I visited the Kellers collection!!!

I can't even put into words what I saw. Just some very,very rare tractors and very beautiful I might add. It is worth the trip, some 585 tractors, mostly JohnDeere,Minnie Mo, and also some Oliver orchards,hi-crops, some Gibson also. I was on vacation in Appleton,Wi, Kellers is about 25 miles away, I didn't get to talk on the phone with Walter or Bruce, but left a message. The next morning I went for a ride anyway, I figured I could at least meet one of the Kellers, I stopped at Walters house and he was just eating lunch, I asked if I could view his tractors and told him that I did call for an appointment and only had that day before returning home. He said give him a half an hour and he would meet me at the farm. One of his workers opened up a building for me and then Walter popped in. He opened up his buildings and said he had to leave, but feel free to walk around he said, take pictures or whatever. I couldn't believe that. So I had the buildings free to view with my 2 kids. What nice people they are, it sure was a pleasure meeting Walter and Bruce and seeing the collection. When I walked up to Walters house it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest I was so excited and nervous to meet him. THANKS AGAIN WALTER FOR THE TOUR!!

Great story but where are all the pictures you took for us??

You make it sound like he is a celebrity. I can assure you, they don't like to be considered any more than anyone else, that's for sure. Talked to him 2 years ago.

ya show some pic's

I know he is just an ordinary person, and doesn't consider himself any different than me or you, I picked up on that instantly, but when you see what he has, I would consider him a celebrity in the tractor collecting world, he has at least one of every JD tractor made, it is unreal, all restored except maybe a dozen or so. I was only nervous walking up to his door, I didn't know what to expect just popping in on him, but one of the nicest guys I talked with. I am planning on a return trip for the day so I can see his entire collection, it was too hard with a 3 and 5 year old.

I have at least 80 pictures or more, but I don't know how to post them on this site. If you have an email for me I can email you some pictures, that is no problem. I have dial up so it takes a long time to send anything. I have some very nice pics and some have little pieces of other tractors in them, he has a row on each of the walls and then the center has 2-3 rows you have to walk in between the tractors. He has 4 waterloo boys including an overtime, 2 C's, 2 bwh40 U/S and styled, lots of hicrops, gpwt,D,DI, hnh hwh,alot of 1st numbers, he has some that are 1 of none. very impressive.

Hi Rob -

I would also like to see some pictures!

If you created an account on photobucket.com (for example - there are quite a few picture hosting sites out there), you could upload them only one time and not have to email everyone that requests to see them...

Howard

I spent a day and a half last September studying wheels on their tractors - the only problem being it was hard not to spend time looking at the tractors themselves. Walter and Bruce are very pleasant gentlement - very down to earth and a pleasure to be around.

They have given a couple of very well attended talks at past Gathering of the Green meetings, where they also took questions. Check the GOG website www.gatheringofthegreen.com to see if they will be back in 2010.

For those interested, there is a professional video, titled something like Keller's Colossal Collection which gives a nice narrated overview of their collection.

Maybe some one colud talk them into msaking a video of the collection? I'd buy a copy in a heartbeat!! Charles

Charles, They do have a video of the collection. I was going to buy a copy, even though I had my camera and camcorder. I think it was $20-25. I was talking with Bruce just before I left, I was waiting for him to start and load up a 630 hicrop for the expo and forgot to ask him about it. Here is Walters phone number 920-989-1322. Bruce's number is 920-989-1606. They have a sheet with some of the numbers in the collection and they have the phone numbers listed. I don't know how recent the letter was typed out but: 585 tractors, 60 first production, 3 1 of none. They don't have just a plain jane tractor, there is something special about each one. I hope this helps

Howard, I will try it and see what happens. Like I said I have dial up and it is slowwwww and then some. They do have a video for $20-25 of the collection. Walters number is 920-989-1322 and Bruce 920-989-1606. The collection is next door to Bruce's home.

This is the first time I have heard of these folks, Thanks Duane, I found some vids on the net. All I can say is wow, that is some serious green.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CeI5XQzaKk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ld_LUfxrfEw

Its even more impressive to actually walk through the buildings and examine the tractors. I am still amazed and it was 4 days ago I saw it. Truly amazing