Mecum’s Gone Farmin’ Vintage Tractor Auction Yields A Healthy Harvest

Staggering Sell-through and Impressive Sales Demonstrate Auction’s Success 

Walworth, Wis. – April 10, 2013 – Mecum’s third annual Spring Gone Farmin’ vintage tractor auction held April 5-6 at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center in Davenport, Iowa, proved to be one for the books with more than 470 lots of tractors and vintage farm signs and relics crossing the block – some dating back to the early 1900s. The auction brought something for everyone ,and in turn achieved an astonishing 94 percent sell-through rate with total sales reaching $1.2 million.

The relaxed atmosphere of the event coupled with the excitement of the auction drew a crowd of bidders and onlookers that included everyone from dedicated collectors to families enjoying an afternoon infused with America’s rich agricultural history.

The top sale of the two-day auction was a 1959 John Deere 430s All Fuel (Lot S48) bringing in a generous $51,000. Discovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, the fully-restored tractor is one of only 18 built, most of which were exported out of the country.

Photo courtesy Mecum Auctions 

The second highest sale at $36,000 went to a one-of-a-kind 1920 Samson Cane M tractor (Lot S55) that has been the feature of magazines and television shows as what is thought to be the first high crop tractor ever manufactured.

Photo courtesy Mecum Auctions 

The complete top 10 sales list includes (all sales reflect hammer prices):
1. 1959 John Deere 430s All Fuel (Lot S48) at $51,000
2. 1920 Samson Cane M (Lot S55) at $36,000
3. 2008 Trailer (Lot S61) at $28,000
4. 1948 Ford 8N Road Maintainer (Lot S41) at $24,500
5. 1966 John Deere 4020 High Crop (Lot S73) at $24,000
6. 1957 John Deere 320V (Lot S36) at $18,000
7. 1951 John Deere M (Lot S66) at $18,000
8. John Deere 1920s SSP 36x108 (Lot M90) at $16,500
9. 1951 Oliver 66 Orchard (Lot S38) at $16,000
10. 1947 Farmall MV High Crop (Lot S88) at $15,500
 
For access to complete auction results and other member benefits, sign up for the free InfoNet service offered at www.Mecum.com.

Mecum also hosted its second annual Houston collector car auction this past weekend, April 4-6, which saw 1,000 cars cross the block and brought in more than $25 million in sales. Complete results for Houston’s auction are also available via the Mecum InfoNet.

Mecum’s next vintage tractor auction will be held this August 8-10 at office headquarters in Walworth, Wis., followed by Gone Farmin’ Iowa on Nov. 2 at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center in Davenport. For more information visit www.Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050 to speak directly with a Mecum representative.

About Mecum Auctions
As the world leader of collector car and road art sales, the Mecum Auction Company has been specializing in the sale of collector cars for 26 years, now offering more than 15,000 vehicles per year. In 2010, Dan Mecum launched the Gone Farmin’ tractor division within the company and has since grown it into a thriving venture offering three auctions each year. For further information, visit www.Mecum.com or call (262) 275-5050. Follow along with Mecum’s social media news and join us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

#  #  # 

  
This 1912 International Harvester Mogul Jr. Tractor 15-25 sold for a top bid of $450,000. 

Some top sellers from the Lake Side Farms Tractor and Engine Collection Auction: 
1912 International Harvester Mogul Jr. 15-25 tractor:  $450,000
1888 Crossley-Otto slide-valve 2 hp engine with piano base: $320,000
1922 Rumely Oil Pull Model K 12-20: $65,000
New Era Little Giant 6 hp engine: $40,000
Caterpillar 30 with swap tracks: $37,500
IHC Titan sideshaft 4 hp engine: $32,500
Dieter 15 hp portable engine: $22,500

 
A porcelain John Deere Farm Implements sign sold for $3,500. 

Mid-range sellers: 
Advanced Rumely color poster, framed under glass: $4,500
John Deere Farm Implements sign (porcelain): $3,500
Fairbanks Morse Z, 10 hp hopper-cooled portable engine: $3,000
1927 John Deere 3 hp  engine: $2,900
NOS Auto-Sparker in original wooden box with original instructions: $1,500
1911 Gruber box wagon, original condition with original paint: $1,200
Original Texaco Ethyl glass gas globe: $1,000 

 
This bulletin for a Twin-City Tractor School sold for $70. 

