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| Indiana tractor collector loves old iron of any kind |
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Lavon Fred is a fixture around Rochester, Ind. When a group of farmers met and someone mentioned antique tractors, his name came up right away.
“I’ve been collecting since 1980,” Lavon said, spreading his arms to take in his collection he keeps on the farm where he and his sons Bill and David work. Grandsons James and Scott also farm, while son Phil works an off-the-farm job.
One shed of Lavon’s is filled to the brim with mostly restored tractors. More are stored in other buildings, but this is where his favorites are housed. “I have four Graham Bradleys,” he shared.
Lavon and other collectors will be bringing their Graham Bradleys to the Winamac, Ind., show in the summer of 2009. He also brought his Graham to a Graham Bradley gathering at Penfield, Ill., in 2006. The Graham Bradley at Penfield was like a homecoming for the tractor, which had been purchased a scant 50 miles north of there.
On Lavon’s 80th birthday, his family had hosted a private showing on the farm of his Graham Bradley. Phil shared, “We had a huge turnout for Fulton County, Ind.”
Along with the Graham Bradleys – although not as rare – is an International Harvester Farmall H Lavon purchased from a neighbor. When asked if he had a favorite, he declared, “The last one I’ve been working on is always my favorite!”
Fred, who said he loves all brands, also has a 1935 Allis Chalmers WC. “I got this from a family in Iowa.” James pointed out his grandfather’s Co-ops. Two Co-ops sat side-by-side – one a six-cylinder, and the other a four-cylinder, which Fred mentioned “is very scarce.”
Like the Graham Bradleys that were sold through Sears & Roebuck, the Freds have a rare Bradley tractor with a brass tag. “Sears & Roebuck only sold 300 of them,” Lavon said. “These radiator tanks were made out of steel. I made a form for them out of steel to form brass tanks. A fellow from Michigan comes down to borrow the form.
“The Bradley tractor belongs to the farm,” he added. “We had it redid in 1983. I made the rims in the shop myself. We found the Bradley in Valparaiso, Indiana, and our other Bradley by Mishawaka.”
Lavon Fred has a 1929 McCormick Deering and a 1923 Fordson, which he said, “I got because my father-in-law had one. It is the same year my wife, Eloise, was born.”
The Freds have a series of shiny Silver King tractors, plus a 1934 Plymouth, which was produced by the same company. Chrysler questioned this but Fred said that Silver King’s parent company had already produced a car, truck and tractor by that name prior to Chrysler ever dreaming about it back in the 1910s.
This is just a sampling of the Fred family collection. James shares in Lavon’s love of the old iron and the entire clan enjoys the beauty of the machines and tinkering on them when farm time allows.
Although too late for the 2008 show, mark your calendar to attend the Winamac Power from the Past show in 2009, where Lavon Fred will probably have some of his old iron on display. Check out www.winamacpowershow.com |
| 8/7/2008 |
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