Writing article about antique tractors - 2500 words long

Audun Holme

New User
Hi

I'm trying to write a 2500 words long article about the antique tractors. Here I list the sections I so far have thought this article should include:

introduction, writing about what we mean with an antique tractor and try to explain why they still are so popular..

Then I list 5 antique tractors makes (Allis-Chalmers, Case, Oliver) and write about them (150 words max on each make)

At last I have a section about how to buy antique tractors. Going through where to buy it. What to look for etc...

Is there some sections you think I'm missing here? I want to article to be good and informative, that is why I hope might give me some valuable tips on sections i should include
 
Hello Audun,
Judging from the good writing skills you've shown so far you should do well on the article.
You might add a section on improvements made to tractors over the years.
They started with steam, then went to internal combustion engines. Steel wheels then rubber tires.
Adding hydraulics along the way. A big improvement was the 3 point hitch which is still used on most tractors today. Then there was live pto, diesel, power steering, FWA or 4x4, comfortable cabs, right down to GPS for accurate planting today.
 
You could do 2500 words on how the 3000 members of this forum, all antique tractor owners band together to help each other out.
 

You might mention the measurement of power arising from Horses and early tractor power measurements of a tractor being equal to "3 horses", etc..

There were even conversion kits available to change a Model "T" for farm use (plowing, etc.).

There was another conversion for the WWII Jeep.!
You won't run out of Material..!!
Ron.
 

You should include an explanation of how the Ford N tractors were far and away the most important tractors of all time in the whole world for primarily three reasons. First, is the three point hitch that you can research all about, but any way it revolutionized tractors. Second, is that it was built on an assembly line which resulted in such a low cost of production that the price was eventually reduced to under $800.00. This is less than half of what Ford wannabees were selling for. They were being built at the time of a great expansion in farming as tens of thousands of GIs came home from WWII and went out to start their own farms. They sold so well that for two years they were close to outselling all of the other makes combined! The third reason is that because of the 8N's hydraulics, three point hitch, and compact size, far more of them are still working than other makes from the same time period. They are frequently criticized for their drawbacks compared to tractors that are ten years newer, but this is only because they are still out there working, while most tractors of other brands of that vintage have long ago retired. Now you can research all this and flesh it out and really impress your teacher.
 
Farmers love things. When the work was performed by draft animals, they were loved, named, cared for and inevitably died. Few were taken to the taxidermist to be stuffed. We still love our draft "animals", and give them names (at times temporary) but we can keep them "alive" . Jim
 
You might add that the loved ones are semi-retired, but after beating an old farm into shape, and working many years, they are still in good enough shape to get polished and waxed and still seen in Christmas parades.. this H won "Best In Show" last weekend, in a field of 10 or 12, then drove to the next town over and won "People's Choice".

a176894.jpg

Untitled URL Link
 
You might briefly cover the fact they are extremely simple to work on compared to more modern equipment.
Very easy to teach the younger generations the basics of mechanics & restoration.
 
You could also do a part on the pros and cons of restoring , leaving them "original" and/or just using them and the importance of getting one with some significant history to it if possible.
 
Something about "historical context," the farms they were used on, the size of the farms, the crops they were used to plant/grow, the farmers/people/families who used them. I realize that crops are different, in different parts of the country, so maybe just choose one area, to save space.

Also, if you're talking about the 30s and 40s, this was a time of great technological changes; electricity coming in, more people having cars, paved roads, telephones, electric lights, especially in the rural areas.
 
I have written several articles about restoring and using antique tractors that were published in national magazines. Best advice I can give you is to write like you talk. I am assuming you've lived through using the old tractors and remember their short comings and the foibles of those of us that used them. So all you have to do is write down your memories, and write down what you did to restore that old hunk of rusty iron. I had a lot of fun doing it and met some really neat people along the way. Richard in Bee can give you far better advice than I can.
 
(quoted from post at 16:30:16 12/18/14) Hi

I'm trying to write a 2500 words long article about the antique tractors. Here I list the sections I so far have thought this article should include:

introduction, writing about what we mean with an antique tractor and try to explain why they still are so popular..

Then I list 5 antique tractors makes (Allis-Chalmers, Case, Oliver) and write about them (150 words max on each make)

At last I have a section about how to buy antique tractors. Going through where to buy it. What to look for etc...

Is there some sections you think I'm missing here? I want to article to be good and informative, that is why I hope might give me some valuable tips on sections i should include

On buying/what to look for ECT, that alone could run much further than 2500 words.

Rick
 
You might tell this forum your "behind the scenes" reasons. Are you doing this for a school project and if so which grade? Or is it for a magazine or newspaper article and if so are you a young person or an adult.

This info helps forum regulars do a better response to you.
 
(quoted from post at 05:28:07 12/19/14) You just write what YOU want to write. That's what a writer does. Then we get a feel for your thoughts. I'd like to see your work. [email protected]

Writers have to do a LOT of research. The writing is the short part.
 
Give at least a brief 'mention' about 'farmer modifications'.Where a farmer needed something that was not available or unaffordable.Like 'special' front axles,different engines,.......Farmers often could not go out and "buy" something.So often they were forced to make their own.Often a 'tractor' was made from an old truck-'doodle bug'.Farmers didnt care weather or not if was "factory perfect",it just had to work.
 
I would leave out the section "how and where to buy antique tractors" because there are few who would agree on any scientific way to go about your search that would not be more costly than just asking around tractor shows or looking on web sites such as this one where they are offered for sale.
Most of us who are owners of old tractors did not go looking for an old tractor but the old beast seemed to find us. I have a barn full and I never went looking for any of them.
 
I would defiantly have to disagree with you on Ford. The little tractor might have been OK as far as it went but it was the row-crop "Farmall" type tractor that revolutionized farming. If Ford would have had his way we would all be eking out a living on small subsistence farms and likely living under some form of communism. So don't get me started.
 
(quoted from post at 11:32:57 12/19/14) I would defiantly have to disagree with you on Ford. The little tractor might have been OK as far as it went but it was the row-crop "Farmall" type tractor that revolutionized farming. If Ford would have had his way we would all be eking out a living on small subsistence farms and likely living under some form of communism. So don't get me started.

I was wondering how long it was going to be before someone took issue with my statement, LOL. I suppose that there is room for differences of opinion.
 
Well, I'm glad you were watching. LOL You see I have studied history a little myself. Somethings are not always the way they appear on the surface.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top