53-Year-Old Tractor Returns To ‘Gold’

53-Year-Old Tractor Returns To ‘Gold’ TRACTORS Antiques Stories are often told about tractors going “full circle ” where a farmer buys a tractor new uses it for decades sells it on retirement to a stranger and then a family member finds it for sale and buys it back Ken Harnish’s full-circle story has an interesting twist In 1971 Harnish’s father used an International 826 Demonstrator on his farm Its hood fan panels and fenders were painted a distinctive gold and a “Demonstrator” decal was on each side IH used that paint and name scheme on five different models so its dealers could lend them to farmers to interest them in buying a new one      Harnish bought the 826 Demonstrator he used but Ken Harnish says his dad didn’t like the gold color He had the Cope and Weaver dealership in Lancaster County Penn remove the Demonstrator decals and paint the gold areas solid red The Harnishes used the 826 for over 40 years to chop silage run the blower pull forage boxes and haul manure Mechanical work was handled by Frank Leaman who operated Herr and Leaman Farm Equipment and Alternative Tractor Repair in the former Cope and Weaver dealership building Nelson Harnish passed away in 2011 and Ken continued to use the trusty 826 to make hay and do other cattle jobs until he sold the cows in 2017 Six years later he decided to have the 826 refurbished and repainted Ken says Leaman knew the tractor well because he’d driven it while working for the Harnishes and repaired it at his own shop over the years Leaman bought and replaced cracked knobs and handles repaired oil leaks then gave it a thorough cleaning before having it painted in its original Gold Demonstrator paint scheme Leaman says the acrylic paint used today is much better than the conventional oil paint used 50 years ago so the gold isn’t likely to fade Harnish will store the tractor in a shed away from windows to maintain the paint’s luster He says it’s a source of pride to have the Gold Demonstrator 826 come “full circle” and have the original family restore it to its original colors in the same building from which it was sold Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ken Harnish Drumore Penn 17518

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