New York Special 28-50 Hart-Parr
By Dave Preuhs

Buying a tractor on Ebay is something I never thought I would do but in February of 2007 a listing appeared offering a 28-50 Hart-Parr. According to the serial number of 71620 it was a 1930 model, the last year they were built. The serial number tags read “Mfg. by the Oliver Farm Equipment Company, Charles City, Iowa.” The photo on the listing showed a tree growing up between the frame and the fuel tank and the engine was stuck. After a few emails to the seller I decided to bid on the tractor located in southeast Kansas. When the hammer fell I was the new owner of a 28-50.

In April of that year, a friend, my nephew and myself made the trip to Kansas to retrieve my purchase. It was in rough shape just as it was described to me. It did have some very heavy looking front and rear wheels that I have never seen before, although from a distance they look somewhat like the cast wheels you see on an older style 28-50, but these wheels are about a full inch thicker. The tractor was hard to steer due to a tree falling on the steering column and bending it down. But finally we were able to get it winched onto the trailer and secured down for the trip back to southern Minnesota.

After an uneventful trip home and getting it unloaded at the farm, the process of tearing it down began. I almost get obsessed when in the restoration process. I keep thinking about it wondering how this will come apart or how will this go back together once I get that certain part repaired. With this one being one of my more “needy” restoration projects, it took me a bit longer and farming always seemed to get in my way.


To read the entire story, subscribe to
Oliver Heritage.