EL PASO, Ill. — When it comes to adding an item to his Massey-Harris collection, Wes Armstrong is eager to make the trip.
“I enjoy going out and picking up stuff at places in different states,” Armstrong said. “Last year I wasn’t supposed to go anywhere, but I was in 21 states picking up equipment.”
Armstrong and his wife, Debbie, have about 75 running Massey-Harris tractors and equipment in their collection.
“On the farm we had quite a few Allis Chalmers and around 2000 we started collecting Massey Harris,” he said. “I’ve been to Maine, California, Virginia and Minnesota — wherever we can find one.”
Some of Armstrong’s favorite tractors in his collection are a 1947 55 on steel, 1938 Pacemaker Orchard and a 1936 Challenger wide front.
“The Challenger is only the third one we know of,” he said. “I found it in California about five years ago, brought it home and got it running.”
There are a couple of GP four-wheel drive tractors in Armstrong’s collection.
“They were the first four-wheel drive tractors built in the ’30s and I just picked one of them up in Maine last year,” Armstrong said. “From 1930 to ’36, they had flat head engines and from 1937 to ’38 they had overhead valve engines.”
For equipment, the collection includes silage choppers, combines, discs and hay balers.
“I have bunch of plows including a couple of one-way plows,” Armstrong said. “I have a little bit of everything.”
Armstrong typically travels to eight or 10 shows each year to display some of his equipment, including the Historic Farm Days in Penfield, hosted July 8-11 by the I&I Tractor and Gas Engine Club.
During June, Armstrong traveled to Massey Days in Kentucky and to Indiana for the National Massey Collectors Association show.
“We’re going to take several pieces to Penfield,” Armstrong said. “I’m still trying to decide what to take.”
Part of Armstrong’s collection will also be on display Aug. 26-29 at the Half Century of Progress Show near Rantoul.
“One year I had about 16 pieces at the Half Century show,” he said. “I had two bean combines that we used in the fields for demonstration.”
Antique farm equipment enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see Armstrong’s entire collection in June 2022, when he hosts Massey Days.
“I had it in 2013 and I’m going to have it again next year,” he said. “Last time we hosted Massey Days we had over 200 people.”
Massey Days moves to different farms of collectors each year and some collectors also bring items to display.
“That’s why we have it so people can see all of a guy’s collection,” Armstrong said. “When you go to a show you only get to see one or two of their pieces.”
For more information about the Historic Farm Days, go to www.historicfarmdays.com, or call 217-595-5000.