Prefer to Own/Collect - 1952 A or 1956 70G

I've been reading through the archives and there are lots of discussions on G's, 70s and 720/730. I bought a 1952 A a while back as my first 2-cylinder and rebuilt the engine and made it run good again (it had a lot of ticking time bomb parts). It was also the biggest I could own from a truck/trailer perspective. The problem is, don't really have time to go tractor pulling a lot and I'd like to use it for more general stuff but live PTO and power steering would be huge upgrades for taking over to the dairy farm to work (gee, like the old days?).

I have a chance to swap ($+/-) for a 1956 70G in "farm fresh" but running condition. Looks good and all, but cant say its ever been gone through so I'm thinking I might have to fix a lot of the same issues. I know the saying for a G was that the A and G will do the same amount of work, the A will just make you walk further if you run out of gas and I figure the 70G would be about the same. I think a 70G would be a nice change and more "general use" friendly but also recognize its a bit larger than the 1952 A (which is a nice tractor).

I'm curious which one the people on here would rather own as a collectable? I'd say usage is 40% shows and parades, 40% general usage, and 20% "for fun" local show pulling. I have the trailer to haul it so that part isn't as much of a concern anymore.

A 520 or 620 would be a big step up over either. Between an A and a 70 condition would be the deciding factor for me unless your need the extra horsepower. If your trailer is on the light side the A is lighter to haul.

The 620 was what I had always considered for my next step but they still seem to command a decent price. That's the pro and con of the 70G I guess. They are a little lower priced I've seen but at the same time then aren't as valuable as other tractors their size. My A isn't the fanciest but I just wasn't willing to put more money into "refreshing it" (not restoring) as it would not really pay back much better than now.
I just upgraded from a 10k# trailer to a 14k# rated trailer to haul my oil field engine so I have a little more flexibility with tractors now as well. That was definitely a factor when I originally purchased the A.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">I'm curious which one the people on here would rather own as a collectable?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

We have a 52A that we use as a "[i:654c4848f0]medium[/i:654c4848f0]" utility tractor.

It has served us well and is a very dependable tractor.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ZnF8n3nhUE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We have two 56 Model 70 tractors.

We use one to cut hay and the other to bale hay.<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ey8TY1aRc34" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BR7VIjxel0g" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The power steering and live PTO are the important features of both these tractors.

Our 56 Diesel with the factory wide front is probably more "[i:654c4848f0]collectible[/i:654c4848f0]" than our other Model 70s.

(quoted from post at 19:18:19 06/10/18) "[b:55654300ac][i:55654300ac]&lt;font color="#6699ff"&gt;I'm curious which one the people on here would rather own as a collectable?[/i:55654300ac][/b:55654300ac]&lt;/font&gt;"

We have a 52A that we use as a "[i:55654300ac]medium[/i:55654300ac]" utility tractor.

It has served us well and is a very dependable tractor.

&lt;iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6ZnF8n3nhUE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;

We have two 56 Model 70 tractors.

We use one to cut hay and the other to bale hay.&lt;iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ey8TY1aRc34" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;

&lt;iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BR7VIjxel0g" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;

The power steering and live PTO are the important features of both these tractors.

Our 56 Diesel with the factory wide front is probably more "[i:55654300ac]collectible[/i:55654300ac]" than our other Model 70s.

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I believe I have watched that 70D video before. That's a good use of an old tractor in modern times. I venture a guess, if someone told you that you could only keep 2 of those 3, you'd most likely keep the (2) 70s?

One other note. I have a round tube WF on my A that I would transfer over to the 70. I figure the power steering would make that a little more manageable to turn. Its a bit of a bear on the A. I really should just put the Roll-o-matic back on but I really like the WF appearance.

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]if someone told you that you could only keep 2 of those 3, you'd most likely keep the (2) 70s?[/b:654c4848f0][/i:654c4848f0]"

Absolutely.

Those two are vital for our hay production.

. The 70 by far, if it is optioned with live PTO and power steering.

You did not say how the JD 70 was featured. If it has live PTO and power steering that would be HUGE up grades. The down side is I think the 70s run rougher and seem more clumsy to me. I would take a JD 60 over a JD 70 just to fart around with. Truthfully a JD 630 with three point, live PTO, and PS is a pretty nice almost modern ride.

I will admit I am not a two cylinder nut. I started farming with a JD "G". Set on one for 10-12 hours and you will soon long for a newer more comfortable tractor. I like being spoiled by a more modern tractor. LOL

The monitory side. Nether your JD "A" or the JD 70 are high value tractors. So I would be careful in what you end up with giving as boot on the JD 70. Especially as you do not know for sure what condition it is in. Yes running but not how well.

Yes, the stipulation I had/would have to change up tractors would be that it had power steering and live PTO. Tasks like running the hay tedder or culti-mulcher would be much easier to run on a 70 than the A. I had really considered the 60, but then again, the 60 and 1952 A are almost the same tractor, just different looking. Not that this would be an all the time thing but every once an a while an extra tractor on the farm is handy. I'd almost rather do that than go sit at a tractor pull and bake all day.

Probably sounds like a silly question, but out of the 2 gas tractors, which tractor's sound do you prefer the most? I know the 70D has a nice thump when working but the late model A's always sound nice when working. How does the 70G compare?

Reverse speed might be significantly faster on 70's than on late A's & 60's with creeper speeds, I don't know about the forward speeds.

Would a 70 be heavy enough to bump you into a higher weight class when pulling?

Nebraska Tractor Test #384 - 1947 John Deere A
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1062&context=tractormuseumlit

Nebraska Tractor Test #493 - 1954 John Deere 70G
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1072&context=tractormuseumlit&dlr=1&pcid=3059550&sfc=0&ssc=0&src=0&ftr=0

(quoted from post at 08:26:53 06/13/18)
Probably sounds like a silly question, but out of the 2 gas tractors, which tractor's sound do you prefer the most? I know the 70D has a nice thump when working but the late model A's always sound nice when working. How does the 70G compare?

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it is not the same, but to me it is a very special sound, especially at night...when it cool out and its luggin down...

As much respect as i have for the model A's and have a couple, for your particular scenario, a 70 gas, with power steering and live pto would be the way to go, if those are the only two options, the most inconvenient thing with my 10 series tractors are having to decide between the 3 pt or the hydraulics because i dont have any of the baker valves or splitter valves.

I think this trade will move forward. I like/liked the A. I like the sound the modified A made and I'd like to do tractor pulling. But, for example, the local pull finished up after midnight last night. I don't have time for that stuff. I did put a bunch of money into the A but I think it'll average out with the "trade price".

So, we'll swap the WF over from the A to the 70 and move on to the next chapter. Hopefully I don't run across many issues with the 70 after its home. That's always my concern when getting an unknown piece of equipment. Appreciate all the feedback on this topic.

Picked up the 70 gas the other day. This tractor looks like it might have been a dedicated corn picker at one point. Front grill protector so all of the screens are perfect. Needs a few tweeks but what tractor doesn't.

that is very good looking tractor! glad you got it. sure doesnt look like you are gonna get hurt at all.

Thanks for sharing

Wanted to follow up on my topic here. I appreciated the videos from James so I wanted to add one of my own. Got to give the John Deere 70 a workout this weekend and really enjoyed spending a few hours tedding hay with it. The power steering and live PTO were a must have for a field like this.

https://youtu.be/OBxC7zlR6ho

https://youtu.be/OBxC7zlR6ho