Mixed Bag: A Varied Collection of Old Tractors and More

By Bill Vossler
Published on March 1, 2008
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Clem’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor waits its turn in the daily parade at the Hanley Falls, Minn., Pioneer Power Threshing Show.
Clem’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor waits its turn in the daily parade at the Hanley Falls, Minn., Pioneer Power Threshing Show.
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Clem (left) and his son, Curt, bring the 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor home for the first time.
Clem (left) and his son, Curt, bring the 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor home for the first time.
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A close-up of the flywheel side of Clem Anton’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor also shows the fan.
A close-up of the flywheel side of Clem Anton’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor also shows the fan.
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The Aultman & Taylor name is proudly displayed on the 1916 30-60’s fenders.
The Aultman & Taylor name is proudly displayed on the 1916 30-60’s fenders.
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The tubular radiator style (replacing the square-type radiator) was introduced in Aultman & Taylor tractors in about 1913.
The tubular radiator style (replacing the square-type radiator) was introduced in Aultman & Taylor tractors in about 1913.
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After restoration, Clem’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor gleams.
After restoration, Clem’s 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor gleams.
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Clem and Alice Anton with their 1912 International Harvester high-wheeler auto-buggy. With the removable rear seat removed, it could be used as a truck.
Clem and Alice Anton with their 1912 International Harvester high-wheeler auto-buggy. With the removable rear seat removed, it could be used as a truck.
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A rare 1920 Samson truck used during a threshing demonstration at the Hanley Falls, Minn., Pioneer Power Threshing Show.
A rare 1920 Samson truck used during a threshing demonstration at the Hanley Falls, Minn., Pioneer Power Threshing Show.
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A 1924 Huber Super 4 tractor from Clem’s collection.
A 1924 Huber Super 4 tractor from Clem’s collection.
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Of his 1929 Chevrolet Landau convertible Clem says, “Nobody ever sees one of those.” He figures only five or six remain.
Of his 1929 Chevrolet Landau convertible Clem says, “Nobody ever sees one of those.” He figures only five or six remain.
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This 25 hp Black Bear engine was used in the oil fields, and is rare.
This 25 hp Black Bear engine was used in the oil fields, and is rare.
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Clem’s English-made Field Marshall tractor.
Clem’s English-made Field Marshall tractor.
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Four of Clem’s International Harvester crawlers ready to go to a show. At front center: the rare T-14.
Four of Clem’s International Harvester crawlers ready to go to a show. At front center: the rare T-14.

Old iron collector Clem Anton knows what he likes: old, interesting and rare farm equipment. When he climbs aboard his 1916 Aultman & Taylor 30-60 tractor for circuits around the Pioneer Power Threshing Show and Old Timer’s Reunion at Hanley Falls, Minn., each summer, he might as well be driving a 1957 Chevrolet automobile. “There are a few of the 30-60 Aultman & Taylor tractors around, but they’re highly collectible,” he says. “They’re like a ’57 Chevy because they’re such a favorite. They’re considered very desirable by tractor collectors if they’re available, because of the way they run and their massive size, I suppose. Plus, Aultman & Taylor had a name, just like Rumely did.”

Start ’em up

Clem, who lives in Marshall, Minn., has a home-grown interest in old iron: His dad ran a tractor repair shop. “That’s where we got started as kids, washing parts,” he says. “We broke our knuckles on the McCormick-Deering 10-20, Farmall F-12 and John Deere Model D, and once in a while we’d get involved with one of the old tractors. Naturally, as we got older, we would take them apart and rebuild them. One thing led to another and in the 1960s my wife, Alice, and I started collecting old tractors.”

The first old tractor in their collection had dual use: It was part of the collection, but was also used to push snow out of the farmyard. “The 1935 Allis-Chalmers WC was just available at that time, and we bought it because it had a loader on it,” Clem says. “After that, we just kind of started collecting tractors, or whatever we wanted.”

“Whatever we wanted” includes old tractors, cars, gas engines, crawlers and trucks, many of them rare. Clem’s truck collection, for instance, features a 1912 International Harvester high-wheeler, a rare 1920 Samson and a very rare 1920 Oldsmobile, as well as others from the teens and 1920s. Clem’s car collection includes a 1909 Maxwell, a very rare model of a 1928 Buick Roadster and a 1929 Chevrolet Landau convertible. “Nobody ever sees one of those,” he says.

Taking a different track

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