> tractor. They reduced their farming operation considerably in the early
>> 70's. This would certainly be a valuable tractor today.
>>
>> Gene
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Ralph Goff" <alfg at sasktel.net>
>> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
>> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
>> Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 11:32 AM
>> Subject: [AT] 8020 Antique
>>
>>
>>> Ok, which one of you atis guys came up here to Sask. and paid $90,000
>>> for
>>> this JD 8020 4WD?
>>> http://www.mackauctioncompany.com/10-oct2.html
>>>
>>> If I'd known it was going to sell that cheap I'd have gone to the sale.
>>> :-)
>>>
>>> By WILLIAM DEKAY, Saskatoon Newsroom
>>> October 14, 2010
>>> Bidding was intense on the ground and via the internet Oct. 2 for a rare
>>> four-wheel drive John Deere 8020 tractor.
>>>
>>> In the end, an anonymous buyer bought the tractor for $90,000.
>>>
>>> The tractor is one of 74 out of only 100 manufactured. This particular
>>> tractor has serial number 14 and created a stir in the agricultural
>>> world
>>> because until now, it was not known what had become of it.
>>>
>>> Initially, auctioneer Norm Mack questioned whether he would handle the
>>> sale when he went to inspect the farm machinery of Edmund Pranke.
>>>
>>> "His equipment was nothing special, but he took great pride in what he
>>> had," says Mack.
>>>
>>> Then he saw the 8020 and knew it was something different.
>>>
>>> "We knew we had found a diamond in the rough. This was a special
>>> tractor,"
>>> he says.
>>>
>>> On a warm harvest day Oct. 2 the sale attracted almost 300 bidders and
>>> as
>>> many spectators, many travelling from the U.S.
>>>
>>> "The night before, when we pulled in, there were cars already there.
>>> Every
>>> Midwest state that farms was already there," said Mack.
>>>
>>> "Going over this tractor, they were almost in awe that this tractor
>>> would
>>> be in Saskatchewan. A lot of people travelled hours, even days just to
>>> see
>>> this tractor with no intention of buying or even bidding, but just to
>>> come
>>> and see."
>>>
>>> John Deere's 8020 was built between 1961 and 1963 with a price tag of
>>> $32,000.
>>>
>>> "It was a tremendous amount of money in the early '60s. Therefore demand
>>> was low," said Mack.
>>>
>>> It was the first four-wheel drive articulated tractor produced by a
>>> major
>>> manufacturer. Mack says all future four-wheel drive tractors were based
>>> on
>>> the 8020, even the new ones today.
>>>
>>> "It was ahead of its time," he said. The 8020 also boasted a Detroit
>>> diesel engine commonly called a Screaming Jimmy. "You could hear them
>>> coming a mile away," said Mack.
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
>>>
>>>
>>> Ralph in Sask.
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>>
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