All 3 of my "mowers" are used to maintain my place. But the Ford N gets a little more attention than the Cub and Craftsman..:fing32:
Tractors: No-nonsense tool or Barbies-for-grownups?
After giving this a great deal of thought, here's my latest poll. Is(Are) your tractor or tractors something utilitarian, used strictly to get a job well done, or are you in the "Barbies-for-grownups" camp?
Think about it, the genius of the Barbie toy empire is that it can grow almost infinitely. How many little girls have just one Barbie? How many don't have a myriad of accessories to go with the Barbies?
Those are your only two options, no sitting on the fence! I should probably add a third poll option for grownups that actually collect Barbies, but that's just a little weird.:hide: And let's not get into the fact that when my daughter was little I had a basement play area full of naked headless Barbie dolls. I'm sure nobody here takes care of their tractors that way.:trink39:
Of course, comments are always welcome and encouraged!:thanku:
Think about it, the genius of the Barbie toy empire is that it can grow almost infinitely. How many little girls have just one Barbie? How many don't have a myriad of accessories to go with the Barbies?
Those are your only two options, no sitting on the fence! I should probably add a third poll option for grownups that actually collect Barbies, but that's just a little weird.:hide: And let's not get into the fact that when my daughter was little I had a basement play area full of naked headless Barbie dolls. I'm sure nobody here takes care of their tractors that way.:trink39:
Of course, comments are always welcome and encouraged!:thanku:
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
I'm 68 years old and bought it for three reasons.
One to keep from hiring someone to come in and clean out the snow in the driveway and concrete between the garages. Because of bird feeders and fencing it takes a little time to get it done.
I have had to do some fence repair because of a snowplow one time.
Number two reason is I wanted to put a garden in for us and some older Hmong ladies that want to garden and don't have a place to do it.
We now have four of them sharing a 70' x 82' garden spot.
Number three. After setting on these tractor and car far forums all winter, I got out of the house this spring and I could hardly walk, my ankles were swollen and really hurt to walk around.
I figured it out, just lack of any excercise. Since I started the garden I feel 100% better, no more swollen ankles, it got me out of the house and moving around.
I'm really happy I got it, it opens up different avenues to get me out and into the back yard.
This tractor was probably the tool I needed to get me going.:fing32:
Rob
One to keep from hiring someone to come in and clean out the snow in the driveway and concrete between the garages. Because of bird feeders and fencing it takes a little time to get it done.
I have had to do some fence repair because of a snowplow one time.
Number two reason is I wanted to put a garden in for us and some older Hmong ladies that want to garden and don't have a place to do it.
We now have four of them sharing a 70' x 82' garden spot.
Number three. After setting on these tractor and car far forums all winter, I got out of the house this spring and I could hardly walk, my ankles were swollen and really hurt to walk around.
I figured it out, just lack of any excercise. Since I started the garden I feel 100% better, no more swollen ankles, it got me out of the house and moving around.
I'm really happy I got it, it opens up different avenues to get me out and into the back yard.
This tractor was probably the tool I needed to get me going.:fing32:
Rob
I first got my tractors more for what they can do than how they look. Now that I'm a lot older with supposedly more time, that approach may be modified... a little.
MF GC2310 - In service
MF1655 w/ FEL - Down for minor repairs and new wheels
MF1655 - Down for minor repairs
MF12H - Down for minor repairs (Battery)
MF8H - Down for major repairs (Basket case)
MF7H - Down for minor repairs (Carb)
Husqvarna YTH20B42T - In service
That seems like a pretty nice Barbie collection to me!:hide:
MF1655 w/ FEL - Down for minor repairs and new wheels
MF1655 - Down for minor repairs
MF12H - Down for minor repairs (Battery)
MF8H - Down for major repairs (Basket case)
MF7H - Down for minor repairs (Carb)
Husqvarna YTH20B42T - In service
That seems like a pretty nice Barbie collection to me!:hide:
My tractors are justifiable tools. They provide a better and quicker way to perform a needed task, just like any other tool. But if I care to "accessorize" them in a way I see fit, then thats o.k. too!
