Immediate News Release:
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, Iowa 50644
319 332-0123
Attn: Craig Johnson

Increase your Agriculture IQ #4
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor 

 
Paul and Kay Weiss stand by their historic and beautifully restored 1938 Minneapolis Moline UDLX on display at Heartland Acres in Independence, Iowa. 

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center along with intern Jason Butz from the University of Northern Iowa, submit Article #4 in “Increase your Ag IQ” series. 

The Minneapolis-Moline Tractor Company started in 1929.  It was the product of a merger between Minneapolis Steel & Machinery, Minneapolis Threshing Company, and Moline Plow.  Headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota the company had plants in Minneapolis, Hopkins, and Moline, Illinois.
 
Minneapolis-Moline was a pioneer in developing the closed cab concept for farm tractors. Revolutionary design was the 1938 model UDLX Comfortractor.  The UDLX design combined the best of both worlds for farmers. The UDLX was a working tractor for field during the week. When Friday night came just clean it up and take your best girl to the dance.

Features like a fully enclosed cab with passenger seat, electric start, full dash board and gauge cluster, heater, cigarette lighter, windshield wipers, even a radio made it popular for use on the weekends as a means of comfortable transportation.  But even with all its innovations, its sales were poor.  A UDLX was double the price of an Oliver or Farmall. Add in the Great Depression and it spelled the end of the UDLX.  Only 150 units were built.  Minneapolis-Moline continued producing a full line of other models for many years. 
 
White Motor Company of Charles City Iowa purchased the company 1963.  White produced its last Minneapolis-Moline tractor, model G-955 in 1974.  

Today a perfectly restored 1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX, owned by Paul and Kay Weiss from Reinbeck, Iowa, is on display at Heartland Acres.  It is one of approximately 40 known survivors. This, along with many other historic tractors, is part of the antique tractor display at Heartland Acres.  

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit us at www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123.
Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mecum Auctions
Presentation Department
262.275.5050 

MECUM’S ANNUAL SPRING GONE FARMIN’ TRACTOR AUCTION SLATED FOR APRIL 14TH
Expo Certified 1920 Waterloo Boy Headlines Spring Auction in Walworth, Wis. 

WALWORTH, Wis., March 26, 2012. - Mecum’s annual Spring Gone Farmin’ vintage tractor auction will be hosted April 14th in Walworth, Wisconsin. The one-day sale will feature a wide variety of restored and unrestored tractors, including John Deere, Oliver, International, Farmall, Ford, Case, Ferguson and others from all eras of the 20th century.

The star of the show will be an Expo Certified 1920 Waterloo Boy N (Lot S55). To become Expo Certified, a tractor must be at least 95% original or restored to 95% original specifications. This beautifully restored example is equipped with Autosteer and was Expo Certified in 2009. 

Eleven tractors from the Steve Renaud Collection will go home with the highest bidder after they cross the block at No Reserve. Additional tractors of note are a rare 1924 Twin Cities (Lot S33) and a 1959 Porsche Super (Lot S59).

Dan Mecum, Director of Mecum’s Gone Farmin’ division, cordially invites the general public to attend and bid at the auction free of charge: “There will be something to grab anyone’s attention at the Spring Gone Farmin’ Auction and we welcome everyone to buy, sell or spectate on Saturday, April 14th in Walworth.”

The auction preview will take place on Friday, April 13th from 3-7 p.m. and continue on Saturday starting at 7 a.m. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. on April 14. For more information and to view the early list of tractors, go to www.mecum.com or call 262.275.5050.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Marcus Certa
mcerta@drpower.com
802-877-1200

DR® Power Equipment Introduces Versa-Trailer,
Challenges Consumers to ‘Test our Metal’ 

Company Offers Innovative ATV Utility Trailer with 1 Year Hands-On Trial

Vergennes, VT (March 5, 2012) – DR® Power Equipment today introduced its new DR Versa-Trailer utility trailer by challenging consumers to test the new product’s “metal” with a unique trial offer.

During the month of March, DR Power Equipment will offer a special 1 year hands-on trial to anyone who purchases the Versa-Trailer directly from DR Power by March 29, 2012. The DR Versa-Trailer is a must-have accessory for ATVs and UTVs, as well as compact tractors. This new utility trailer can haul loads up to 2,000 pounds and is the first of its kind to offer a pivoting boom-lift, which makes loading and unloading heavy loads almost effortless.

Consumers who take the “Test our Metal” challenge can try out the new galvanized ATV dump trailer for 1 year from its ship date, and if they are not fully satisfied with the trailer’s performance, they can simply send it back for an exchange or a full refund of the product’s original price, less the standard shipping charges.

On top of its all-steel construction, the new utility trailer features the world’s first boom-lift that pivots to lift up to 440 pounds on either side of the trailer. The boom-lift can also be used to raise and lower the galvanized steel bed, which resists dents and rust. The bed itself can be removed (no tools required), quickly converting the trailer to a stake bed for harvesting trees or hauling long loads.

The trailer’s tandem wheels, which pivot on a single axle, allow it to “walk” over uneven ground, so owners can take it anywhere their ATV, UTV, or compact tractor will go. And unlike most poly or wooden ATV trailers and dump carts, the Versa-Trailer was designed with a rearward pivot point, which achieves a 35 degree dump angle for clean unloading every time.

