Four products made our review list:
— Gas Engine Restoration, by Peter Rooke
— Rust Book Second Edition, compiled by Greg Peterson
— The Official Tractor Blue Book, edited by Mike Hall
— 2010 Classic Farm Tractors calendar, from John Harvey
Gas Engine Restoration
Books for the tractor restorer are abundant, but gas engine guides are harder to find. Into that void steps Peter Rooke with his new book, Gas Engine Restoration. Building on the strength of a series of articles first published in Gas Engine Magazine, Rooke gives a comprehensive overview of engine restoration.
Rooke tackles the job in a methodical, step-by-step fashion, explaining not only how, but also why. Though much of the text addresses mechanical work, the author does not overlook the cosmetic restoration, offering counsel on when to restore and when to protect an original finish. Carts, assembly and routine operation are also discussed.
Generous use of color photography complements the text, lending additional depth to Rooke’s instruction. An appendix includes a variety of need-to-know information. Whether you’re new to gas engines or an old hand, this book is an invaluable guide to the topic.
Gas Engine Restoration: A Practical Guide for Beginners and Experienced Collectors by Peter Rooke, 2009, spiral-bound paperback, 8-1/2-by-11 inches, 96 pages, color photographs, Ogden Publications, available through the Farm Collector Store. [Back]
Rust Book Second Edition
Solid data: That’s what you’ll find in Rust Book Second Edition. Author Greg Peterson has compiled nearly 10,000 auction prices from antique tractors, implements and trucks into a one-stop reference for the antique iron aficionado. Prices are taken from auctions in the past 2-1/2 years and cover machinery built from the 1920s to the 1970s. Bonus material (serial numbers and results from the Nebraska Tractor Tests) makes the Rust Book a powerful silent partner: Don’t go to an auction without it!
Rust Book Second Edition, compiled by Greg Peterson, 2008, paperback, 5-1/4-by-8-1/2 inches, 412 pages, color photographs, Meredith Corp., available through the Farm Collector Store. [Back]
The Official Tractor Blue Book
Not exactly leisure reading but a useful resource if you’re in the market for old iron, The Official Tractor Blue Book covers tractors produced from 1939 to 2008. The comprehensive guide provides detailed information, including approximate retail prices for new equipment, plus a range of estimated used retail values. Estimated trade-in values are included, as well as specification information on engine size, transmission speeds, PTO horsepower and serial numbers/build dates.
The Official Tractor Blue Book, 1939-2008 models, edited by Mike Hall, 2008, paperback, 8-by-10-5/8 inches, 416 pages, Penton Media Price Digests, available through the Farm Collector Store. [Back]
Classic Farm Tractors calendar
Time does fly, but it’ll be a trip you enjoy with this handsome calendar. John Harvey leads the pack with his Classic Farm Tractors calendar, the 21st in the series. Each year John and photographer Mike Hood ferret out the best of the best in old iron, and 2010 is no exception. Fittingly, they charge right out of the chute with a trio of rare John Deere 2010 tractors on the cover.
2010 Classic Farm Tractors calendar, (800) 888-8979; www.classictractors.com. [Back] FC
