by Butch Fuder

Have you ever wondered how many cabs were built for the Minneapolis Moline "R" ag tractors? How about how many still exist, where they are located, and who owns them?

Rex Mercer and I have pondered these same thoughts ourselves. Rex has worked on numerous cabs and fabricated various parts for them over the years; and I reproduced 25 sets of doors for these cabs, as well as some other cab parts. Between the two of us, we had what we thought was a good idea of answers to the above questions.

Recently we put our list of names together and sorted out the duplicates and came up with a list of forty plus cabs known to exist. We then decided to beat the bushes and see if we could locate any others. At this point in time was have a list of about 80. Is this preliminary list accurate and complete?

That is our current dilemma. We need your help. We have no idea how many other cabs are not on our list and if some cabs are being counted more than once. We would like to hear from anyone who owns or knows of a cab, and if possible, give us a name of the previous owner. This would help us sort out the duplicates. We would not publish any names without the owner's permission, but would merely list the current state that it resides in, so please state if you want to remain anonymous. Additional information, such as the serial number of the tractor it is on (and we realize that not all cabs are currently on tractors), and front end style would be interesting also, but of course optional.

If you can help us with any information concerning the project, please contact us. Your help will be very much appreciated!

It's time to get the crayons out! Why? Because this contest is a great opportunity to talk to young people about our MM heritage and why you are enthusiastic about the moline implements and their role in agriculture. The purpose is to bring generations together -- and educate the young about the Minneapolis-Moline company so the next generation will have an interest in the collectors club and M-M heritage.

You may choose to color one of the pictures located here on the MMCI website or choose any of the pages from the 1930s era M-M coloring books if you have access to photocopies of those books

Go to our Projects and find out how you as an MMCI member can sponsor someone in the coloring contest. If you are not a member, this is a good time to join and support the efforts of this club!

November was a good month for several old time plowing events in Iowa. November 5 Loren and Ruth Book hosted their annual plowing day for tractors of all colors, emphasizing 1950s and older. This year at least seven brands of tractors were represented, which had a total of 45 tractors that plowed 110 acres on the Book farm.

Loren has invited people to bring their old-time tractors and join him as he plows on his MM tractors, the brand he grew up on that his dad used to sell in Book Implement, Nevada, six miles from the farm.

Two-thirds of the drivers were from Story County, but five drivers came from South Dakota, hauling their three Minneapolis Molines to Iowa in enclosed trailers. (Most MMCI members know the Siouxland Collectors; Philip Fett brough tractors in his semi.)

Loren and Ruth's daughter, Sara, and her husband, Chris Martin, served approximately 150 a midday meal of pulled pork and fixings. Loren took the "ariel" photos from the top of his 70 ft silo; Steve Larsen, a member of the local Gilbert Tractor Club also took photos. The Books no doubt will plan a 2012 event, so put it on your calendar!

Pittsburg, Kansas will be the location of the March 17-19, 2011 Winter Convention.

2011 MMCI National Winter Show

March 17-18-19, 2011

Lamplighter Inn & Suites

4020 Parkview Drive, Pittsburg, KS 

Banquet - Saturday 6:00 p.m.  

$20.00 per person, $16.00 12 and Under                                      

For Reservations Contact:                      

Jim & Michelle Puckett                                                     

145 E Highway 47; Girard, KS  66743

620-724-4364 or jbp147@hotmail.com

Deadline for Banquet tickets is March 10, 2011                                                                    

Vender Tables - $10.00 each; Up to 3 Tables, Additional Tables Free

Auction: Check in items-Friday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

and Saturday 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.

Auction begins - Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Lodging:

Lamplighter Inn & Suites

620-231-8700

$69.00 Special Rate

(Block of 90 rooms)

Comfort Inn & Suites

620-231-8800

(Across the street)

Super 8 Motel

620-232-1881

(South 2 blocks)

Holiday Inn Express

620-231-1177

$99.00 Special Rate

(Block of 40 rooms)

(Across the street)

Extra Inn

620-232-2800

$49.00 Special Rate

(Block of 10 rooms)

(Across the street)

Ask for Special Rates.

We would love to see your Minneapolis Moline memorabilia, photos and scrapbooks.

For information about the show, vender tables or auction, please contact:

 Pete & Jolene Little

Little Repair Shop

1450 West 660 Avenue

Walnut, Kansas   66780

620-354-6468 - shop during the day or

620-354-6469 - home in the evening

MMCI and HPOCA Joint Preservation Project

MM enthusiasts have found that scanning parts drawings is an easy task and something anyone can learn to do. Plan a visit to Charles City to help with this project. Museum director Mary Ann Townsend will show you what to do. And as an added benefit, the Sleep Inn will give a special discount to those volunteers working on the Floyd County Preservation Project. Read about the project beginnings below.

Update from Loren Book: The Minneapolis-Moline Collectors Club (MMCI) is working as an equal partner with the Hart Parr Oliver Collectors (HPOCA) to preserve information of both companies, which remained after they were bought out by White and then Agco. The two clubs have jointly purchased a quality film reader to transfer the parts drawings to computer; this will make the drawings accessible to future generations.

At the Winter Convention in Clarinda, Mike Verhulst, Phillip Fett, and I handed out numerous cards with contact information for Mary Ann Townsend, the museum director. Mary Ann is overseeing the scheduling of volunteers coming to Charles City for a day, or hopefully, two or three days.

The process as shown in the photos is very user friendly and the staff can have you working in a short time. There have been 1000 cards recorded to date; we have approximately 49,000 MM cards to go.Loren Book and Arlin Wente processing some of the first cards.

Mike Verhulst and Mary Ann Townsend looking at first aperture card processed.

We are hoping to complete the process in two years. I do not want to create a contest, but I know that the MMCI membership can do more cards sooner and faster than the HPOCA! On a good day, we estimate a team of two can record 300 cards.

We need lots of volunteers to process all of these cards.

My challenge (and plea) to you would be to call Mary Ann at 641-228-1099 and schedule a time convenient for you to go to the Floyd County Museum at Charles City, Iowa to help preserve this valuable Minneapolis-Moline information.

Mike Verhulst provides an update on the MM historical documents for preservation at the Floyd County Historical Society in Charles City, Iowa. Read the the update under Resources tab in Educational Articles.