Interesting comparison there, a doll for a little girls and a working tractor for full grown (physically) men! After due deliberation of my current and past GT's I must say the preponderance of evidence points to..... utilitarian work saver. I say this as my tractor no longer shows the "collectable shine" of newness since it's earning it's keep in and around low hanging bushes and trees, etc.
Also at my (ahem) advanced age and aquired vast amount of practical wisdom, why on Earth would I want to still be pushing snow with a shovel or trudging behind a dinky walking mower on my giant 1/3 acre empire? If I had an even bigger piece of land, say 1/2 an acre, why the options for working my tractor would be boundless! I could spend way more time collecting leaves and clippings for compost and turning them over even more times during the winter.
Fly fishing equipment, golf clubs, NASCAR die cast cars or a regulation billard table would be on my list of "Barbie Stuff" for guys! Certainly NOT a tractor... not even a steam powered one!:sidelaugh:bannana:
Also at my (ahem) advanced age and aquired vast amount of practical wisdom, why on Earth would I want to still be pushing snow with a shovel or trudging behind a dinky walking mower on my giant 1/3 acre empire? If I had an even bigger piece of land, say 1/2 an acre, why the options for working my tractor would be boundless! I could spend way more time collecting leaves and clippings for compost and turning them over even more times during the winter.
Fly fishing equipment, golf clubs, NASCAR die cast cars or a regulation billard table would be on my list of "Barbie Stuff" for guys! Certainly NOT a tractor... not even a steam powered one!:sidelaugh:bannana:
Appearances are deceiving. The long term plan is:MF GC2310 - In service
MF1655 w/ FEL - Down for minor repairs and new wheels
MF1655 - Down for minor repairs
MF12H - Down for minor repairs (Battery)
MF8H - Down for major repairs (Basket case)
MF7H - Down for minor repairs (Carb)
Husqvarna YTH20B42T - In service
That seems like a pretty nice Barbie collection to me!:hide:
MF GC2310 TLB - plus backblade.
MF 1655 w/FEL - plus backblade, various FEL attachments, 4850 tiller, log splitter.
MF1655 - 54" mmm, 48" blower, share the tiller.
MF12H - currently with mmm, snowblower, front blade and spring tine cultivator, but in the future another FEL and hydraulic Cat '0' 3PH and 48" backblade.
MF8H - mmm, and a candidate for a possible diesel conversion and maybe a small FEL and 36" backblade on a Cat '00' hydraulic 3PH.
MF7H - mmm and snowblower.
The hope is to make the fleet earn their keep in specialized fashion. The only candidate for Barbie status is, maybe , the MF7H if I can get the mechanical side 100%. Once the 7H is done, the Husqvarna is gone.
The only major pieces that I don't have now are the 2 smaller backblades and a diesel for the 8H. A 3rd 5' backbade would be nice for the other 1655, but it's not essential. The hydraulic 3PH for the 12H has been hanging on the wall in the garage since I sold my first 12H in '84.
All working tractors (once I get them running to my satisfaction), no Barbies.
I use all mine to some degree, though two are mostly go-karts for the kids.
The New Unico will be used to mow and push a snow blade. My son's Unico will run the snowblower and become a plowing, cultivating machine.
The New Unico will be used to mow and push a snow blade. My son's Unico will run the snowblower and become a plowing, cultivating machine.
My Murry does all the mowing, bagging. My Custom 6 does all the rest. No Barbie here. If I get another tractor it will work hard also, giving the Custom some rest.:thThumbsU
HH, get with the 21st Century. I am sure that a number of our MTF members have collected Barbies at some point in their life, gender not withstanding!Interesting comparison there, a doll for a little girls and a working tractor for full grown (physically) men!
