Looking at treasures that collectors still covet.
By Leslie Stewart
Do you have a collector on your shopping list this holiday season? Maybe you’ve been interested in starting your own collection and would like to know more about farm antiques?
Farming is a constantly evolving industry. While we rely on precision technology, our relatives and ancestors had a more hands-on approach. Items from those days bring back fond memories and curiosity for enthusiasts.
Guy Heaslip of equipment dealer W.J. Heaslip in Hagersville collects many different farm antiques. His collection includes watch fobs, advertising, books, toys, equipment, and more.
“There are no two collections that are the same,” he says. “Collecting is subjective.
“Dad started in ’59. He likes the cast-iron and the smaller things, but I like tractors and gas engines. I like the mechanical side of things … something needs to be moving. He still likes the tractors, but it’s the difference in age in perspective.”
We’ve compiled a list of coveted antiques, with some ideas about tracking them down.
Vintage tractors
Manufacturers are constantly updating their machines, making tractor collecting an attractive hobby for many.
Why they’re coveted: Whether you’re restoring them, driving them to the local fair, or simply parking them somewhere to enjoy the aesthetics of the old-style engineering, vintage tractors celebrate the history of the machines we use every day.
Some popular models include the John Deere Model D, a two-cylindered, steel-wheeled machine active between 1923-1953, and the Case IH Farmall, which debuted in 1923 and remains relevant 100 years later.
Where to find: Auctions, equipment shows, or listings in magazines or online.
There are a variety of clubs that come together to celebrate certain brands or types of tractors, and reaching out might help you locate what you’re looking for.
Branded merchandise
While a tractor may be out of your holiday budget, you could delight the enthusiast in your life with something from their favourite brand’s promotional history.
Why it’s coveted: These mementos can range from advertising material to clothing to products you may have never expected your favourite tractor manufacturer to have made. Plus, these branded items can be visually attractive.
“Early advertising was very colourful,” Heaslip explains. “Massey has some gorgeous printed calendars.”
Where to find: Auctions, collector groups, flea markets, and antique malls.
You might also check in with your local equipment dealership – you never know what old-time promotional material they might have on-hand from years gone by.
Farm toys
From scale-models to larger ride-on pedal tractors, farm toys have been popular targets for collectors.
Why they’re coveted: Like collecting the real thing, these scale-models bring back memories of our favourite tractors in the past. The toys are often extremely detailed and attractive to display.
In addition to the sentimental aspect, some scale models can increase in value as the years go by. Just make sure you save the box it came in if you’re looking to sell later.
Where to find: Toy shows, antique stores, auctions, and flea markets. Toy shows are a great way to visit with fellow collectors and gain insight into the hobby.
Also, check out your local dealership for replicas of modern machines.
Cast iron seats
While today’s modern equipment seats are designed for comfort and ergonomic support, the seats of the past were made of cast iron and built for durability.
Why they’re coveted: These seats are popular with collectors for their aesthetic value.
There are many styles around rural Ontario, with different patterns and branding, from tractors and horse-drawn implements like planters, reapers, binders, and rakes.
Where to find: Antique exhibitions, local sales, flea markets, digital marketplaces, and community forums.
Dairy equipment
Before advanced robotics came to milk production, farmers of the past relied on tools like hand-cranked cream separators, butter churns, and milk pails to bring dairy products to their communities.
Why they’re coveted: These vintage tools bring back memories of self-sustenance and how farmers once had a more hands-on approach to making our food.
Watch out for the McCormick-Deering cream separator, a favourite among collectors.
This hand-cranked machine refined dairy products by dividing milk into cream and skim.
Where to find: Antique stores, flea markets, or auctions.
Wooden wheelbarrows
These precursors to our modern wheel-barrows and other motorized tools are celebrated for their craftsmanship. Made from robust hardwood, wooden wheelbarrows were once integral to farm chores.
Why they’re coveted: Collectors enjoy these wheelbarrows as they represent the resiliency of the artisan’s design and call them back to simpler times.
Where to find: Estate sales and auctions, antiques stores, and flea markets.
Vintage implements
Before today’s modern machines arrived, farming implements looked different, and some were powered and pulled by hard-working animals like horses and oxen.
Why they’re coveted: Collectors look to these implements of the past and see that farming has always been about innovating.
Implements like ploughs are sought-after for display and for competition in local plowing matches. These matches celebrate both animal-drawn and tractor-drawn ploughs.
Some collectors still seek out the Massey-Harris No. 2 Reaper. This horse-drawn machine was an innovative precursor to modern harvesters. Made with wooden wheels and a cutting blade, this piece shifted grain harvesting from manual to mechanical.
Where to find: Antique or equipment auctions, equipment shows, or classified listings.
Hand-cranked grain mills
Before the industrial mills of today, we relied on people-power to turn grain into flour. Mostly made from wood and iron, these hand-cranked grain mills were essential in many households.
Why they’re coveted: These grain mills are a testament to how much grain production has evolved over the years. Whether it’s a statement piece in your home or an active part of your kitchen, it’s a memory of simpler times.
Where to find: Antique kitchenware shops, rural estate sales, or auctions.
More on finding collectibles
“There are all kinds of ways to find antiques,” Heaslip says. “You can go to nostalgia shows like the ones in Woodstock or Ancaster, or flea markets.”
Joining a community of enthusiasts is also highly recommended.
“It’s nice to meet people. They’re helpful, friendly, and honest – that’s generally how it goes.
“If they know you’re a collector and they’re a collector, you’ve got a common ground.”
Auctions are another option for people looking to find collectables. Today, you can visit different auction websites to bid on antiques worldwide.
“Someone up the road got a John Deere D out of Alberta,” Heaslip says. “It’s expanding all the time.” BF
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