Heidrick Ag History Center, 1962 Hays Lane, Woodland, California 95776
Call: (530) 666-9700. aghistory.org
When visiting,
Woodland,
California, be sure to see Heidrick Ag History Center. It
includes the world’s largest and most
unique collection of one-of-a-kind
antique agricultural equipment. Combined
with Hays Antique Truck Museum, also
recognized as the largest of its kind in
the world, the two facilities introduce
visitors to the marvels of agriculture,
and commercial trucking. 130,000 square
feet of interactive exhibits require a
little extra time to see and experience.
The facility opened in 1997 and
specializes in collections of farm
implements, tractors and harvesting
machinery from the late 1800s through
the middle of the last century.
Among the massive collection are some
rare farm equipment pieces dating over
100 years! Among our favorites are
simple items such as the Fond-Du-Lac
1917. It is a tractor attachment that
was mounted on a 1916 Model T
Truck. It was one of the many attempts
to make Ford autos double as tractors
during the WW1 era. What a noble effort.
The attachment price around the time was
about $150.
Ahead of its time was the Twin City,
dating to 1918. The first use of
four valves in each cylinder for
tractors can be seen in this machine.
Some autos have now returned to this
system. This Twin City model was
continued until 1929, when Minneapolis
Co. merged with Moline Plow Co. and
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. to
form Minneapolis Moline Power Implement
Co.
Case was a prominent name in the ag
industry, and the museum contains
several case items such as Case
10-20 3 Wheel (1918); Case Model 20-40
with a two-cylinder engine (1918); Case
9-18 Kerosene Model B with a one piece
main frame was used in the tractor
(1918); Case 18-32 with a crosswise
motor mount (1920). Rounding
out half a dozen Case machines are a
Case 12-20 with pressed steel wheels to
reduce weight and lower production costs
(1922); and Case CO 1930
prominently seen in almond orchard until
the mid-1940s.
An even bigger collection of
Caterpillar tractors and machinery
provide hours of gazing, reading, and
learning. While farm professionals love
the museum, kids and people of all ages
are amazed by the sizes and shapes of
the equipment that has been used. Many
inventions were later applied to
car-making after proving their success.
Among the Caterpillar inventory are
Caterpillar Expo 20, one of only five
such tractors ever made (1926);
Caterpillar 60 with new comforts for
operators (1927); Caterpillar 20, a
gasoline powered tractor (1928);
Caterpillar 10 Expo, an experimental
model painted white for display at State
Fairs (1928); Caterpillar 30 Wide made
in San Leandro (1928); Caterpillar
10, the smallest model made by
Caterpillar (1928); Caterpillar 10
Orchard Model which included a lower
seat for orchards (1929); several other
Caterpillar 10 models ranging in height
& width; and Caterpillar 60 Diesel No.
1C2, the first Caterpillar diesel ever
sold (1931).
Other Caterpillars include a merger of
Holt and Best, a diesel economy model, a
Caterpillar 20 offered in gray or
yellow, a wide-track Caterpillar 25
for hills and swamp land, an R-5 Dozer
used primarily for road work, a
gap filler used by the military
and a D-5 made for the US Army never
sold new to the public.
The list goes on and on-- see a
Deering Reaper, Thresher, John Deere
"Dain" Baler and Deere One-Horse Plow,
Russell Steam Traction Engine, John Bean
Trackpull, Aultman Taylor, Heider
Friction Drive, Avery 6 Cylinder Model
C, Moline Model D, Huber Cross Motor,
Waterloo Boy and a Separator, Hart -Parr
Model H, Cletrac F and five or six
additional Cletrac machines.
A Cummins Diesel Old Smokey,
Samson, Humpback, Best, Holts (approx.
10 of them), Harris, John Deere,
Wallis, Bean Spray Rig, International--
Mogul, Slant Hood & Titan, McCormick,
Rumley, Fordson, Allis Chalmers and over
100 antique farm tractors and equipment
are available for viewing.
Admission to the museum is affordable
and provides a great value considering
the quality of the collection and its
massive size.
