Heider Tractors Are Three of a Kind

By Bill Vossler
Published on June 13, 2016
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Marvin Stochl’s 1913 12 hp Heider B tractor, thought to be one of only three of these models still running.
Marvin Stochl’s 1913 12 hp Heider B tractor, thought to be one of only three of these models still running.
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A side view of Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A. When he’s displayed the Heiders at shows, Marvin says, many people can’t believe “something that old is still running.”
A side view of Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A. When he’s displayed the Heiders at shows, Marvin says, many people can’t believe “something that old is still running.”
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Marvin Stochl at the wheel of his 1913 12 hp Heider B tractor. “Before I get these tractors, I never look up to see if they’re rare or not,” Marvin says. “They are just tractors that I think will look good in my collection.”
Marvin Stochl at the wheel of his 1913 12 hp Heider B tractor. “Before I get these tractors, I never look up to see if they’re rare or not,” Marvin says. “They are just tractors that I think will look good in my collection.”
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The rear drive wheels on the Heider A appear small, almost fragile.
The rear drive wheels on the Heider A appear small, almost fragile.
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Close-up showing detail of one of the Heider A’s drive chains.
Close-up showing detail of one of the Heider A’s drive chains.
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This photo of Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A tractor shows the tractor’s radiator, and the chain steering common on tractors of this era.
This photo of Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A tractor shows the tractor’s radiator, and the chain steering common on tractors of this era.
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An early Heider in a North Dakota field in 1915.
An early Heider in a North Dakota field in 1915.
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The operator’s platform on Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A tractor.
The operator’s platform on Marvin’s 1911 12 hp Heider A tractor.
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Heider A and B tractors ran on gasoline, kerosene and water. One tank (shown here) held gasoline; the second held kerosene and water in separate compartments.
Heider A and B tractors ran on gasoline, kerosene and water. One tank (shown here) held gasoline; the second held kerosene and water in separate compartments.
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This drawing was part of the patent application for the Heider A tractor that was granted in 1913.
This drawing was part of the patent application for the Heider A tractor that was granted in 1913.

When it comes to collecting old iron, patience can be the biggest part of the puzzle. Take Marvin Stochl of Tama, Iowa. Decades passed as he waited for collectors to let go of tractors he had his eye on. For a rare, early Heider, he had to buy the tractor’s engine from one man, and then wait three years until the owner of the rest of the tractor would finally let it loose.

But good things come to those who wait, and that’s been the case for Marvin, whose collection includes three rare Heider tractors: a 1911 12 hp Heider A, a 1913 12 hp Heider B and a 12 hp Heider C built between 1915 and 1917.

Truly preserving the past

Marvin never left the family farm where he grew up. The house where he and his siblings grew up, starting in the 1940s, is across the road from his home. “A few years ago, I saw that raccoons were getting into the house,” he says, “so I told my sisters I should start working on it.” They decided to fix it up the way it was when they were kids.

Today, the house is home to its original cook stove, dry sink (using water from a cistern), cast iron bathtub and stool. “We had an outdoor toilet, but that rotted away,” Marvin says. “If we want water in the house now, we use the main pressure tank over here to get water over there. All I have to do is hook it up. People who go into the house can’t believe it, because it’s actually livable right now. It’s like a museum.”

That affection for the farm is the key to Marvin’s love of old iron. His collection numbers about 100 old tractors stored inside. He has 300 more outside.

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