“You go look at a 3020, and it’s a tractor, it’s still the same tractor. You look at some of these Orchards, and the metal and how they cover some of the wheels—it’s more of a design versus just a tractor.” However, Dale said the Orchard design hasn’t been the only consideration while seeking out new tractors for the collection, with low production numbers playing an important role in their search as well. “We knew what we wanted, but my whole goal was to find the lowest-run tractor in each series,” he said. As an example, Dale noted the 60 series, in which the LP version of the Orchard was the least number run at just 45, meaning his 1956 60 LP Orchard was a fairly unique piece when new, and even more so today. Likewise, Dale’s 1970 2020 Gas Orchard was one of just 19 built, his ’64 3020 Gas Orchard is one of just six, and his ’64 3020 LP Orchard is one of just two ever produced. “That’s how we kind of figured out what we wanted: what models or Orchards, and in those models, which one was built least,” he said. “What’s the least amount run and what’s going to be hardest to get, and that’s what we went after. We wanted the rarest of that tractor to say we put together a great collection, a hard collection to get, just based on what numbers are left out there to go get.” In building his collection, Dale said quality was also of importance, with some of the tractors being purchased in restored, show-quality condition from the get go; but, that doesn’t mean he and his dad were afraid of rolling up their sleeves and giving some of the others a little TLC. “We bought some that were rougher that we had to do some work on to get them to the state where we were happy with them to be in the collection,” he said. “So, it was a lit tle bit of both.” Likewise, Dale said they would handle some of the restoration work themselves, while sending tractors out for more complex processes and projects, like painting for example. Regardless of who did the work or how it was completed, the focus was always on well-restored tractors as the result, and not just a beautiful presentation. “We wanted to make sure the engine and things were good, that it was a solid, restored tractor, not just someone put some paint on it and called it a restored tractor,” he said. “I’ve gotten burned buying paint before … we figured that out the hard way when we first started. Now we’re a lot more selective on what we do and how we get tractors, and that goes back to who you buy them from, the research, the history, to know these tractors are legit.” While they’ve taken a couple of the tractors to shows in the past, Dale said these tractors have largely been for their personal enjoyment, and it’s because of this reason that he’s now decided to part with a portion of his collection. “That’s one of the reasons it’s time to let these ones go, to let other people enjoy them whether they use them in a collection or they want to show them, or whatever,” he said. “I’m not necessarily done collecting; there’s still a list of tractors that I’d love to own, but it’s just time for someone else to have these ones while I keep
