Dad’s First Tractor

During World War II, the production of new cars, tractors, farm machinery and other items were converted to *war production.  When veterans of World War II were discharged from the military, those who wanted to farm were given certificates so they could buy new equipment.

Most veterans, having served several years, including Dad, had a certificate for a new tractor, but no money to buy one. His Uncle M.M. Neal offered to buy the certificate for enough to purchase a used tractor, so Uncle Maurice bought a brand new tractor and Dad bought his first one, an F-20, which he kept in use for several decades.

Living with farm equipment every day, we never thought about taking photos of them. I wish we had. Dad’s Farmall F-20 never looked this spiffy. I remember it a faded red with a sickle mower attached to keep weedy areas neat. It also powered the elevator which sent “square” bales of hay from the hayrack to the haymow. (So-called square bales are shaped like large bricks.)

Here are Dad’s other tractors (2019 post).

*Note: The MACR (Missing Air Crew Report), received from the National Archives on microfiche, listed the Installed Weapons of the P-38L in which Lt. Daniel Wilson lost his life. Three of them were built by Colt (a well-known firearms manufacturer), one by International Harvester (farm machinery), and one by Frigidaire (refrigerators).

Rabbit Trail: Allis-Chalmers was a manufacturer well suited for government contracts. During the 1930s, the Public Works Administration bought seven hydraulic turbines for the Hoover Dam project. During both world wars, the company made engines, weapons, electrical controls for ships, aircraft engine components, shells, and tracked vehicles. Allis-Chalmers also produced uranium-processing and research equipment for the Manhattan Project.

One more tractor story!