Tracing the history of a Case 1200 Traction King

Humding · Jul 10, 2015

Hi all,

I'm visiting the USA (from Ireland) in late August/early September. I have a 1964 Case 1200 traction king that was imported into Ireland 7 years ago. I have been trying to find the history of it. I know it was bought from a sod farm near Howell in Michigan and I believe it may have had a blade fitted at some stage in the past as the gassed remains of it are still underneath it. I have tried contacting a few sod farms I have found on the internet but got no replys back. Anybody close to Howell that may remember it? Its an early 6 speed model.

Thanks all,
Ken

rrlund · Jul 10, 2015

Interesting. My uncle had a 1200 here in mid Michigan. It was sold on his farm auction in early 1971. I have no idea who bought it. I do know it never had a cab while he owned it. I THINK that one came from a Case dealer in Remus Michigan,but that dealer went out of business,probably before my uncle even quit farming.

Steve@Advance · Jul 10, 2015

Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question.

But I an curious as to how the tractor ended up so far away! Is that a common practice to import a used
tractor to Ireland? I would think the shipping would be cost prohibitive!

johnlobb · Jul 10, 2015

I live south and a little west of Howell, spook lives near Howell. There is an old sod farm just east of Gregory on M-36. The old guys have coffee every morning at Gordies in Gregory, I will ask them.

keh · Jul 11, 2015

Depending on the exchange rate among other things, there is a significant amount of used farm equipment going both ways. Dealers in that business will bring containers of tractors to auctions here, in the east anyway, and try to buy a load to take back across the pond.

KEH

Spook · Jul 11, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:21:19 07/10/15) I live south and a little west of Howell, spook lives near Howell. There is an old sod farm just east of Gregory on M-36. The old guys have coffee every morning at Gordies in Gregory, I will ask them.[/quo

I will ask around. There are several sod farms here, some are just getting going again, a couple went to row crops during the crash.

hd6gtom · Jul 11, 2015

Just a thought can you post a picture? The guys might be able to show it around and find out for you.

Humding · Jul 12, 2015

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Below is a picture of it the first time I saw it here in Ireland. The holes drilled around the front of the chassis seemed to have been drilled afterwards so maybe somebody could identify from those. It also had a cab at one time by the looks of it.
A KEH says a lot of machinery makes its way over and back across the Atlantic. Even some can make a second journey back again.

Ken

Humding · Jul 23, 2015

All,

Was just in contact with the guy that shipped it to Ireland. He thinks it was more around Fowlerville he picked it up rather than Howell but can't remember exactly where.

Ken

showcrop · Jul 23, 2015

Lots of larger tractors get blades put on them for pushing up and packing when filling the silo on dairy farms.

Humding · Aug 25, 2015

Hi all, staying near Howell tonight. Called to Young's this afternoon and they don't know anything about my tractor. However just happened to
stop to guys injecting waste with a steiger and asked them. He rang de bucks sod farm and they think it may have been owned by a guy called
George sipka who used run under the name central sod farm (somewhere between howell and fowlerville). They think he retired a few years ago
which would tie in with the tractor being sold. Problem is I have no address or phone number for him. Would anybody be able to help me out at
short notice as I only have tomorrow morning to try and find out.

Thanks,
Ken

Humding · Aug 25, 2015

Hi all, I'm staying near Howell tonight. Called to Young's sod farm earlier and they don't know of my tractor. However I happened to see guys
injecting slurry with a steiger and tanker and I stopped to them to look at it. I mentioned why I was in the area and they rang de bucks sod
farm for me. They suggested my tractor may have belonged to George sipka who ran under the name central sod farm. Looks like he may have retired
a few years ago which would tie in with the tractor being sold. Anybody know of George? I'm only around tomorrow morning so any info would be
appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

fixerupper · Aug 25, 2015

I Googled George Sipka and came up with two in Michigan. One has a Dewitt, Michigan address and the other has a St Charles Michigan address. I don't know if both George's are the same person or not. I'm from Iowa so I don't know my way around Michigan.

Brady V · Aug 25, 2015

Yep, Do a white page search and it will give phone #'s for the George in Dewitt. I won't post the #'s as I don't think that is appropriate. Dewitt is @ 40 miles away from Howell.

Humding · Aug 26, 2015

Thanks guys. I found the numbers you were referring to. Will give a call this morning.

Tracing the history of a Case 1200 Traction King

Humding

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rrlund

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Steve@Advance

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johnlobb

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keh

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Spook

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hd6gtom

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Humding

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Humding

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showcrop

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Humding

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Humding

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fixerupper

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Brady V

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Humding

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