Attn: Mr Dave 2

Kind of reminds me of tractors in your location, did not know they (IH) had a front axle drive either, I can't see the model, 280 something ?
IH Tractor

Billy, I did my 1st tour of Germany from 74-76. I was amazed at the MFA tractors. I had never seen one in the states (city boy till 16). They were all over the place in Germany and came in many sizes and colors. I was really shocked to learn that JD had a plant in Mannheim (during a field training exercise we bivouacked right outside the fence)!! That is also when I saw a mini excavator for the first time. I was really impressed with a Mercedes tractor! I also noticed that the Germans really matched the equipment to the job. Nothing too big or too small.

Rick

Billy,
That tractor was probably sold new, by Stew Kinney, owner of Kinderhook Tractor, just up the creek from you.
Loren

Thats interesting, there is a long time dealer down rt9 in columbia county, I forget the name at the moment, never heard of that one, but years back I used to deliver down that way, probably seen it but now forget LOL!

I believe it was Calhoun Equipment with IH in this area, just east of Troy, there is a fair amount of IH around here if you look around at various farms.

Like yourself and your dad with Case, we were a Ford Tractor Dealership, it was Browns Garage, then us, Alpine Ford Tractor/Equipment Inc. largest Ford dealer in the area, I have a photo it with a bunch of either 2N, 9N, or 8N's new out front, prepped for delivery all with mid mount sickle bar mowers. The sister dealer was Bebout in Latham/Niskayuna and the competitor locally was JD, Capital Tractor about 2 miles from our dealership, the good ole days !

This one totally reminded me of Dave2, size, FWD, weather cab etc.low hours allegedly, know nothing of the model though.

Definitely broadened your "tractor horizons" and what a tease, setting up a base camp outside the JD plant LOL.

It seems they have excelled in equipment technology, and have been ahead of us in lots of things going back to WWII.

I never saw and FWA tractors around here at all, even at the dealership, not one Elenco, that I can recall, or any other conversion, and we had a shop, long time business, still operating today that could have built or converted tractors, HOWE-COLEMAN conversions of heavy trucks to front axle drive, HOWE Brothers is the name of the business, link attached.

Its interesting how FWA evolved in the U.S., I just saw and took a photo of a JD 4440 with FWA, there was 2 of them in this local shop north of me, I have run my farmer friends JD 4440 many times and have many other local 4440's but never a FWA one, forgot to ask about them will next time I'm up there for parts.
Howe Brothers

Bill,
Calhon's were also New Idea Dealers, as we were. We transfered equipment back and forth. Also there was a Case dealer in Valacie (sp), "Borsh Bros". I sold Allen a new Profab outdoor wood gasification boiler last year, which he installed to heat his house and garage.
I remember the name of your dealership. If you remember "Capital Pete", Wes O, his righthand man is now the principal owner of Randall Imps., the CNH dealer in Fultonville. Small world!
Loren

Loren, thats cool you remember our dealership, we sold NI manure spreaders, polaris snowmobiles, bug zappers, scaffolding and shoring. I have some memorabilia from the place. Best thing about having a dealership and a farm was if you needed something off hours, just head over to the shop.

I know Pete, well more or less know of him nowadays, don't see him that often, I've run into him across the road at the dairy bar, I was in there with my long time farmer/friend and Pete was razzing him about still having the first dollar he ever made LOL, likely true, but thats what it took for him to stay afloat and be successful in a lifetime career of agriculture.

Trying to think who Wes is though. Pete's son Jeff had opened a Caterpillar rental store, around '03, sold challenger tractors/equipment and M-F tractors, Simplicity, looked like it was going ok, I used to rent from him exclusively for heavy equipment, had the best deal going, not sure what happened, had 2 locations, then just one, and now closed up.

Calhouns is still in business, Cub Cadet, not sure what else. I recall their old location, I believe they are one in the same, used to get IH parts for the IH 45 baler, still have an unopened 2 pack of IH sisal twine.


The good ole days were fun, whenever we had a JD in the shop, needed parts, or vice versa, there seemed to be a mark up. I do recall 2 fires Capital had, suspicious etc., He invested in some of the most picturesque land near our local reservoir, developed it, seemed to work out well for him, I used to fish there often, the hill sides overlooking the water and beyond, was all ag land, farmers used to have a great view from the office ! LOL