Fondness For Oliver Tractors Puts This Restoration Expert In Calendar
ANDY ANDREWS
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARBESON, Del. Robert
Tollman affectionately refers to
the tractor as "Old Number 1."
Tollman admits it was his "first
true love." He’ll never forget the
day he won it over an Allis Chal
mers WC.
To Tollman, Old Number 1
refers to an Oliver 70 tractor. It was
a beauty when his dad bought it in
1939. It was fitted with an electric
starter and lights, rubber tires, and
was powered by what he calls an
"industry first"; a six-cylinder,
valve-in-head, high compression
engine rated at 28 horsepower.
The Oliver 70 is the tractor that
Tallman believes "put Oliver on
its feet to make them a full-line
company."
Tallman collects the old Oliver
tractors. He has 20 of them in a
recently constructed 48-foot by
75-foot storage building, many
waiting to be restored.
The Series 70 was chosen over
his brother’s preference, an Allis
Chalmers WC. Robert was happy
with his dad’s decision—and still
keeps Old Number 1 in storage.
Unhappily, Old Number 1 is
worn out It had its day and is ripe
for restoration.
Now, only time will tell when
Tallman can complete a painstak
ing, precise restoration. He prefers
to take his time and, as he admit
ted, doing it right
In the meantime, an Oliver Clet
rac HO 68 tractor, of which Tall
man has restored, is featured in the
1996 Classic Tractor Calendar
from Classic Tractor Calendars,
Wilmington, Del. It was selected
from hundreds of entries to appear
in the seventh edition of the
calendar.
Tallman recently spoke about
HI-MAG ! AG LIME I HI-CAL
Cash Discount Savings on Delivery
For your convenience calls received
Mon.-Sat. until 9:00 pm
1-800-724-3277
Serving PA, MO, Delmarva, NJ, NY & (LI)
Multi Fuel Furnaces
& Boilers
Wood, Coal & Oil
t
e
Also Outdoor Boilers
wood & coal models
PENN MFC. CO.
393 W. Lexington Rd., Lltltz, PA 17543
Call (717) 626-1397 or 627-2303
his efforts to restore the old Oliver
tractors which he has collected.
Tallman is secretary of the
National Hart-Parr/Oliver Collec
tors Association, based at the old
Oliver manufacturing site of Char
les City, lowa. He admitted that
he’s looidng for an "Oliver pal”
that could help him in the restora
tion process.
Tallman remains in close con
tact with the 3,000-member (and
growing) organization that serves
as an information source and clear
inghouse for the Oliver tractors.
Popular before and after World
War 11, the Oliver tractor boasted
the world’s first continuous run
ning power takeoff for tractors.
The takeoffs were installed on the
Oliver Fleet Line—Series 66,77,
and 88 in 1948. The Fleet Line
allowed Oliver to "lead the indus
try by a country mile," said
Tallman.
However, after he purchased the
tractor, he was frustrated with the
lack of nearby dealer support and
service centers for Olivers. The
tractor impressed him early on,
because Nebraska engineering
tests certified that the tractor could
Correct
NORCROSS, Ga. Tools are
made for specific purposes. Use
them right and they are great aids.
Use them wrong and who knows
what the result may be. A screw
driver used as a pry-bar may only
cost you the price of a new screw
driver, but misusing a soil test
could cost you yield... and profit!
Soil testing is an important tool
and should certainly be used to its
full advantage. It is, none the less,
only one of. the many important
management tools and considera
tions that are used in developing
fertilizer plans for high yield pro-
pull 84 percent of its weight It was
a good, sturdy, long-lasting
machine.
But Tallman couldn’t resist.
Together with his brother George,
Robert went into business.
On Jan. 2, 1946, the brothers
formed a partnership in Tower
City, Pa. to sell Oliva tractors,
new and used. The brothers oper
ated the dealership together until
1969. The business continues as
the Tallman Supply Company.
Robert then went into the
industrial supply business and
decided to continue to collect and
restore the Oliver tractors on the
side.
But as Oliver dealers, they were
also fanners. As the Tallman
Brothers, George and Robert
farmed about SOO acres near Tow
er City, about 350 acres of which
they owned. George still grows
potatoes near Tower City and
Robert lives in the Rehobeth
Beach, Del. area.
But Tallman still affectionately
'recalls the Oliver 70.
During World War 11, it was dif
ficult to purchase a complete trac-
Soil Testing
grams. Other factors include:
• Total crop nutrient uptake at a
given yield goal. This needs care
ful attention. Yield potential is dif
ficult to accurately predict. It is
subject to many variables, some
controllable, some not. A good
approach is to average yields over
the past five years and add S or 10
percent in accordance with plans
to achieve that additional yield.
