Tractors are not strange machines to me, particularly Ford tractors. Growing up on our Iowa farm, we had two 8-N’s that did all the fieldwork for our 80 acres. I spent many hours dragging various implements through our fields and moved a lot of snow in the winter with those tractors. While I did assist with some maintenance, Dad was the mechanic. I remember many winters with one or the other of the tractors in our tuck-under garage, disassembled for some type of repair, parts replacement, or a complete overhaul.
When Dad died in 1991 I briefly considered selling those tractors. Thankfully, I instead found a book on old Ford tractors and realized what gems these machines really were. Fortunately, Mom chose to stay on the farm instead of moving into town and my siblings[2] and I felt a responsibility to oversee the outside work. The land was leased to my cousin for farming, but the homestead and non-farm land was always in need of some type of maintenance. Instead of selling those tractors, we decided to have the older of the two completely restored and I began acquiring more.
First came an 850 with a mounted loader. We really did need a loader tractor and this seemed like a good fit. About a year later I had the engine and mechanical parts of this 800 series completely rebuilt and, in essence, now had a new tractor. Several years later I had
![]() [2] Principally, my brother, Gary, and my older sister, Sharyl. |
Ford tractors of the 1950's & early 60's > Completed Tractors > 841 PowerMaster > The Acquisition > Getting 'er Home >