"Old 79": world's oldest John Deere tractor.

Called "Old 79" by its owner, Frank Hansen, of Rollingstone, MN, this is the 79th John Deere tractor built and the ONLY one of Deere's original farm tractors left intact today.

Frank Hansen was on a trout fishing vacation near Winona, MN, when he discovered the old tractor in a farmer's junk machinery lot. Hansen noticed that it had an intriguing design that included all-wheel drive with three wheels, a simple form of nonslip or positive traction, and the ability to shift-on-the-go. It used an upright gasoline engine that resembles today's diesel engines.

To satisfy his curiosity, Hansen began to research the old junker and discovered that it was manufactured at Deere and Company's 10th Street factory in East Moline, IL. Further research showed that about 200 of these machines had been designed, manufactured and marketed by Deere between 1914 and 1919.

By 1960, he had decided that such early developments in America's agricultural history should be preserved for future generations. Hansen returned to the farm near Winona, MN, and was surprised to discover that the tractor was still sitting in the same spot it had been since 1948.

The farmer who owned the tractor originally admitted that he only paid $5.00 for it as junk, but sensing Hansen's keen interest, shrewdly charged him $1000.

After being restored, the tractor was loaned to the Smithsonian institution for a year. Since then Hansen has been exhibiting "Old 79" at fairs and agricultural events throughout the US and Canada.