BEFORE & AFTER

The Jubilee was the first restoration for Charles and Troy, and it taught them to appreciate the engineering that went into such vintage machines. 'The beauty of these old tractors is that they are so simple,' Troy says. 'I don't mean simple in a bad way. They are a marvel of engineering because they are simple; that's the way they were built, to stand the test of time.'

As simple as these tractors are, Troy was surprised how much work the restoration required. He previously had restored a 1966 Chevy Nova and notes, 'Nothing is hidden on a tractor. On cars, you can hide things behind the body, but not on an old tractor. Every single, last thing must be addressed equally if it is going to look good. Also, I'm the type of guy that has to do things the right way, so that meant every little detail had to be right.'

After putting the finishing touches on the Jubilee, Charles gathered everyone together who had worked on it. 'The tractor started right up like a brand new one,' Charles remembers. After a couple of minor adjustments and some detailing, the project, which began in August 2001, was finally completed in April 2002.

Both Charles and Troy say they enjoyed restoring the tractor and think it 'turned out perfectly.' They have no plans for additional tractor restorations, although they say this one was a great experience and one that gave them a chance to spend some quality time together. Charles adds, 'I'm sure I will spend many hours enjoying this tractor, taking it to various shows and hopefully others who see the tractor can also enjoy it and appreciate what this tractor means to me and everyone involved.' FC

- For more information about Charles Baker's Golden Jubilee, contact him at 8278 Maineville Road, Maineville, OH 45039; (513) 683-1934.

'The beauty of these old tractors is that they are so simple. I don't mean simple in a bad way. They are a marvel of engineering because they are simple; that's the way they were built, to stand the test of time.'