Noah Shepherd restored his grandfather’s 1937 Allis Chalmers WC tractor. It had been sitting in a shelter-belt on the family farm in rural Norfolk, Nebraska, for 40 years. In 2020 the family hauled it to Iowa for restoration.
During the next four years, Noah learned the craft of antique tractor restoration, eventually entering it as a 4-H project in the Iowa State Fair, where it won Best of Show.
The tractor was originally used by his grandfather Orin Rinkel and Orin’s uncle Harvey to move hay during the Great Depression. Harvey purchased the tractor in February of 1937 at White Equipment in Pierce, Nebraska, officially selling it to Orin in 1945. They also purchased a John Deere two-bottom plow (which Noah restored prior to restoring the tractor) and a cultivator. They hand-made a “buck style” hay sweep on the front end for moving the haystacks. Noah has started the process of restoring the old sweep.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the tractor was parked on a hill to make it easier to start. This Allis Chalmers was the first in Norfolk area with rubber tires. Many family members have regaled Noah with stories of first learning to drive using the old WC tractor. Noah learned a lot as part of the restoration process and met a lot of interesting people along the way.
Since finishing the restoration, Noah has driven the tractor in parades and the annual Harold King Memorial Tractor ride in northwest Iowa. He will show it off this month at the annual Albert City Threshermen’s show in Albert City, Iowa.
The WC was built by Allis-Chalmers from 1933 to 1948, designed as a nimble, low-cost, but well-powered row-crop tractor to ride on pneumatic rubber tires. It was the best-selling tractor model that Allis-Chalmers ever built.
There’s more: Noah Shepherd, grandson of my cousins Ken and Jeani Shepherd, became very knowledgeable about magnetos (the device that pre-dates the use of a battery to create ignition) and currently runs an antique tractor and magneto repair business when he’s not busy studying engineering and physics at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Thanks to Noah’s dad (Jason) for these delightful details!
Noah just shared the link to this tractor’s fair write-up that has served as documentation of the entire process.
That’s quite the transformation. Noah sounds like quite an impressive young man.
He is! He’s also a wrestler and he and his twin sister graduated at the top of their HS class!
I love looking at old tractors, and I love thinking about all the fields they have plowed, wagons hauled, implements they were used to power.
I do too, Bob, and I enjoyed seeing those displays at the Iowa State Fair!
The restoration of such an old tractor was quite an accomplishment by this young man. I mean-it’s amazing he got that rusty shell running. He clearly took advantage of the gifts God blessed him with and persevered. Kudos to Noah and good luck to him in all his endeavors. 🙂
Thank you, Nancy. He having so much fun with it as well!
Well done, Noah!!
Thanks, all! It has been a great adventure that has led me to so many amazing people, memories, and lost arts. Contrary to popular belief, young people like myself are keeping alive our history through word of mouth and demonstrations.
Hurrah, Noah! This is such fun to share!
Even with the resurgence in interest in old agricultural history, essential tidbits of information fall through the cracks and become lost amongst its keepers. That is why I have started to run demonstrations, mainly on how to start a hand-crank engine, and document my work.
Here is the link to this tractor’s fair write-up that has served as documentation of the entire process: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JH-lBqoWCwIDOww4JwHApeFN8AbeKi0MppKvCJbWdZo/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks for this lovely article, Joy!
I love being able to share it, Noah!
Beautiful.
Oh, thank you!
Noah having the knowledge to restore that tractor is amazing, Joy. He deserves the credit you’ve given him in this wonderful post.
He sure does, Tim!
Hi, Joy and hello Noah. I consider myself a “Dexter boy” but attended school in Earlham after starting in country school. I knew your grandparents and their family. I visited your Grandma Nadine and all of Joy’s aunts, including my Mother, when they all were at the care center in Stuart over the years. I am so impressed by your ambition and accomplishments. You give many of us hope for our country’s youth. Keep up the good work.
Love your comments, Bob!
I misspoke earlier. I was a generation off. Nadine and John would be your great grandparents! The previous accolades still apply. Best wishes for a bright future, Noah. Bob Scar
Bob, you’re not the only one who recalculates the generations, often!
I have come to the conclusion that the Allie-Chalmers came from Nebraska in 2020 from Jeani’s side of the family. Have I finally got it straight?
Ken and Jeani’s son is Jason (computer prof at Buena Vista). He married Lisa (OB/GYN) who grew up on the Nebraska farm. It was her dad’s!
The before-and-after photos of those old tractors are amazing!
Yes, especially when they can get them to work as well as look good.
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