SOUTH WAYNE - They're going to the land down under.
Wes Wolfe of Winslow and his fiancée Heidi Gafkjen hauled five of their beloved antique Massey Ferguson tractors from his farm in South Wayne to Madison on Tuesday and met up with Brendon Clarke, who will be shipping the tractors to his museum in Australia.
"I have 20 tractors left," Wolfe said afterward. "I'm still going to be collecting anything Massey Ferguson."
In addition to the tractors, which were made in the early 1960s to mid-1970s, Wolfe and Gafkjen handed over four lawn mowers and all their attachments, and a 1974 Ski Whiz snowmobile, all made by Massey-Ferguson. The tractors were Models 95, Super 90 diesel and a 205 compact.
"The Super 90 is common here, "Wolfe said, "but it's not over there."
With exception to the paint, Wolfe restored the equipment with original parts.
He started collecting Massey Ferguson mowers in the 1980s. He and Gafkjen still use an early-1960s Super 90 Diesel and a 1967 1130 on her family's farm.
Gafkjen said she was a farmer's kid from Winslow and just grew up with the brand, which is headquartered in Duluth, Ga.
"We just love 'em," she said.
Wolfe said his favorites are models from 1967 to 1972: gas and diesel model 1100s, a diesel 1130 and a diesel 1150. He has used everything from a Model 35 up to a 2705 and also has a round bailer and disc binder.
Wolfe's dad also used Massey Fergusons. When Wolfe went off to become a truck driver, he ended up hauling Massey-Fergusons he found back home with him, just for the love of the machines.
Wolfe likes to clean and restore all his equipment with original parts.
"That's what Fred's for," Wolfe said of his brother.
Fred Wolfe owns Wolfe's Tractor Parts, selling new parts for old tractors and original parts never used. He collects Massey-Harris equipment, though.
"That's why I collect Massey Ferguson," Wes joked. "Don't want to be too much like him."
Wolfe said Massey Ferguson has become the world's leading tractor brand.
"There's quite a few (being used in America), and there's getting to be more and more," he added. "They were almost broke at one time, but they came back."
Part of Massey Ferguson's popularity is that they are made in America, Wolfe noted, which is one reason Clarke came looking for them.
Clarke, who operates a large trucking business, built a Massey Ferguson museum on his farm near the eastern coast of Australia, and he is still collecting exhibits.
Wolfe said he will send two more tractors next year: a 1961 gas Model 85 and a 1963 Model 25 Vineyard that is 36-inch wide with a 4-cycle engine. Apparently Clarke is just as fervent a collector as Wolfe.
"He wants one of everything," Wolfe said.
Wes Wolfe of Winslow and his fiancée Heidi Gafkjen hauled five of their beloved antique Massey Ferguson tractors from his farm in South Wayne to Madison on Tuesday and met up with Brendon Clarke, who will be shipping the tractors to his museum in Australia.
"I have 20 tractors left," Wolfe said afterward. "I'm still going to be collecting anything Massey Ferguson."
In addition to the tractors, which were made in the early 1960s to mid-1970s, Wolfe and Gafkjen handed over four lawn mowers and all their attachments, and a 1974 Ski Whiz snowmobile, all made by Massey-Ferguson. The tractors were Models 95, Super 90 diesel and a 205 compact.
"The Super 90 is common here, "Wolfe said, "but it's not over there."
With exception to the paint, Wolfe restored the equipment with original parts.
He started collecting Massey Ferguson mowers in the 1980s. He and Gafkjen still use an early-1960s Super 90 Diesel and a 1967 1130 on her family's farm.
Gafkjen said she was a farmer's kid from Winslow and just grew up with the brand, which is headquartered in Duluth, Ga.
"We just love 'em," she said.
Wolfe said his favorites are models from 1967 to 1972: gas and diesel model 1100s, a diesel 1130 and a diesel 1150. He has used everything from a Model 35 up to a 2705 and also has a round bailer and disc binder.
Wolfe's dad also used Massey Fergusons. When Wolfe went off to become a truck driver, he ended up hauling Massey-Fergusons he found back home with him, just for the love of the machines.
Wolfe likes to clean and restore all his equipment with original parts.
"That's what Fred's for," Wolfe said of his brother.
Fred Wolfe owns Wolfe's Tractor Parts, selling new parts for old tractors and original parts never used. He collects Massey-Harris equipment, though.
"That's why I collect Massey Ferguson," Wes joked. "Don't want to be too much like him."
Wolfe said Massey Ferguson has become the world's leading tractor brand.
"There's quite a few (being used in America), and there's getting to be more and more," he added. "They were almost broke at one time, but they came back."
Part of Massey Ferguson's popularity is that they are made in America, Wolfe noted, which is one reason Clarke came looking for them.
Clarke, who operates a large trucking business, built a Massey Ferguson museum on his farm near the eastern coast of Australia, and he is still collecting exhibits.
Wolfe said he will send two more tractors next year: a 1961 gas Model 85 and a 1963 Model 25 Vineyard that is 36-inch wide with a 4-cycle engine. Apparently Clarke is just as fervent a collector as Wolfe.
"He wants one of everything," Wolfe said.