Michael Johnston, DR Power Product Manager, said that he knows consumers will find the new trailer as rugged and versatile as he did testing it on his xx acre farm when he first evaluated its all steel construction and design.

“The Versa-Trailer is tested and proven,” Johnston said. “No other ATV utility trailer or dump wagon survived the rigorous testing our engineers put it through.”

Johnston continued, “DR Power only puts our name on the best, and the galvanized stainless steel Versa-Trailer is the best, most innovative utility trailer available.”

DR Versa-Trailer starts at a $2,199 list price, but beginning in 2012, introductory offers make this innovative dump trailer even more affordable. The trailer can be purchased at drpower.com/versa-trailer

DR Power also encourages owners who take the “Test our Metal” challenge to share video of their experiences on the company’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/drpowerequipment

DR® Power Equipment, a division of Country Home Products, Inc., the premiere developer and marketer of professional-grade outdoor equipment for residential use, was founded in 1985 in Charlotte, Vermont.  Today it occupies three facilities and employs 220 people. For more information on its complete line of power equipment and home care supplies, visit the web site at www.drpower.com.

PRODUCT PHOTOS AND DEMONSTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE.  DR® Power Equipment sells products factory-direct and through a network of over 500 dealers; a free catalog can be ordered at 802-877-1200, or obtained online at www.drpower.com. For more information on DR® POWER EQUIPMENT, please contact Marcus Certa at: mcerta@chp.com. 

Immediate News Release:
Heartland Acres Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, Iowa 50644
319 332-0123  

Increase your Agriculture IQ #2 Waterloo Boy   

 
Steven Pals, University of Northern Iowa public history major, stands beside his favorite tractor at Heartland Acres – a 1923 Waterloo Boy.  

Heartland Acres Agribiton Center and intern Steven Pals from the University of Northern Iowa present the second installment in the“Increase your Ag IQ” series. 

Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company was co-founded in 1892 by John Froelich, George Miller and other Waterloo businessmen. Froelich gained success by creating his own gasoline tractor in 1892 by combining exhisting components from Van Duzen  and Robinson tractor companies.  Initial production included four models which had little success.  The company did, however continue to produce small stationary engines.  Froelich sold the company in1895 to John Miller.  Miller renamed the company Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and in 1912 bought the Waterloo Foundry and combined both businesses.
 
By 1913 the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company had produced its first Waterloo Boy.  The Waterloo Boy was a one-man tractor with a horizontal two-cylinder engine that burned kerosene.  The tractor weighed approximately 9,000 pounds.  The name “Waterloo Boy” originated as a parody on the “water boy” who was responsible for bringing water to cool the older style steam engines. The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company produced two popular models, the Model R in 1914 and the Model N in late 1916.  The Model R was a single speed that sold for about $985.  The Model N was a two speed that sold for $1,150.
 
During this same time, Deere & Company sought to increase their tractor production and found the most efficient method was to purchase an existing company.  Deere saw the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company as a perfect location for this endeavor.  In 1918 Deere & Company purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company for $2.35 million (or $49 million today).  Deere continued to produce the Waterloo Boy Model N series until 1924 when it was replaced by the John Deere Model D.
 
Heartland Acres currently displays a Waterloo Boy on loan from Kenny and Art Kass from Dunkerton, Iowa.

For more information about Heartland Acres please visit us at www.heartlandacresusa.com or call (319) 332.0123.
Heartland Acres Agribiton Center is a 501 (c) (3) non- profit organization.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mecum Auctions
Presentation Department
262.275.5050

MECUM BRINGS THREE DAYS OF ACTION TO KANSAS CITY
Offering 750 Vehicles in the “City Of Fountains,” March 29-31, 2012 

WALWORTH, Wis. - Mecum Auctions welcomes the Spring auction season as it fills the Kansas City Convention Center/Bartle Hall in beautiful downtown Kansas City, Missouri with a full slate of collector cars on March 29-31, 2012.

With nearly 750 collector vehicles expected to cross the block, the auction action promises to be intense and exciting during the first of two visits to the “City of Fountains” in 2012. All of the auction cars will be on display indoors, giving Buyers, Sellers and Spectators an ideal environment to inspect the gleaming metal. This year’s auction has been expanded from 2 to 3 days, and Discovery’s Velocity Network will be broadcasting live for 15 hours during all three days of the auction, bringing the action home to those unable to attend in person.

Schedule:
Mecum Kansas City Spring Auction
Kansas City Convention Center - Bartle Hall
301 West 13th Street

Kansas City, MO 64105
March 29-31, 2012
Preview: Gates Open Daily at 8:00 a.m.
Auction: Starts at 11:00 a.m. Thursday – Saturday
Live TV Times: Thursday, 5-8 p.m. Friday, 3-9 p.m. Saturday, 1-7 p.m.
(All Times Central)

The Mecum Auctions in Kansas City have always seen a diverse range of vehicles falling under the hammer, and the 2012 auction is lining up to continue this trend with a wide variety of machines rolling across the block. From a 1949 Divco Model 49N Milk Truck (Lot S125) to a 2007 Dodge Charger SRT/8 (Lot F215), this auction will offer something for everyone’s taste, style, and budget.

The auction is open to the general public with tickets available in advance or at the door for just $15 per day. For information about bidder registration or to consign a vehicle for this event, visit www.Mecum.com or call 262.275.5050.

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