SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. — Dave Flory of West Manchester, Ohio, spent several years amassing a collection of farm-related memorabilia, most of which was John Deere-related. There were several tractors that were either in original condition or had been restored.

He was recently divesting himself of this collection and chose Lyle Chupp and Chupp Auctions as the auctioneer to accomplish this goal. A standing-room-only crowd was in the Chupp Auction facility in Shipshewana to avail themselves of the opportunity to add these items to their collections.

All of the tractors and John Deere equipment appeared to have just come off the showroom floor due to Flory’s meticulous work. The gentleman who had done the restoration was in attendance and available to answer any questions.

Unless otherwise noted, all tractors were in restored condition.

The top-selling John Deere tractor was a Model 80 diesel with power steering that sold for $19,200. A Model 20-H tractor, one of only 294, saw a final bid of $14,700; and a Model 40-V, which was one of 329 sold for $14,000.

A Model 60, all-fuels tractor with a Model 227 corn picker sold for $14,500; a Model 50 wide-front tractor sold for $7,600; and a Model 50 with a No. 45 loader saw $4,600.

There were three versions of a Model 60 John Deere tractor with the high-seat Standard with an older restoration selling for $7,200; the low-seat Standard earning $4,400; and the Orchard tractor with new tin and having been repainted crossing the block for $14,000.

Two of the items were ones which were commonly found on display in a John Deere dealership. The one was a framed mounted display of John Deere seed plates that sold for $6,000; the other a Roll-O-Matic display of tractor tires which crossed the block for $10,000.

Other items from a dealership were ones that would be found on the walls – posters and banners.

Among them, a framed litho declaring “Modern Farm Power for You … Whatever Your Needs” from 1955 found a final bid of $5,000. There were several posters for specific pieces of John Deere equipment such as an elevator, a manure spreader, a combine, an engine, plus more. These pieces found many collectors anxious to add them to their collection(s) and sold for $1,050 to $3,200.

Other John Deere equipment included: a Model 246/247 two-row corn planter that sold for $2,200; a Model 40 combine with a 10-foot grain head that was all original that earned $4,000; and a Model H, Series 50 manure spreader that saw $2,200.

A Model RW seven-foot wheel disc harrow sold for $1,650; a restored Model SH-3 six-foot offset disc saw $2,100; and an eight-foot field cultivator with a mechanical lift and an older restoration saw $3,250.

Standing out among the John Deere advertising was a lighted sign for John Deere Quality Equipment that sold for $5,000; and two stand-out metal John Deere Quality Farm Equipment signs measuring 96 inches by 71 inches from the Fillmore Country Implement Co., Geneva, Neb. that sold for $8,000 and $8,500.

John Deere also made hand machines such as cream separators, mower knife grinders, mixers, hand corn shellers and feed mills. A lot of brochures for these items were popular and sold for $1,150.

In addition to the John Deere signs, there were many more early signs for the connoisseur to add to a collection. Many of these were used on a farm to advertise the breed of cattle or hogs that were raised there.

Some were to advertise feed, fertilizer or other items needed by the farmer and were from companies no longer in business; they serve as a reminder that once there were many small local companies that sold these items where now there are a few major nationwide ones.

Examples of these signs and their selling prices included: a metal flanged two-sided Dickelman corn crib sign sold for $2,500; a metal Allis-Chalmers sign earned $2,250; and an Enterprise Butchering display sign that advertised equipment for everything necessary for home butchering crossed the block for $1,050.

Hog breeders were always proud to advertise their breed with a simple picture of the hog and the breed prominently displayed. A sign for Berkshire hogs sold for $1,800; one for Duroc hogs saw $4,750; and one for Hampshire hogs earned $2,300.

Cattle were not to be left out with a tin sign advertising “Ayshire Cattle on this Farm” selling for $2,100; and a porcelain two-sided sign for purebred “Holstein-Friesian” cows selling for $1,200.

It is not unusual to see a horse or dog treadmill, but do chickens need exercise, too? For the collector of the unusual there was a six-in-one exercise and feeder for chickens stamped Brown Mills, N.J. that sold for $125.

Whether looking for a sign to add to a collection, a piece of equipment, a fine tractor, items found in a dealer’s showroom, or information about farming in the past, this auction was one that would fulfill those goals.

All prices quoted were the hammer prices; a buyer’s premium was added only to items bought through Internet bidding. Chupp auctions can be reached at (574) 536-8005.