Low-range sellers: 
Bowser Red Sentry curb pump, restored: $800
Stickney 1-3/4 hp engine cart in very good condition with all-original finish: $650
Framed Hart-Parr Vertical Single-cylinder advertising page: $525
1920 Avery Motor Farming, Threshing & Road Building Machinery catalog - $200
Bulletin for the Tractor School of Twin City Tractors - $70
1839Hendrick Mfg. Co. Invoice and 1930 John Deere Invoice - $50 
Rumley 12-20 OilPull Tractor Canadian Repair Price List No. 24 - $25

Two Cylinder Expo XXII Farm Auction Results by Polk Auctions

 
This John Deere 3020 diesel High Crop achieved a high bid of $30,250 at the Two Cylinder Expo.  

10 highest sellers:
John Deere 3020, diesel high crop, serial no. 127232: $30,250
John Deere HNH serial no. 41762: $28,000
John Deere 2510, diesel, high crop, serial no. 14539: $20,000
John Deere A, high crop, serial no. 668552: $17,500
John Deere 730, gas, serial no. 7300007: $16,500
John Deere 730, diesel, serial no. 7301645: $16,250
John Deere 530, serial no. 5306617: $14,750
John Deere 330 S, serial no. 330363: $14,000
John Deere 2520, diesel, serial no. 23307: $10,300
John Deere 430 LP, serial no. 142907: $9,000
 

 
This John Deere 50 with loader sold for $2,900 at the Two Cylinder Expo farm auction. 

10 middle sellers:
John Deere 830, serial no. 8306286: $7,900
John Deere 530, serial no. 5303394: $6,900
John Deere G, serial no. 59746: $5,900
John Deere 630, serial no. 6302840: $5,100
John Deere GM hand start, serial no. 13349: $4,500
John Deere QF implement sign (tax) $3,200
John Deere 50 with loader, serial no. 5022072: $2,900
John Deere MT, wide-front, serial no. 22207: $2,100
John Deere 440, serial no. 454479: $1,900
John Deere 3-piece weight set: $1,400
 

10 low sellers:
2-bottom plow: $900
John Deere round wide-front: $800
John Deere square wide-front: $750
John Deere clock, 4 legged (tax): $625
John Deere 110 LG Orchard: $600
3-point 3-bottom plow, model 416: $550
RV2A magneto: $500
John Deere pam clock (tax): $500
John Deere 3-point hitch: $500
John Deere dealership manual (tax): $500

For more results, see polkauction.com.

 Auction Results from the 29th Annual Labor Day Auction, conducted by Polk Auction Company, New Paris, Ind., August 30- September 1, 2012. 

 A Waterloo Boy tractor similar to this one was the top seller at the Polk Labor Day Auction with a bid of $60,000. Photo by Penny Mayes.  

Low Bids:
Case Offset Disc: $500
Powerline 4-foot tiller (tax): $500
McCormick Hit-n-Miss Motor (tax): $525
Ferguson 3-pint 2-row planter: $550
3-point Rotary Mower: $575
Case 1-row Picker: $65600IH Model H no. 89925: $650
MocCormick-Deering 10-20: $700
Ford 9N (no tag): $800
John Deere B, styles, no. 245173: $900

Mid-Range Bids:
Oliver 70 Row Crop no. 247705: $1,700
Lennox Kittytrack 600 with Blade & Mower Deck: $2,500
Farmall F-30 no. 29828: $3,700
Cockshutt 50, Diesel no.600: $4,200
Massey-Ferguson 1155 no. 72038: $6,000
Ford 8N with V8 Conversion (no tag): $7,100
Case1070 Gold Demonstrator no. 8660338: $9,000
Oliver 1550 Gas Utility Tractor no. 196155-506: $12,000
John Deere 420 W no. 128404: $14,500
John Deere 70 High Crop no. 7003128: $17,000

Highest Bids:
Waterloo Boy no. 27013: $60,000
John Deere 430 utility tractor with power steering, no. 158130: $35,000
John Deere G High Crop no. 47600: $30,500
John Deere 3020 4 WD no. 130998: $30,000
John Deere 4620 no. 015494
John Deere 2510 Diesel High Crop no. 7319
Minneapolis-Moline NTX Jeep: $ 29,000
John Deere 3020 Standard no. 71413R: 27,500
John Deere 6030 no. 035408: $26,500
John Deere 3020 High Crop no. 58634

See more results from this auction at auction.polkauction.com.

