My favorite parts about Farm Collector are the amazing variety of stories that appear within its pages, and the fascinating people we feature each month. Another year has almost passed, and a quick look back at each issue shows the magazine continues to be a solid source for information about old iron and the folks who collect it.
The January issue gave readers a glimpse at the ever-popular Connecticut Antique Machinery Association’s annual show in Kent, Conn., and the people who attend every year like Jim Robinson, who always shows his unusual International Harvester Co. TD 14 dozer.
In February, Farm Collector brought readers a tale about watch fob collector Ray Rothlisberger, who hails from Burlington, Iowa. Ray’s amazing collection of vintage fobs drew praise and awe from many readers, and likely spurred several collectors to keep an eye out for the tiny but intriguing collectibles.
Our March issue rolled out the red carpet to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the M. Rumely Co. Sherwood Hume, a Rumely collector from Ontario, Canada, penned a comprehensive overview of the former tractor maker’s history. Look for a story about the Rumely reunion held in Wauseon, Ohio, last June in an upcoming issue to read about the history-making 50-bottom plow pull reenactment and the largest collection of Rumely equipment assembled since the company folded in 1938.
Farm Collector prides itself on its reputation of bringing unusual collections to readers, and maintained that tradition with stories about windmill restoration in the April issue, hay carriers and their history in the May issue, and farm photo collections in the June issue.
In July, the spotlight was on Larry Weber’s one-of-a-kind farm equipment museum in Yuma, Ariz., while the August issue spotlighted Wayne Kennedy’s beautifully restored New Giant steam engine that he spent four years resurrecting in Iowa.
We celebrated the 100th anniversary of Ford Motor Co.’s tractors in September, and in October readers learned about Len Holo’s dream to reenact the famed Harvest Brigade with his restored Massey-Harris No. 21A combine.
The November issue featured a rare John Deere Model BO-Lindeman crawler restored in Ohio by Terry Wachtman, and this issue explores the little-known realm of sleigh collecting through the experience of Bill Engel from Missouri.
Clearly, Farm Collector provides the most complete coverage of vintage farm equipment and old-iron collectors across America. Best of all, readers can look forward to more great stories as the tradition continues in 2004!
Jason B. Harmon, Editor jharmon@ogdenpubs.com
