| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cabinmoose |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 7:15:23 PM
Back in 1969, 1970 and 1971 John Deere created garden tractors that were white with vibrant colored hoods and seats (red, yellow, blue and orange). They were called Patio Tractors. The yellow patio seat and hood was a brighter yellow than the standard john deere yellow.
Does anyone know why these tractors were made? Now don't go asking the google machine......
Here is a picture of our patios, they were recently sent off to a museum in Charleston WV. I miss them but they went to a good home.
I will tell you why they were made in the morning....
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 09:16:10 AM
Well I figure that the farmgirls of the past were very much like farmgirls today- and since I would love to have a "garden tractor" I am sure they did back then too! Can you just imagine some housewife in a house dress and apron riding around on her garden tractor? :D
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| cabinmoose |
Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 01:57:41 AM
You are right Alyssa.....
The first garden tractor rolled off the assembly line in 1963, there were 1000 made and we have one of those too. I will drum up a photo of it........ it was the most difficult to restore because there were so few made and many of the parts were fiberglass because it was a trial run so to speak. This is actually a HUGE hobby....there are shows all over the US where people show, display and parade their tractors. www.weekendfreedommachines.com is a website dedicated to these little guys.
but the white tractors were made to appeal to women. It wasn't the huge success that Deere had hoped for so many dealerships repainted the white ones green and yellow to sell them. The red one that we have was one that a dealership repainted. The seats and hoods are fairly rare and downright pricey to find in good condition.
I had heart failure when hubby bought the red seat on ebay, he paid more for the seat than he did the entire tractor! But, he is always in the garage tinkering if I need him so I am not complaining.
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 8:09:10 PM
I assume they would have been used for mowing, moving compost around, and clearing snow. Or is the "Why they were made" question refering to why they were created in the first place? I assume it was because some John Deere employee's wife kept complaining that the Big Green machines were too big for her to use around her garden, but she sure needs one but in a Lady size!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for typing, one hand to hold Nora!
http://home.test-afl.tulix.com/aleeandnora/ |
| cabinmoose |
Posted - Aug 20 2007 : 7:18:04 PM
By the way all three of these have been restored. The blue and white patio we purchased already completed and the other two we restored ourselves. I will have to find a picture of that red one before we started. It was an ugly duckling for sure.
The Blue and White came from Nebraska, that was a beautiful trip!
The Red and White came from Ohio.
The Orange and White came from here locally in MD.
Lorna
Forest Hill, MD
“I laugh, I love, I hope, I try, I hurt, I need, I fear, I cry.
And I know you do the same things too, So we're really
not that different, me and you.” ~Colin Raye |
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