VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Fourth Annual Kraft Spring Antique Truck and Tractor Auction was April 10-11, bringing bidders both in person and online for the extensive event. The sale was split into dedicated sessions: one day highlighting farm toys and memorabilia; the other featuring antique and vintage machinery, pedal tractors, agricultural advertising, and assorted contemporary items.

Things opened April 10 with approximately 900 lots of farm toys and ag memorabilia, including farm and construction die-cast and other models. The day’s high reached $5,500 for a good-condition Luke Clement custom 1/16-scale Wagner WA-17 4WD tractor. The hard-to-find piece featured yellow paint, good detail and heavy construction.

Taking second at $4,250 was a custom 1/16-scale blue Big Bud 370 Power Shift tractor with some scuffing and wear. Close behind at $4,100 was a 1/8 Scale Models Case 730 Comfort King Black Knight demonstrator narrow front, in original box, #3 of 4 from the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show in 2016.

Twenty-eight additional farm toys saw four figures. Among them, a rare 1/16-scale resin model SpecCast International 7788 4WD tractor in gold, #3 of 12 produced. It brought $3,750 despite two broken parts. A Luke Clement custom 1/16-scale Massey Ferguson 5200 4WD tractor with triples followed at $2,750. Meanwhile, two vintage 1/16 Eska Allis-Chalmers D17 Series II tractors got $2,100 each, both in excellent overall condition, but with aged boxes.

High three-figure bids were common on quality pieces, including $900 for an unopened 1/16 Ertl John Deere S780 combine from the Prestige Select Series. An $800 offer won a custom chrome 1/8-scale Farmall 806 diesel narrow front with only light wear. And, a good-condition 1/16-scale Universal Hobbies Big Bud HN320 tractor with William Brothers signed rear fenders hit $750.

More modest catches included $250 for a new-in-box 1/64-scale DCP Eilen & Son’s Peterbilt Model 379 with MAC dump trailer from the 2011 National Toy Truck ’N Construction Show. A pair of 1/16 Scale Models Case steam engine tractors, both in good condition with light wear, sold for $190, while a scratch-built 1/16-scale Gehl forage/silage wagon, with chain damage, got $150.

Quality scores even fell below $100, like a new-in-box 1/16 SpecCast Oliver 88 orchard diesel tractor, with light wear ($70), a 1/32-scale Ertl Peterbilt Model 367 grain truck with grain bin and auger, also boxed and light wear ($60), and a vintage 1/16 Tru-Scale 401 narrow front, showing play wear ($25).

The second day featured antique and vintage machinery, many sold without reserve. More than 75 tractors were offered, including selections from the Steve Just John Deere collection, plus a 1919 General Ordinance 14-28 “GO” tractor from the Jerred Ruble collection. Also featured were 10 vintage trucks, 20-plus antique engines, 32 pedal tractors, and more agricultural memorabilia.

Tractors were led by a 1972 John Deere 4020 Diesel Powershift, topping the day at $70,000. The fully restored machine, with over $50,000 invested in refurbishing, was described as “better than new.” It featured dual hydraulics, ROPS, canopy, 3-point hitch with heavy-cast quick hitch, differential lock, PTO, two wheel-weight sets, new 18.4-38 Firestone radial tires, and many new parts and repairs.

A 1940 John Deere Model BWH-40 from the Steve Just collection, offered without reserve, followed at $45,500. One of just 12 built, it was originally constructed as a BNH model before being converted to a BWH-40. The operating unit was equipped with a two-cylinder engine, electric start, four-speed transmission, 40-inch round-spoke rear wheels, fenders, lights, power lift, and a 540 PTO. The showcased 1919 “GO” tractor came close at $40,000. The running/driving four-cylinder gas-powered machine featured a friction drive transmission and belt pulley.

Among other antique tractors was a running/operating 1932 Deere GP wide-tread top steer from the Steve Just collection. It featured a two-cylinder engine, three-speed transmission, PTO with power lift, and full steel wheels. Even without a reserve, it reached $27,500. Meanwhile, a running Rumely oil-pull Model M landed $15,000. It was equipped with a two-cylinder engine, two-speed transmission, solid flywheel, full set of lugs and skid rings, belt pulley and complete air cleaner. Hammering more modestly at $7,500 was a 1935 Deere 4-Bolt B. Not running but described as a stunning original, it had a two-cylinder engine, four-speed transmission, PTO, loop drawbar, and all steel wheels.

Other pieces of antique machinery included 20 antique engines, like an International Harvester 10 hp hit-and-miss engine on skids, running but needing a cooling tank, bringing $7,100. A highlighted Waterloo Boy 7 hp hit-and-miss engine, configured as a buzz saw rig, with factory saw, from the Steve Just collection, got $3,500 despite needing engine work.

Vintage trucks attracted attention, led by an $8,250 bid on a 1949 Mack EF with a 97.5 hp EN 209 Continental flathead six-cylinder engine. It was equipped with a Chelsea PTO, Tulsa Winch Company winch, tilting bed, and operational original Mack gauges inside. Stored indoors, it was in good condition but needed light repairs. More unusual was an untitled Indiana Motor Truck well drilling rig that left for $2,000. The non-running outfit was retrofitted with a Ford Model A four-cylinder engine and transmission, had solid tires, and an original Indiana radiator.

Then came nearly three dozen pedal vehicles. Separate highs of $1,300 won a good-condition Ertl John Deere 4430 pedal tractor and a hard-to-find Eska Case VAC pedal tractor, nicely restored, but displaying some surface defects.

From there, bids dropped into the hundreds, like the $850 offered for a custom International 1568 V8 pedal tractor. The good-condition piece featured a custom wide front, fenders, and stacks. A $400 bid scored a good condition Scale Models Case IH 7088 axial-flow pedal combine with corn head.