[AT] Buying a special tractor

Jim & Lyn Evans jevans at evanstoys.com
Thu May 23 19:07:42 PDT 2013


I think every collector with deep pockets in the world will be at that 
auction.   I wish you the best of luck, but I think a lot of the big 
collectors have already purchased the common, desirable tractors and are 
now after the extremely rare ones.

On 5/23/2013 5:51 AM, Joe Hazewinkel wrote:
> Thanks John,
>
> That's my hope.  Fitch was a short line manufacturer and only made two different models.  Most of their limited production was exported.  They had quite a bit of potential, but most weren't ready for a four wheel drive tractor in the 1929's.
>
> It has a special local lore and I'd like to bring it home.  I was told there are a few parts in old barns around town.  One guy brings a new old stock gas tank to the show every year that his dad pulled from the dump 90 years ago.  It would fit this tractor....
>
> I'm going to start making serious plans.  I'm young enough to have some time to get it done, and old enough to have access to some capital to run with a few of the "big" boys.  Just not the six figure club...
>
> Enjoy, Joe
>
> Sent from my iPhone just for you
>
> On May 22, 2013, at 10:39 PM, <jtchall at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> Saw it come through as well. I'd be careful about a partner, unless it was a
>> silent partner. Everyone does different quality levels of restoration, on a
>> tractor that old, it could become an issue real fast.
>> Snoop around on smokestack and see what you can find out.  It seems those
>> types of tractors often sell to those that don't have to worry about money,
>> thus inflating their price a bit simply because they have money to burn.
>> However, some of the really odd ones don't have that much value, if they are
>> made by some off the wall company. A rare Oil Pull on the other hand would
>> bring a King's ransom. I'm hoping you get it, it's about time somebody on
>> this list was able to acquire something like that!
>>
>> John Hall
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: jahaze at aol.com
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2013 12:04 PM
>> To: Antique tractor email discussion group
>> Subject: [AT] Buying a special tractor
>>
>> I sent a rather long message to the list about two weeks ago, but I never
>> saw it show up so I thought i'd try again.
>>
>> I was bored the other day and started browsing the Aaumann auction web site
>> and ran across the big sale scheduled for this September in New York State.
>> I don't remember the name right off hand.  Anyway, after looking over all
>> the really cool heavy iron, one little old rusty tractor really jumped out
>> at me.  It is quite rare with only four previously know to exist (this was
>> not one of them). Anyway, it's a Fitch four-power, one of the first four
>> wheel drive tractors built in the mid-1920's right here in my little town of
>> Big Rapids, Michigan.  There is another restored one here locally, but it is
>> a different model than the one coming up for sale.  The one in the sale
>> looks complete, but it is in very rough shape (and will probably look worse
>> in person).
>>
>> I want to buy the tractor, but I have no idea what it will sell for, and
>> that's my problem.  I could come up with $10,000 for it on my own, but all
>> these rusty old things seems to go for high prices then get sent overseas
>> (the auction is full of big prairie tractors which will probably head that
>> way).  What are the chances that this one will slip through the cracks and
>> come home with me?  The other thing I am struggling with is what if I go
>> there and it sells for $12,000?  Has anyone here ever bought a tractor with
>> a partner?  This thing has some very significant local ties, maybe I can
>> find someone who would go in with me.
>>
>> What would you do?  I'm planning to take a few vacation days and head over
>> there, it should be fun if nothing else.
>>
>> Enjoy, Joe
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
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