Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver
 
Marketplace
Classified Ads
Photo Ads
Tractor Parts
Salvage

Community
Discussion Forums
Project Journals
Your Stories
Events Calendar
Hauling Schedule

Galleries
Tractor Photos
Implement Photos
Vintage Photos
Help Identify
Parts & Pieces
Stuck & Troubled
Vintage Ads
Community Album
Photo Ad Archives

Research & Info
Articles
Tractor Registry
Tip of the Day
Safety Cartoons
Tractor Values
Serial Numbers
Tune-Up Guide
Paint Codes
List Prices
Production Nbrs
Tune-Up Specs
Torque Values
3-Point Specs
Glossary

Miscellaneous
Tractor Games
Just For Kids
Virtual Show
Museum Guide
Memorial Page
Feedback Form

Yesterday's Tractors Facebook Page

  
Tractor Stories
Do you have short antique tractor related story to tell? This is the place to share it! If you have a longer story please Contact Us so that we can publish it in an article.

Viewing #1 of 599
[Previous] [List All] [Add a Story] [Search] [Next]

520 John Deere and the Circus

I grew up in farm country in southern Minnesota-as a matter of fact, the town where I attended school was located on the border line with Iowa. In those days, every little town had its own school and several businesses. My town even had a doctor, two dentists, a drug store, two hardware stores, a theatre called the Border Line, 6 gas stations, a John Deere dealership, and several other businesses. When I graduated from high school there were 37 businesses in town and today there are none. As a matter of fact, there are weeds growing up on main street. In those days, there were travelling roller rinks and small travelling circuses that came to town for about a week during the summer. The roller rink was in a tent and the floor was made of Masonite with slat cribbing fence around the outside. To say the least, it was the hub of activity for the week it was in town. When the circus was in town, it was quite the attraction. I was about 6 years old when it came to our town. That was the first time that I had ever seen tigers and elephants. And of course, they had all the trapeze acts, jugglers, and clowns. All this was on a bare lot on the edge of town in a big tent. At intermission, they had a pull-off. It featured an elephant pulling against a tractor. For a six-year-old kid, it was almost heart stopping. With a lot of fanfare, the ringmaster started the event. He shouted, “For your enjoyment, the circus is going to feature a great show of strength and power before your very eyes. We are going to have a fabulous tug-of-war between two formidable power-houses. From Sarasota, Florida, weighing in at 12,100 pounds, Eddie the elephant.” From one side of the ring, came walking in the biggest (and the first) elephant I had ever seen. Its trunk was swinging, it was wearing a huge harness and you could almost feel the ground shake when it walked. The ringmaster went on, “Eddies opponent tonight is Johnny weighing in at 4,980 pounds, from right here in Elmore”. From the other side of the ring came driving in a brand spanking new, shiny 520 John Deere tractor provided by the town’s own E. J. Butler dealership. The announcer filled in all the blanks in your mind with his banter. “Mr. Butler has assured me that there is nothing that can outpull his John Deere tractor.” The elephant was led to the center of the ring and then the tractor was backed up behind the elephant. The harness was hooked to the tractor and of course the ringmaster built up the pull-off as a world-famous event of strength and power. He said go and the pull was on. The tractor started pulling and started spinning. The old elephant reared up and leaned into the harness and just maintained the stance. The tractor just kept spinning until it was dug down into the dirt. The ringmaster finally stopped the event claiming that the mighty elephant had just as much power as the tractor. Looking back over all these years, it was a good show. The elephant weighed twice as much as the tractor and didn’t even have to pull hard. It ended up being a tie and was good for business for the dealer and a good crowd pleaser for the circus.

Gregg R Gesche, IA, entered 2022-12-25
My Email Address: Not Displayed

Viewing #1 of 599
[Previous] [List All] [Add a Story] [Next]

:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
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. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Today's Featured Article - Show Coverage: Central Illinois Strawberry Festival - by Cindy Ladage and Janna Seiz. Every year the coming of summer is highlighted by different events for different people. For some, it is heralded with the end of school, tilling the garden, or completion of the planting season. To us, connoisseurs of find food, antique tractors, farm toys, crafts, and downright fun, the annual Strawberry Festival means summer is here. Every year, in Carlinville, Illinois, the Macoupin County Historical Society and the Macoupin Agricultural Antique Association team up to fill th ... [Read Article]

Latest Ad: 1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor. Last driven 5 yrs ago. Parked ever since. As is as seen [More Ads]

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy