60-Year Collection Grows Into A Tourist Attraction
Virgil Schwanke was 15 years old when he bought his first car. “I got a 1926 Model T coupe for 15 bucks,” Schwanke said. “I thought it was a gem. I fixed it up so it really hummed. A few years later I bought another vehicle and never sold the first one, so I guess that was my downfall.”
Within a few years, Schwanke’s “downfall” turned into a major hobby. Sixtyfive years later, Schwanke has more than 100 vehicles, 200 tractors and hundreds of tools, signs, gas pumps and other collectibles. They’re part of the Schwanke Museum, a mini tourist attraction in Willmar, Minnesota. Since the attraction opened in 1996, people from 46 states and 21 countries have been through the doors. His first Model T now sits alongside a rare 1923 Anderson right inside the main entrance.
Visitors see a diverse collection that includes a 1917 Maxwell Overland Touring vehicle, a 1901 replica Olds, a 1929 Hudson with a Big 6 Motor, a 1921 Nash touring car and a Nash Metropolitan. A 1951 Mercury sits next to a shiny 1957 Chevrolet convertible, not far from a 1948 Crosley Hotshot. In another section are eight Model T Fords.
Schwanke is proud of the fact that every one of his vehicles is clean, restored and in running condition. “Buying and selling stuff turned into buying, restoring and keeping,” Schwanke says with a laugh.
His rare 1961 Volkswagen Type II pickup truck has prompted one guy to “call me probably 300 times trying to buy it, but I’m not selling.”
Schwanke’s collection of farm tractors spans years and colors. He has old Thielmans, Masseys and John Deere’s. There’s an unusual Ford built on a grader frame. A rare Sawyer-Massey cranks from behind for starting rather than the front. It stands across the aisle from a family of three high-boy Farmalls with new rubber and bright red paint. An Army Airborne track vehicle that was parachuted into Europe during WWII is next to a vintage Cat crawler. Steam engines are plentiful, as are old gas pumps, signs, tractor and auto memorabilia.
Even the large walls have antiques. More than 40 old hand crank drills are displayed by make, model and year on one 12’ x 20’ section. On another are all the dies and forms used to build a steam engine.
Schwanke found many of the items in his collection during his everyday business dealings. He and his father and brother started a tractor repair parts business in 1958. “We talk to people all across the country everyday, so it’s easy to find out if something is for sale,” Schwanke said. A few years ago one customer offered him a fire truck, and now he has several, including a 1927 Rio, a 1929 LaFrance and a 1939 International. All are clean and operational. Other acquisitions were even more unconventional, like the time he saw a lady driving a 1930 Willys in a small town. Schwanke followed her for a few blocks until she parked at a store. He introduced himself and said he was interested in her vehicle, which he ended up buying.
“I don’t have an allegiance to any one brand,” says Schwanke. “If something catches my eye I look it over real well to see if it can be restored.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Virgil Schwanke, Schwanke Tractor and Truck Museum, 3310 1st St. S., Willmar, Minn. (ph 320 235-4341; stt@en-tel.net).
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60-Year Collection Grows Into A Tourist Attraction AG WORLD Virgil Schwanke was 15 years old when he bought his first car “I got a 1926 Model T coupe for 15 bucks ” Schwanke said “I thought it was a gem I fixed it up so it really hummed A few years later I bought another vehicle and never sold the first one so I guess that was my downfall ” Within a few years Schwanke’s “downfall” turned into a major hobby Sixtyfive years later Schwanke has more than 100 vehicles 200 tractors and hundreds of tools signs gas pumps and other collectibles They’re part of the Schwanke Museum a mini tourist attraction in Willmar Minnesota Since the attraction opened in 1996 people from 46 states and 21 countries have been through the doors His first Model T now sits alongside a rare 1923 Anderson right inside the main entrance Visitors see a diverse collection that includes a 1917 Maxwell Overland Touring vehicle a 1901 replica Olds a 1929 Hudson with a Big 6 Motor a 1921 Nash touring car and a Nash Metropolitan A 1951 Mercury sits next to a shiny 1957 Chevrolet convertible not far from a 1948 Crosley Hotshot In another section are eight Model T Fords Schwanke is proud of the fact that every one of his vehicles is clean restored and in running condition “Buying and selling stuff turned into buying restoring and keeping ” Schwanke says with a laugh His rare 1961 Volkswagen Type II pickup truck has prompted one guy to “call me probably 300 times trying to buy it but I’m not selling ” Schwanke’s collection of farm tractors spans years and colors He has old Thielmans Masseys and John Deere’s There’s an unusual Ford built on a grader frame A rare Sawyer-Massey cranks from behind for starting rather than the front It stands across the aisle from a family of three high-boy Farmalls with new rubber and bright red paint An Army Airborne track vehicle that was parachuted into Europe during WWII is next to a vintage Cat crawler Steam engines are plentiful as are old gas pumps signs tractor and auto memorabilia Even the large walls have antiques More than 40 old hand crank drills are displayed by make model and year on one 12’ x 20’ section On another are all the dies and forms used to build a steam engine Schwanke found many of the items in his collection during his everyday business dealings He and his father and brother started a tractor repair parts business in 1958 “We talk to people all across the country everyday so it’s easy to find out if something is for sale ” Schwanke said A few years ago one customer offered him a fire truck and now he has several including a 1927 Rio a 1929 LaFrance and a 1939 International All are clean and operational Other acquisitions were even more unconventional like the time he saw a lady driving a 1930 Willys in a small town Schwanke followed her for a few blocks until she parked at a store He introduced himself and said he was interested in her vehicle which he ended up buying “I don’t have an allegiance to any one brand ” says Schwanke “If something catches my eye I look it over real well to see if it can be restored ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Virgil Schwanke Schwanke Tractor and Truck Museum 3310 1st St S Willmar Minn ph 320 235-4341; stt@en-tel net
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