There are lines of tractors available at the auction centre. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Ian Gustafson

antiques

Over 150 collectible tractors from local farmer going to auction

Jan 14, 2021 | 5:11 PM

Over 150 collectible tractors, and other various farm equipment from as early as the 1920s is going to auction on Jan. 30.

The late John Potter and his wife Rita, who owned a farm outside of P.A., accumulated these sometimes rare and collectible tractors at other auctions. Following Potter’s death, Schmalz Auctions outside Prince Albert on Highway 2, transported every single tractor and other items within a week to their centre.

Many of the tractors were made as far back as the 1920s. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

Myron Schmalz, with Schmalz Auctions told paNOW the collection contains very rare tractors not seen in this area very often, although, none of them have had their engine started in a very long time.

“He was a lifetime collector and he and his wife collected the items and had them on his farm,” he said, adding he expected to get bids from all over North America.

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Some are worth tens of thousands of dollars as he described it, and span as far back as 100 years. There are also many different types of brands.

“There’s some Avery tractors that were only manufactured for two or three years,” Schmalz said. “We’ve even got some tractors here that the farmers home-built… that the guys built in their machine sheds.”

One of the rare tractors, which has a single front wheel, is called The General and was made between 1939 and 1942.

This single wheeled tractor called The General is very rare. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

Other than the tractors Potter collected many other items of farm equipment such as plows, steel wheeled wagons, as well as a pair of old gas pumps from the 1920s.

Potter also collected many other items of farm equipment such as plows. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

More equipment that he collected on his farm. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

Combining the tractors and other items, Schmalz said there will be near 1,000 pieces up for auction. Some of the tractors feature steel wheels because they lasted longer than rubber ones.

The fuel pumps were made in the 1920s. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

The auction takes place on Jan. 30 at 9 a.m. but bidding is available in advance on their website. Those who are interested are also able to go look at the tractors during their hours of operation.

This is one of the few homemade tractors Potter collected. (Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

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ian.gustafson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @princealbertnow