1938 John Deere Model A Unstyled Tractor- War Time Lottery Bid

1938 John Deere Model A Unstyled Tractor. A war time lottery winning auction bid. It’s 1944, World War II rages on. There is a steel shortage and national law rationing steel in effect. Imagine going to the store and not finding thumbtacks, alarm clocks, or paper clips on the shelves. During World War II, metals were needed for military purposes. Things like ships and planes, and jeeps and guns, took precedence over civilian products. After the United States entered the war, factories quickly shifted from manufacturing civilian goods to military material. Farm machinery production was put on hold. At the time farmers were required to make do with their older machinery, some horse-drawn. Tires were also in short supply. Some farmers went back to steel wheels on their tractors because rubber replacements were not available. It is said that boots were put into the tires with intertubes to protect the tubes from damage.

My wife’s grandfather won a local auction bidding lottery allowing him to bid on this tractor for his farm that resulted in him winning. This tractor served on the family farm for decades until its use was relegated to keeping the trees company along a field line. Left for dead with a stuck engine it was cannibalized by collectors to be used for parts restoring other tractors. One hobbyist was determined to save the tractor and started the restoration process but lost interest. Fate once again for this workhorse seemed doomed. Extensive engine work had already been done and even some parts had been blasted and painted. Luck strikes again, and just as yours truly was itching for the next project, the tractor made its way onto my project list, and the baton was picked up once again. The restoration process started back up. Thank goodness for craftsmen willing to put in the tedious hours to preserve the steel that eluded killing the enemy, but instead was used to feed America. Progress photos 2024-25