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Service Manual Roundup For Old Equipment
John Deere
Deere & Co. has an oustanding archive department. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Deere & Co., P.O. Box 186, Moline, Ill. 61266 (ph 800 522-7448).
Another possible source of information for Deere equipment is the Illinois State Historic Library, which also maintains archives on old Deere equipment - including horse-drawn tools from way back. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Illinois State Historic Library, Old State Capital, Springfield, Ill. 62701 (ph 217 524-6358).

International Harvester
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin has parts catalogs, photos, and operator's manuals for virtually all IHC implements, wagons and stationary equipment. The archived information covers everything from 1902 to 1985. The collection also includes manuals and catalogs from the five predecessor companies that IHC acquired over the years - Mccormick, Deering, Champion, Plano, and Milwaukee - dating back to 1894.
International also built and sold equipment under other names such as Chattanooga, Hosier, Keystone, P&O, and Weber.
The best way to obtain information from the Historical Society is to contact them by mail with as much information as you can supply, such as part or model numbers. Photos may be helpful as well. They will photocopy anything in the collection at a charge of 20 cents per page plus $12.50 per order. Do not pay in advance. They will bill you after the copies have been mailed. You can also visit in person and do your own photocopying in the archives reading room. They suggest contacting them in advance to see if what you want is available.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Archives Reading Room, 816 State St., Madison, Wis. 53706 (ph 608 264-6460).

Hart-Parr, Oliver, Minneapolis Moline, Cockshutt, & White
The Floyd County Historical Society of Charles City, Iowa, houses a huge treasure trove of old tractor manuals for Hart-Par, Oliver, Minneapolis Moline, Cockshutt, and White tractors. Manuals are also available for combines, planters and tillage tools, as well as some construction equipment.
The materials were donated to the museum by the companies themselves. the Society sells either the original manuals themselves, or reprints.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Floyd County Historical Society, 500 Gilbert St., Charles City, Iowa 50616 (ph 515 228-1099).

Other Companies
For other large manufacturers - and for smaller, less popular implement companies - you should try contacting the state historical society in the state where the equipment was manufactured. Many maintain archives or have early information about companies that have since gone under or merged with other companies.
Intertec Publishing sells service manuals for hundreds of tractor models, new and old. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Intertec Publishing Publications Div., P.O. Box 12901, Overland Park, Kan. 66212 ph 800 262-1954.
In addition, there are a number of private entrepreneurs who sell reprints of original owner's manuals and service manuals. Following are a few of the best-known literature resellers:
Warren D. Jensen
Jensales Company
Box 1203
Albert Lea, MN 56007
ph 800 443-0625
(Stocks over 2,100 reproductions of original factory service, parts and operator manuals.)

Lloyd Wenger 831A Hilltop Rd. Myerstown, Penn. 17067
ph 717 866-7147
(Deere literature, owners manuals, parts books, etc.)
Clarence L. Goodburn
101 West Main
Madelia, MN 56062
ph 507 642-3281/8481
(Service manuals, parts books, sales literature, etc., on farm tractors and equipment, crawlers, trucks, heavy equipment)

TF Literature Sales
Rt. 2 Box 8
Luverne, Minn. 56156
ph 507 283-4730
(All kinds of manuals and literature on most brands of farm equipment.)


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1997 - Volume #21, Issue #5