Dans Tractor Parts
Dans Tractor Parts

Dan’s Tractor Parts

by Lynn R. Miller

More than thirty years ago, in one of my horse buying treks cross country, on a blue highway somewhere in Nebraska, I happened upon a farm equipment wrecking yard of enormous proportions. I was trying to get to an appointment so I only had time to slow down enough and gaze across the expanse of steam tractor skeletons, threshing machines, Oliver and JD Tractors, and hundreds of old horsedrawn implements. When I got to the next little town I stopped for gas and asked the attendant about the place. He didn’t seem to know anything. So I remarked:

“It’s got to be famous round here, I’ve never seen anything like it, fifty acres of old farm equipment.”

“Oh you must mean Joe’s place? With all the rusty junk?”

“What’s it called?”

“I dunno, guess we just all call it Joe’s yard.”

“He sell parts and pieces?”

”Dunno, guess so, what else would he do with that stuff?”

“Would you happen to know his phone number or the address of the place?”

“Don’t. Don’t need to. Anybody round here already knows where it is.”

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I remember thinking ‘what a shame, wish I could share the info with folks through the ‘Journal.’ And then, like so many things in a busy life it slipped from my memory… until just the other day when I was visiting with my friend Dan Miller, of Redmond, Oregon. He has a tractor yard he calls Dan’s Tractor Parts. A knowledgeable lady works there by the name of Kathy who answers the phone and helps people get parts for farm equipment.

I first met Dan 10 years ago or more when I needed a radiator for my old John Deere A. Sure ‘nuff he had everything I needed and a whole lot more. With lots in common we became good friends. But as with so many things of such like, I completely put out of my mind my responsibilities as editor of this Journal until just the other day. Because it’s so close, and because I take it for granted, is no reason it wouldn’t help others to know about this ‘yard.’ And then I thought about all the tuther yards like it from Manitoba to the Yucatan, from ‘Nord Calinki’ to Barstow. So here’s a call for info out to you far flung friends; do you have such treasures in your back yard you might share with the rest of us? And can you get addresses, phone numbers and such, along with pictures? We’d love to share them. Fact is, we are going to start up a classified-like FREE listing in the back of the Journal where you can get that info published. Send ‘em to Yard Parts c/o SFJ PO Box 1627, Sisters, OR 97759 or email to agrarian@smallfarmersjournal. com.

And while we’re at it. Are you looking for some hard to find bit or part to keep you in the field? You need a share for an Oliver 23B plow or a Y bar plate for a JD 999 corn planter, or a ‘hair-dryer’ carburetor for a pony motor on a ‘49 JD R diesel tractor? What I am proposing is that we allow you a FREE listing in a second new section we might call Treasure Hunt.

This could end up being a real good thing. Only if, of course, you want it to.

If you want to get in touch with Dan’s Tractor Parts in Redmond, Oregon: Call Kathy @ 541-548-2361 and tell them Lynn sent you (ask them for a left-handed wingnut, that should get a chuckle.)

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I spotted this stripped-down but serviceable JD disc harrow frame in the back side corner of Dan’s yard.
Dans Tractor Parts
Wandering around, up near the front gate, I found the pallets on which were neatly stacked all the parts for that same disc.
Dans Tractor Parts
And then to the side I spotted JD Van Brunt seed drill openers. My goodness, talk about treasures!

Bonus Pics (not enough space for these in the Journal):

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