A well documented private collection of historic American farm machinery will be offered this January as Big T’s (Tom Murray) Antique Tractor and Farm Equipment Auction comes to market. The sale is conducted by Aumann Auctions and includes 83 lots covering early internal combustion tractors, classic row crop machines, and legacy harvest equipment.
Tom Murray, widely known as Big T, was a lifelong farmer, tractor puller, and a founding member of the Prairie Land Heritage Museum. His collection reflects a technically informed approach to preservation, focusing on machines that represent key stages in the evolution of American farming. All equipment was reportedly running when placed into indoor storage over the past several years.
Key Auction Lots Worth Closer Attention for Collectors and Restorers
Among the broad lineup, several machines stand out for their technical relevance, historical importance, and collector appeal.
Rumley Oil Pull Tractor Represents the Shift From Steam to Internal Combustion
One of the standout lots is a Rumley Oil Pull tractor, a design that helped redefine farm power in the 1910s. Built to run on kerosene or heavy oil, Oil Pull tractors were engineered for durability and high torque rather than speed. Their massive flywheels, open gearing, and low RPM engines illustrate early solutions to fuel cost and reliability challenges faced by farmers transitioning away from steam traction engines.
From a collector’s standpoint, Rumley tractors are valued for both their mechanical honesty and their role in shaping large scale tillage before standardized gasoline engines became dominant.
Sister Serial Number John Deere Tractors Offer Exceptional Collector Value
Another notable highlight is a pair of John Deere tractors carrying sister serial numbers. Tractors with sequential or closely matched serial numbers are rare survivors, as farm machinery was typically sold and dispersed individually rather than kept together.
These units provide collectors with a near time capsule example of factory production, making them especially attractive for museum display, brand focused collections, or historically accurate restorations. From a historical perspective, they document consistency in casting, assembly, and component specification within a single production window.
Vintage Thresher Captures the Belt Driven Harvest Era
Among the non tractor lots, a vintage grain thresher stands out as a reminder of pre combine harvesting systems. Threshers were the centerpiece of belt driven farm operations, often powered by tractors or stationary engines and shared among neighboring farms during harvest season.
Technically, these machines highlight the complexity of mechanical grain separation before self propelled combines became widespread. Collectible threshers are increasingly scarce due to their size and low survival rates, making preserved examples important artifacts of both agricultural engineering and rural social history.
Where and When to Bid
The Big T’s Tom Murray Antique Tractor and Farm Equipment Auction will be held on January 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Location: 1268 Sandusky Rd, Jacksonville, Illinois 62650.
The auction is hosted by Aumann Auctions, with full catalog access available through Aumann Vintage Power.
