check out these plows at the local auction

[Birdbrain]

Hello All,
I am in the market for a 2 bottom plow to go with my soon to be purchased tractor, so I stopped by the lot of the local equipment auction (coming up on Saturday). I found a Ferguson (14-AO-28), a Ford and a Dearborn among others with broken or obviously badly worn parts.
Can someone tell me exactly what I am looking at? Have I found something worth trying to buy?
I will apologize in advance for asking these questions. I imagine these questions about the history of plows have been answered here before. But I thought I would ask directly since I was only gleaning bits and pieces from researching old threads. Links to old threads on the topic would also be appreciated.

Thanks,
Glen

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Given a choice, take the Ford 101 (Middle of the three) Much easier to get new wear parts and a better plow to begin with. 101 was made by either Pittsburg Plow & Iron in the beginning, or later models (the blue ones) were built for Ford by White/Oliver. They're amongst the best 3-point plows ever built.

Around where I live, I'd expect #1 and #3 to sell for $175 to $250 and #2 from a low of $250 to as much as $400. I've plowed a many an acre with a Ford 101 3X16". They pull easy (if adjusted correctly), hold up well, and parts are easy to come by.

 

[Birdbrain]

Thanks FWJ. Exactly what I was looking for. From what I had read on here, I suspected I was on the right track, but wasn't sure.

Glen

 

[Medicine Creek]

what do ya'll use a plow for anyway?

they haven't been widely used here in a generation or more. sometimes once in a while you'll see someone plow terraces up to reshape them a bit with one but never any feild work.

yea, i know, i'm going to go edit my profile now so "here" will have some meaning.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

what do ya'll use a plow for anyway?

they haven't been widely used here in a generation or more. sometimes once in a while you'll see someone plow terraces up to reshape them a bit with one but never any feild work.

yea, i know, i'm going to go edit my profile now so "here" will have some meaning.

Certain parts of the country, moldboard plows are still used to some degree in large scale production agriculture, but mostly, they're used by "weekend farmers" and hobbiest's to plow up a food plot, a garden, or simply just to play around. Most hobbiest's don't have the resources or the certification to use chemical weed control like big farmers. Those chemicals have reduced the need for heavy tillage on big farms to a greater degree. Chisel plows and more efficient tillage tools have also taked a big bite out of plowing.

In my immediate area, you'd be hard pressed to find a half dozen real farmers who even own a plow any more. But they're more popular than next weeks winning lotto numbers. There's a bunch of hobbiest's and weekend farmers out there that grew up spending long hours in the spring on dads tractor with a plow in tow. Now they just want to flip some sod for old times sake.

 

[Medicine Creek]

i get it. as a weekend hobbiest myself now i may have to pull a couple of the old three and four bottom pull types out of the weeds of the old family farm and see what i can do. there's a walk behind deere plow out there somewhere but i ain't going there, it looks like work and stuff. although the leather harnesses are still hanging in the barn..

 

[Farmwithjunk]

i get it. as a weekend hobbiest myself now i may have to pull a couple of the old three and four bottom pull types out of the weeds of the old family farm and see what i can do. there's a walk behind deere plow out there somewhere but i ain't going there, it looks like work and stuff. although the leather harnesses are still hanging in the barn..

Yeah, those "good ol' days" were only so good in many regards

 

[WarrenF]

Out in our country, a plow is still used EVERY YEAR. Instead of the roll over plows many have gone to the John Deere switch plows. This part of the country we still gravity irrigate much of our ground with siphon tubes....and you can not get water down a furrow clogged with trash.....plowing is the method of choice for rolling that trash under.

 

[ernemats]

where do you get parts for a ford 101. I have a ford 101 3 botton 12 inch and I have not been able to find replacement parts for a 12 inch.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

where do you get parts for a ford 101. I have a ford 101 3 botton 12 inch and I have not been able to find replacement parts for a 12 inch.

12" plow parts of just about any brand are getting scarce. Not sure you'll find them other than just by chance. You might try fitting 14" shares and shins. I'm not sure, but they MIGHT fit.