It's funny that you mention golf clubs and fly fishing gear. I haven't replaced my golf clubs since the early 90s and my fly rod dates to about 1975 (remember "I'm a Fenwick Man"?). However, I'm always adding and accessorizing the tractors.
Well after farming 750 acres and 70 milkers, Garden tractors are toys. I still mow 4 acres as needed with a DGT6000 and I acted like a kid with a new toy when I got the snow plow and blower. They do what they are intended to and more sometimes but they are definitly not no-nonsense.
Can it be both? Cause so far it was strictly utilitarian, yet lately I am starting to enjoy playing with it 
Just remember that Divorced Barbie comes with Kens house, Kens car, Kens tools, and Kens sanity. That's why tractors are tools and not Barbies.
My tractor is a tool to make life a little easier. No way would I like to be using a walk behind mower for the 2+ acres I maintain - actually had to do it for a year. And no way do I want to be shoveling my 1,100 foot driveway! And I won't even go into the amount of mulch I need to move every year - **** landscaping that makes the property look great.
Now, my camping gear and my fishing gear and my golf clubs and my workshops tools are my passions and my toys! Tractor gets the job done quicker and easier so I can play with my toys!!!!
But now that I think about it, I always enjoy driving around the property on the tractor! Ahhh - its part toy too!
Now, my camping gear and my fishing gear and my golf clubs and my workshops tools are my passions and my toys! Tractor gets the job done quicker and easier so I can play with my toys!!!!
But now that I think about it, I always enjoy driving around the property on the tractor! Ahhh - its part toy too!
Tudor, please know that I meant no disrespect. In fact, quite the contrary, I was admiring your extensive collection. :thThumbsU My only premise that might be a point of contention (with everyone) is that once you get to more tractors than you can count on one hand, maybe they're more for sport than necessity, even if they all perform tough jobs. I would opine that aspiring to have two (or three!) FELs in the shed might put you in that category. Further, the very last line of your signature says they may be a lit bit of fun.Appearances are deceiving. The long term plan is:
MF GC2310 TLB - plus backblade.
MF 1655 w/FEL - plus backblade, various FEL attachments, 4850 tiller, log splitter.
MF1655 - 54" mmm, 48" blower, share the tiller.
MF12H - currently with mmm, snowblower, front blade and spring tine cultivator, but in the future another FEL and hydraulic Cat '0' 3PH and 48" backblade.
MF8H - mmm, and a candidate for a possible diesel conversion and maybe a small FEL and 36" backblade on a Cat '00' hydraulic 3PH.
MF7H - mmm and snowblower.
The hope is to make the fleet earn their keep in specialized fashion. The only candidate for Barbie status is, maybe , the MF7H if I can get the mechanical side 100%. Once the 7H is done, the Husqvarna is gone.
The only major pieces that I don't have now are the 2 smaller backblades and a diesel for the 8H. A 3rd 5' backbade would be nice for the other 1655, but it's not essential. The hydraulic 3PH for the 12H has been hanging on the wall in the garage since I sold my first 12H in '84.
All working tractors (once I get them running to my satisfaction), no Barbies.
My choice of Barbie for the analogy was 1) because I see similarities in the way Barbies and tractors are collected and 2) I thought that choice might cause a bit of a stir. :sorry1:
:sidelaugh Ok, that's funny. But what about Ken's tractor?Just remember that Divorced Barbie comes with Kens house, Kens car, Kens tools, and Kens sanity. That's why tractors are tools and not Barbies.
Maybe you should have used the term action-figures, ggsteve.
We changed our G.I. Joe's uniform, we did not "dress him up".
We changed our G.I. Joe's uniform, we did not "dress him up".
Yeah, I thought about GI Joe (mine was before the Kung Fu grip), but he wasn't nearly as popular as Barbie, and this thread wouldn't have been nearly as much fun (for me).Maybe you should have used the term action-figures, ggsteve.
We changed our G.I. Joe's uniform, we did not "dress him up".
1 - 20 of 33 Posts
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