SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Lake County International is a family owned implement dealer in Madison. The business sells Case I-H farm equipment including tractors.
The Bloom family has been equipping farmers in the Madison area since 1962. Brothers Tom and Jeff Bloom took over the business from their dad and a partner and now run the operation selling everything from combines to multi wheeled tractors.
“I have a 1949 small M, you know with the open grill,” said Jeff Bloom.
Jeff isn’t talking about a big ‘tractor’ tractor, he’s talking about this.
No horse power here, just pedal power. Walk inside Lake County International and look up and you will see rows of collectable pedal tractors. Jeff started collecting the pint size tractors decades ago and now has about 60.
“It’s fun to see people come in because they will walk in and say Yah I’ve been told about this collection of yours and Like I’ve said I’ve got mostly just about every red tractor that there ever was, so that’s been my real love is the International Harvester one but I keep a big selection of other colors kind of in the back that I’ve redone over the years too,” said Jeff.
He says the older tractors are the most valuable.
“Some of these, like this one would be made in 1951, you think about that that’s 73 years old,” Jeff said.
His brother Tom says he first learned about Jeff’s passion for collecting pedal tractors when they would go pheasant hunting at area farms.
“Where is Jeff at? Oh he’s out back rummaging around in the farmer’s iron pile,” said Tom Bloom. “And low and behold he’d grab one pull it out. Can I have this? And the farmer would say sure. I think that’s when I kind of really knew that he really enjoyed doing that.”
So other than farmers fields Jeff finds them at sales and auctions and online. He has spent hundreds of hours restoring some of the more valuable ones.
“It’s like bringing back an old car, if you can bring one back without repainting it and make it original that’s even better,” Jeff said.
The newer tractors are mostly steal and aluminum, some the older ones were made from cast iron.
“It’s heavy!” Jeff said. “Yeah, that you know every part on the old ones except for tires and the pedals would have been metal, its ah, there is nothing plasticee about that guy you know.”
There is some plastic on this year’s model, which will run you about $400. Jeff says he concentrates on the older models for his collection. Like any hobby it comes with challenges.
“It’s enjoyable for me, you wonder why you started collecting anything that was so big. Because it’s hard to find a place to put them them all you know,” Jeff said. “We’ve talked about the John Deere’s and the Alice Chalmers and some of the off brands maybe tucking them back here because as you see when we go around the to other side I keep the red ones out front, because you know, our hearts are near and dear to the red.”
Jeff says he plans to pass on his collection to family.
“I’ll never sell this pedal collection, I have a son in the business and my nephew in the business that I’m sure will be passed on to them. Whatever they decide to do with it it is up to them, you know it will be fun seeing it go on to children and grandchildren,” said Jeff.
The Case I-H peddle tractors at Lake County International sell for $431. If you are curious about the collections Bloom invites you to stop by the Case I-H dealership in Madison.
