A newly formed tractor club is firing on all cylinders — all two of them.
The Western Canadian John Deere Two Cylinder Club is up and running and planning its first major gathering July 30-31, just before the annual show at Heritage Acres Farm Museum near Pincher Creek, Alta.
Ken Lewis sold John Deere farm equipment for 40 years in the Pincher Creek region and now dedicates time to the new club.
“Our goal is to encourage and preserve the John Deere two cylinder tractors,” he said.
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“These tractors played a large part in the life of pioneer farmers.”
The new club is inviting John Deere enthusiasts from across Western Canada to bring their tractors and interest to the event, which will feature field demonstrations, tractor pulls and a parade of power.
The Heritage Acres annual show, scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3, will showcase the John Deere brand this year.
Two-cylinder tractors were the first mechanized replacements for horses in agricultural use. Lewis said they provided dependable, low-cost power.
“They’d run forever,” he said while admitting his bias toward green and yellow.
“They were strong. They had big pistons in them. They’re a great old tractor. They run slow. You run them slow and they just cough and they move.”
Lewis has a JD 830, which he said will out-pull his six-cylinder JD 4010.
Heritage Acres has a 1920 Waterloo Boy John Deere in full working order, which Lewis said will have pride of place at this year’s event.
“It’s original and it runs just like a new one.”
Also featured will be a 1925 Model D owned by Gerald Lewis, which was delivered new to the region many years ago and originally purchased by the Stuckey family.
Lewis said there are about 50 John Deere tractors in the Heritage Acres shop, most of them two cylinder models.
Daniel Stewart, executive director of Heritage Acres, said the added aspect to the annual show is welcomed.
“If you’re just a general tractor enthusiast, you’re great to come out. If you’re really specifically loving the John Deere, then this year will be perfect for you to come out,” he said.
“I think any event that’s going to bring on a group of individuals who are as passionate as the two cylinder John Deere guys is definitely going to be a positive effect to what we’re trying to show out here.”
Lewis said the smallest two cylinder Deeres have about nine horsepower and ranged from there up to about 60 horsepower.
The last of them were built in 1959, followed by four and six cylinder models. Today, the largest John Deere tractors have more than 500 h.p.
For more information, phone Lewis at 403-627-2234.
Contact barb.glen@producer.com