According to Kurt Aumann at Aumann Auctions, the upcoming Lake Side Farms auction "will be one that goes down in the annals of tractor and engine collecting history as one of, if not the very best. It's not the largest by quantity, but I would challenge you to find better quality."

Case in point, the 1912 International Harvester 45 Kerosene Mogul Tractor shown above. The Mogul is in immaculate condition, just as all of the other pieces up for sale at the two-day auction taking place Oct. 5, 2012 and Oct. 6, 2012 at 8755 Utt Road in Kempton, PA 19529.

Other tractors up for auction include a 16 hp Atlas/Morton Friction Drive, a 16-30 1919 Eagle Model F as well as multiple Caterpillars and John Deeres.

This 1887 Crossley Slide-Valve Piano Base will be the highlight of a great selection of engines. Also included will be a 1904 Hornsby-Akroyd, a Johnson Multi Motor, a Mietz & Weiss, and Economys, Fairbanks-Morses and IHC of all shapes and sizes.

Literature, photos & postcards, parts, signs and various antiques will sell on Friday, Oct. 5. Tractors, engines and various other rare items will sell on Saturday, Oct. 6.

You can see the full listing for Friday and Saturday, as well as the auction catalog on Aumann Auctions' website. You can also see videos of most of the items up for auction on YouTube.

  
A John Deere 730 Diesel like this one was the top seller at the Roger Heitman Estate Auction. This tractor was photographed by ellenm1 (Flickr) in 2010.

Top Sellers:
John Deere 730 Diesel, no. 7305486: $8,525
John Deere #30 Combine: $8,500
John Deere 4020, no. 159694R: $8,100
John Deere 630, no. 6314889: $7,000
John Deere 620, no. 6218913: $5,000
John Deere 70 Standard, no. 7015294: $4,900
John Deere 70: $4,000
John Deere 50, no. 5011066: $2,800
John Deere 620, no. 6215183: $2,500
John Deere 3 Bottom Mtd. Plow: $1,550 

Lowest Sellers: 
Tumble Bug: $25
Tumble Bug: $30
Buzz Saw Rig: $30
John Deere 2 Bottom Plow: $60
John Deere 3 Bottom Plow: $70
John Deere 4 Bottom Plow: $100
John Deere B, no. 250968: $225
John Deere 4 Bottom Plow: $225
John Deere 4 Bottom Plow: $250
John Deere #44 2 Bottom Plow: $270

You can see more results from this auction at the Nixon Auctions website.

  
A Twin City 20-35 tractor similar to this one sold for $14,000 at the Curtis Rink auction. 

Top Sellers: 

Twin City 20-35 no. 3981:$ 14,000 
Moline Universal no. 27568 w/2 way plow: $12,000
Twin City 17-28 Orchard no. 24744: $9,100
Twin City 17-30B no. 7103: $7,000
Minneapolis Moline KT w/3 row cultivator no. 300981: $6,750
MM GT no. 160290: $6,500
MM Motrac: $4,000
MM U-Cane no. 15480067: $3,800
MM ZTS: $3,300
Trailer: $3,100

Lowest Sellers: 

1972 Ford Boom Truck: $650
Minneapolis Moline Std: $700
1959 Chevy Truck: $750
MM 108 Lawn Mower: $750
Twin City 17-28 no. 30497: $850
Twin City 17-28 no. 22374: $900
MM ZTU no. 569339U: $950
MM UTU no. 3273230: $1,000
MM ZA no. 65000909: $1,025
Twin City 21-32 no. 150284: $1,100 

You can see more results from this auction at the Nixon Auctioneers website.