• Crop quality. Are there spe
cific market requirements that
must be met to obtain a premium?
Additional nutrients or in-season
management strategies may be
necessary to achieve a certain pro
tein level, fruit size, or other mar
ket standard.
• Local climatic conditions. Are
there special conditions limiting
or enhancing yield potential that
should be considered? Cold grow-
we extend our sincere
thanks to all of those
who have made our
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 30, 1995-A2l
tor because of the war materials
rationing. His father purchased
Old Number 1 in 1939 at a cost of
$1,250, said Robert His brother
purchased another Oliver 70,
which, because of the war, was
tough to do. Robert said you had to
"apply to the government agen
cies to get certification to apply for
one, if you could find one."
Gporgc purchased the tractor in
1943, without the rubber tires, the
starter, or the generator. Cost was
about $9OO.
In 1950, they sold the Cletrac
HG 68, featured in the calendar.
The tractor was originally sold to a
customer in 1950 and bought back
in 1985, when Robert got serious
about restoring farm tractors.
According to the calendar com
pany, the tractor was “perfect for
potato growers. The 68-inch track
width was ideal for the 34-inch
rows they planted. The model
offered a choice of four different
track widths: 31-, 42-, 60-, and 68
inches.” The tractor had a four
cylinder flathead Hercules engine
(1,700 rpm) that developed 22
horsepower on the drawbar and 27
Is Excellent Tool
ing conditions in the spring could
mean that starter fertilizer should
be applied regardless of soil test
levels. A short growing season
requires that the crop get off to a
quick start for maximum yield...
another reason for using starter
fertilizer. On the other hand, a par
ticular field may benefit from a
south facing exposure or from
favorable air drainage that
enhances its yield potential.
■ Specific soil characteristics.
Are there plow pans, shallow bed
rock or other restrictions that limit
yield potential in any part of the
field? Or is the soil in excellent
physical condition...deep, well l
drained and capable of producing
a bumper crop? Deep sandy soils
require special care in managing
nitrogen to pievent leaching
below the root zone. A uniform
field can be precisely managed in
ADC Is the Place To Be
A high net return and a strong board of directors - the
outstanding benefits that Richard and Janet Knebel refer to - are
among the strengths of the premier dairy cooperative in the region.
Atlantic Dairy Cooperative has a 78-year history of excellent
service to its members. Financially strong, ADC guarantees a market
for all member milk and excels in maximizing returns. ADC is a
leader in providing equity payments, quality bonuses and over-order
premiums to members.
Nearly 4,000 dairy farmers agree that "ADC is the Place to Be."
For free information on how you can secure future of your
dairy farm operation, write or call:
Atlantic Dairy Cooperative ■ ”lr\
1225 Industrial Highway
Southampton, PA 18966 JJgifPVjj
1-800-645-MILK MPNRPBI
horsepower on the belt. It had three
forward speeds and an operating
weight of 3,513 pounds.
The tractor will be featured in a
video and on a 20- by 30-inch post
er with 14 other restored tractors
on the calendar.
With headquarters in Chicago.
111., Oliver constructed the wheel
tractors in Charles City, lowa and
the crawler tractors at the plant in
Cleveland, Ohio (after purchasing
the Cleveland Tractor Company in
1944).
Of the 20 tractors in storage,
Tallman has restored only about a
quarter of them. It’s a matter of
finding time and an “Oliver ally to
work with me,” he said.
The Oliver Company was even
tually sold to the White Motor
Company in November 1960. A
succession of acquisitions fol
lowed until White was acquired by
A geo a few years ago.
Tallman said the national Oliver
assocadon was founded in Decem
ber 1989 and numbers 3,000
strong. He hopes to someday find a
friend to help him bring Old Num
ber 1 back to its original condition.
addressed with site-specific man
agement and new variable rate
technology.
• Grower level of management
intensity. Are your committed to
higher yields? Are you capable of
producing higher yields? Let the
track record do the talking. The
importance of management can
not be overemphasized. It is the
very foundation of yield potential.
Every decisior from planting
through harvest can significantly
impact final yield ... positively or
negatively.
•Soil testing offers basic infor
mation about selected chemical
and physical properties of a field.
Used regularly it tracks nutrient
trends, suggesting the adequacy of
past fertilizer practices and indi
cating future direction. It is a use
ful management tool in develop
ing fertilizer plans for high yield
programs.
And remember, continued use
of soil testing is a foundation to
sound nutrient management deci
sions, higher yields, and higher
profits.
'A strong, prudent board of
directors challenges management
and staff to seek the greatest return
on our investment in ADC,
creating the highest net return to
its members back on the farm. ”
—Richard & Janet Kriebel
Benton, PA