By Barb Van Loo
Auction Exchange Correspondent

ADRIAN, Mich. — Eager bidders from Michigan, the nearby states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois as well as some from Pennsylvania and Missouri gathered at the farm located just outside of Adrian to bid on a wide variety of farm equipment. Although the weather in Michigan was not too pleasant during most of the month of Oct., Oct. 10, the day of this auction, turned out to be fairly pleasant – a little cool but at least the sun was out. The auction was conducted by Neuhart Auctioneering.

Large pieces of equipment were located in the field behind the barn and this was the area to which many gravitated taking advantage of the opportunity to examine and start the tractors, cultivators, and the many other pieces of equipment needed on a farm. The International Harvester 560 proved to be the most desirable, finding a final selling price of $5,700. The Farmall 350 row crop with a fast hitch sold for $1,200; another International 350 sold for $2,000; and an International McCormick Farmall C earned $2,150.
A Farmall tractor with Woods mower crossed the block for $1,350; a Farmall 560 LP with a fast hitch sold for $800; and an International Harvester 404 with a loader earned $1,300. An International Harvester Farmall M with fenders saw $1,350; and an International Utility 350 diesel tractor was declared sold at $2,000. The Super WD was one of only 1,600 made but, unfortunately, it was not running; therefore, it sold for $1,000.

Other large pieces of equipment needed for the running of any successful farm included a McCormick-Deering corn shredder that sold for $350; a Massey-Harris self-propelled corn picker that earned $400; and an International 720 six-bottom plow that saw $600.

An International 140 three-bottom rollover plow earned a final bid of $1,300; and a Model 55 chisel plow sold for $900. A fast hitch for a 450 sold for $110; a factory-made wide front end for a 560 sold for $700; and a three-point hitch with fenders sold for $100.
Smaller tractors included an International Cub Cadet, one of 2,300 made, with new blades and a new drive belt that sold for $400; and an International Cadet 382 Hydro tractor with a mower and bagger that earned $475.

A quick hitch with a three-point conversion to a fast hitch sold for $50; and a Model 70 three-bottom plow earned $550.

A John Deere sheller, with a manual and extra parts, crossed the block for $275; a Model 70 four-bottom plow sold for $600; a disc went to a new owner for $325; and a two bottom plow found a final bid of $75.

Pamphlets, manuals, and booklets for and about equipment are always in demand. A 1984 International Harvester pamphlet touting the 1985 products sold for $50. At the end of 1984, IH became Case International Harvester.

International Harvester Case bulletins and books sold for $35 to $65; service manuals for 766 and 966 Series chasses earned $55; and service manuals for 300 and 400 Series crossed the block for $60.

A fan that had been a giveaway item for Caterpillar is now collectible and sold for $35; a new old stock International Harvester Cub Cadet seat cover earned $35; and a set of service manuals for Cub Cadets saw a final bid of $60.

For the farmer-in-training there was an Oliver 1755 pedal tractor that earned a final bid of $130.

It seems that the user of a particular brand of equipment usually has a sign of some sort to display on the barn or shed. Found here were two of these. One was for International Harvester and declared McCormick Dairy Equipment Used On This Farm that sold for $90 and the other was a flag for Oliver that declared For Men Who Grow and this one earned $70.

Several model tractors, many mint in the box, were also presented. Examples included a 40th Anniversary Case Super M model tractor that sold for $80; a Farmall Super M tractor with a mounted 2MH Case picker that earned $60; and an International 1086 tractor in its original box that earned $65.

Examples of other items that the bidders were eager to have were: a hydraulic tester from a dealer, Coleman’s in Blissfield, Mich. that sold for $160; an International Harvester muffler in its original box that earned $60; a McCormick-Deering umbrella to mount on your tractor and shield you from the sun that crossed the block for $40; and an International Harvester motor that saw a final bid of $250.