To C. L. Dill and others asking about tractor restorations:

Agricultural equipment care and feeding, it's our job.

Our museum is fortunate to have a large collection of farm tractor and
machinery items primarily dating from 1910 to 1950 (earlier and later years
are available but not as inclusive).  This collection is cataloged on a
computer database and is available (by photocopy) to those needing
information about the original specifications, colors, etc of tractors and
machinery.  We charge for this service -- those needing details on costs
please contact me off list. (We don't make money at this but hope to recoupe
SOME of the costs)

Our in-house restorations rely heavily on out archive and have been more
historically accurate because we are able to use the 1930 service manual
rather than the generic manual available from commercial sources.  We used
to use area implement dealers for service -- it's kind of like taking your
1926 Hupmobile to a automobile dealer for service -- maybe you will be
lucky...

REMEMBER NOT ALL TRACTORS **SHOULD** BE RESTORED.  Our restorations
consider the historic fabric of the tractor -- if it is original paint
effected only by time, sun, wind, rain -- we usually leave it alone.  Both
restored and unrestored are exhibited.  We do try to have every piece of
machinery in oour collection in running condition -- years from now it will
be even more difficult to get parts !!!  We do use our tractors -- but only
for light duty, no tractor pulls.  We believe that they were designed to run
and sitting in one place for a very long time has to be hard on them.

Soon you will be able to visit us on the WWW with photos of some of our
restored/unrestored pride and joys.  More on this later.

For further information on the Beckman Archive contact us at:

     John Awald, Director       <[log in to unmask]>
     Carrie Lavarnway, Curator  <[log in to unmask]>
     Ag Museum general info     <[log in to unmask]>

Snail:   State Agricultural Heritage Museum
         South Dakota State University
         Box 2207C
         Brookings, SD  57007-0999

Phone:   605/688-6226
FAX:     605/688-6303

We are agressively collection agricultural literature.  If your museum has
service manuals, sales brochures, etc contact us off list with the details.

John Awald
[log in to unmask]