The Story Of A Parts Tractor That Wasn't

Enlarge Image Image Gallery This MM Twin City KTA was restored last year by Buddy Woodson, P.O. Box 125, Eagleville, TN 37060.

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President Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Assn., P.O. Box 125, Eagleville, Tennessee 37060

This story actually started in 1985 when I bought my first tractor to restore. It was a 1948 A John Deere. I was raised on John Deeres and Molines on a small farm in Tennessee. We farmed with two A's and a G John Deere. Also we had an R and U Moline. That U Moline was a real powerhouse. As a teenager I remember plowing in those 10 acre fields of middle Tennessee. The old U would pull a three disk Athens plow with ease. I would slow up to make a corner and when I shoved the throttle back down, it would always spin the wheels. What a thrill for a farmboy!!

Well, back to the story of the KTA. I have about 30 tractors in my collection but I am always looking for something different. In 1989 a veterinarian friend of mine told me of an old tractor she had seen on a farm call she had made. The only thing she remembered was it said MM on the rear end and had spoke wheels. Not being an authority on MM's I didn't know what she had seen but I knew I had to go look. The next time I was in the area I found the old tractor down behind the man's barn grown up in briar bushes. The serial number plate revealed it to be a MTA Twin City. The tractor had been sitting uncovered for years but it was different from anything I had in my collection. It was mostly complete but was missing some vital parts. The magneto gear and water pump were all missing! However, the carburetor and manifold appeared to be in good condition. How a manifold can sit uncovered for years and not freeze and burst, I don't know except for the fact it was filled with rust, hickory nuts, hackberry seeds, and other assorted goodies. The rear rims were cut downs but they were in good shape. The tractor had a few flakes of prairie gold paint on it. (The old ones always get the new paint color!!)

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