This Tractor and That Tractor

Posted by Don Wadge on January 28, 2001 at 20:12:30 from (216.81.26.174):

Well this discussion has really raised some passion. It's amazing how passionate people get about their colours. But then I guess we wouldn't have much of a hobby if it wasn't interesting enough to raise some passion. Even though I have found some of the comments rather ridiculous I have found myself signing on every day lately to see what the latest direction the discussion has taken. I think the fellow who said " I bought it to do a job and that's what it does, so I,m happy" (or something close to that) said it best. If you're farming that's what matters. If you're collecting; what drives your likes might be colour, what you grew up with, etc.,etc.. For me its tractors I like or what impresses me and I have found that all the makers have something I like for one reason or another. I'm from Manitoba and grew up in the 50's & early 60's. In the fifties our area was almost exclusively grain farming with sunflowers and some corn grown for ensilage being the only row crops grown. Hence almost all of our tractors up to that time were of the standard (wheatland) style although some of the row crop variety were to be found.

In our area most towns would have dealers for several of the various brands, perhaps three of the five so to speak. I have often thought about how big a part marketing and the dealership network played in the sales of one brand or another. I'm sure we have all noticed how you will find pockets with a high concentration of one brand or another. Why? First off it no doubt has to do with the quality of the dealership and how well this dealership was backed up by the company. There are also many other aspects to why one brand in an area might do better than others. Who was the man who owned the dealership, how well was he liked, was he perhaps prominent in the community, what kind of appearance did his dealership make, what kind of deals did he cut. What kind of soil was prevalent in the area- perhaps one maker or another had a tractor that was more suitable to the type of farming or soil conditions that existed in the area (type of soil, wet conditions, dry conditions) or perhaps how good a job did the tractor do on the type of implement that was preferred in the area or the toughest job to satisfy.

The more intriqueing part of this reflection is how makers like Oliver, Cockshutt, Allis-Chalmers did succesful industry firsts on such things as live PTO, high speed 4 and 6 cylinder engines, rubber tires, thermostaticaly controlled engine cooling/heat control. (Notice how Oliver designed their front spindles- hardly a need for power steering.) In hindsight many of these tractors were state of the art many years before John Deere,IHC, and Massey. They all got there eventually. Many times things ahead of their times don't interpret into that many extra sales. Sometimes its not important. Back in the thirties not many people had extra money for rubber tires, LPTO doesn't do much on a deeptiller and those new high speed engines didn't cut it for lugging your way through that tough spot each round. In other areas or for some jobs LPTO would be very important. On this point there is also the dealer network aspect which is a major sales element. From my own observation I don't think that back in the 50's and 60's anyone had more dealerships than IHC (and good dealerships), then John Deere and/or Massey and/or Case.

The point I want to make is that why a tractor or brand sells, which does a better job, etc.,etc., is a very complex issue and what pleases or agravates with one operator may be the opposite with another. Most of us are probably more partial to one brand or another for a world of reasons but remember you're good or bad experience in most cases is limited to one or two models of many models over the years produced by your colour. There are many others useing these tractors in different circumstances, soil conditions, and different jobs. If it does the job you bought it to do at the cost your happy with what more can you ask.

Follow Ups:

• Re: This Tractor and That Tractor jp 22:27:35 01/29/01 (0)
• Re: This Tractor and That Tractor john d 14:21:23 01/29/01 (0)
• Re: This Tractor and That Tractor Greg H. 10:11:16 01/29/01 (0)
• Re: This Tractor and That Tractor Salmoneye 05:28:46 01/29/01 (0)
• Re: This Tractor and That Tractor kev@IA 04:01:26 01/29/01 (2)
  • Re: Re: This Tractor and That Tractor Red Button 14:09:14 01/29/01 (1)
    • Re: Re: Re: This Tractor and That Tractor kev@IA 16:52:57 01/29/01 (0)

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