[Farmall] White Cub

[Jim Becker]

Not that rare.  Among all the original, unrepainted tractors from the demo 
range that I have seen pictures of or even heard of, there are vastly more 
that were originally white than were originally red, probably in a ratio of 
about 5 to 1.  I haven't actually kept records.  I don't know if that is a 
statistically valid sample or not, but it strongly suggests there were a lot 
of white demos in the first place.

Since the only difference between a demo and any other tractor of about the 
same age is the paint job, counterfeits are not only common but 
undetectable.  Since there is no difference, as far as I am concerned the 
"real" demo that has been repainted isn't any more valuable than a 
counterfeit.  And as far as I am concerned, neither is worth more than any 
other tractor of the same age.  "Before" pictures don't add that much value 
as they can be faked almost as easily as the paint on the tractor.  But hey, 
value is a function of demand.  As long as there are people willing to pay 
more for a demo, they have a higher market value.  As more "demos" are 
created, eventually the market will saturate.  Unrestored original demos, on 
the other hand, are hard to fake and there are fewer of them left every day. 
Original white that never got the red repaint have to be the rarest of all. 
They probably are worth more than their contemporaries.  After all, the demo 
collectors keep buying them at premium prices and repainting them.

It kind of reminds me of the olympian that was so proud of his gold medal 
that he took it out and had it bronzed.

One other point, since the only difference between a demo and any other 
tractor is the "demo" paint job.  If you are going to restore a demo, you 
need to accurately copy the demo paint job.  If you make changes "because 
you like it that way", that is OK because it is your tractor.  But it isn't 
a demo.  If you have things like a black starter, a blue rockshaft, black 
anti-slip on the platform or vinyl cut decals, it isn't a demo.  Again, it 
is just dinking around with an old tractor.

Jim Becker

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tractorman453657 at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2011 9:21 AM
To: farmall at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: Re: [Farmall] White Cub

A true demo is on the rare side. There are a lot of bootleg  demos out
there too. The demo program was only run in the first 3 months of 1950  with 
the
cub, super A and super C.... Just because the serial number falls into  the
demo range does NOT mean it is a demo. I would suspect only   about 5% in
the days production run were white.. white paint showing under  red is good
and if the serial number is right then that's a lot better. if white  paint
is in places such as under the hood, floor board, on wire harness it is
probably  a demo. Document everything with pictures. every step.This is the
only way to actually prove it was a real  demo  after restoration. I  own a
true Demo cub with documentation. I have been offered 7 K  for it but  its 
not
for sale.


In a message dated 12/3/2011 10:59:49 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
ejpuckett at centurytel.net writes:

I guess  it depends on your location and who is interested.  Most of the
ones  I have seen sell go about 10 to 20 % above the regular cub, though
i am  not sure why, they are not that rare.  Some years entire production
was less than the demo run.

On 12/3/2011 7:16 PM, Kevin Bish  wrote:
> I have a Farmall Cub that was a White Demo tractor. It would  need painted
> white again to be like original from the factory, cause  it was painted
red
> over the white. It runs good. What do you think  something like this
tractor
> is worth, without being restored?  I  have checked the serial numbers
with
> some members on the list  before, and they all say it can very well be a
Demo
> Cub. I have a  couple guys coming tomorrow to look at it, and just wanted
a
> few ideas  about what to ask for the tractor, if I sell it?? Thanks,
Kevin.