The WD-9 was built in 1950. It was bought new by George T. Duin, Johnson, Minnesota. It was painted and sold at auction to Emil Vogt (1964?). It was worked on the Vogt farm(s) with Emil, Ernest, Louis, and Louis' son, Robert, and even Robert's son, David, until about 1978 (again?) when it was parked in the shed at Ernest's farm because of a cracked head. During the years it worked for Vogts it was rebuilt including new, over-sized cylinder sleeves. That brought the engine from a 335 cubic inch four cylinder to 350 cubic inches. That's the size engine in a Super WD-9. Nebraska tractor test results show 49 maximum horse power for a WD-9; 67 maximum horsepower for a Super WD-9.

About the summer of 1994 or 1995 Debra Janke, grand daughter of Louis, and her family went to see the tractor while it was sitting in the shed. Her husband Richard (that's me) had shown an interest in it. In 1997 the shed the tractor was stored in was torn down. But because the Vogts knew there was an interest in the tractor they saved it. Then in 1998, unbeknownst to her husband, Debra, along with much help and arrangements by Robert Boeder of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, as well as help from Robert Vogt and Deb's father, Eugene Fuhrman, the tractor was moved to Iron Ridge, Wisconsin. As a surprise it showed up on Father's Day at the Armin Boeder farm.

Because it had been stored outside from '97 to '98 the engine was tight. But exactly one year later, to the day, from the day of its arrival in Iron Ridge, we (son Philip and I) got it free. Only one piston, the front one, was actually tight. Later that summer new rings were put in the front piston with the help of Peter Feldmann of Germany. But progress was slow. A magneto was purchased from a man in Texas, only to find out some one was naive because it was a magneto for a gas engine. A gasoline starter tank was purchased from a man in Oklahoma who had used it on his Dodge Power Wagon because he didn't want to use a fuel pump.

Then early in the year 2000, friend Bill Moldenhauer, while at Farmers Case IH dealer in Allenton, was talking about the WD-9 to the shop repair men there. Mr. Daryl Haack, mechanic, overheard and offered to help. His brother, Henry, owns a repair shop in Campbellsport. The WD-9 was taken there in the fall of 2000. While those arrangements were being made a new recast head was ordered and delivered from Worthington Ag Parts, Canada. Daryl worked through fall and into the winter, putting in all new rings (the rings put in the year before were the wrong size, being for the 335 engine, not the 350 engine (some one was naive again)), new valves, a different exhaust header, the right magneto, generator, gaskets, hoses, etc. It was first started again on January 17, 2001. It was officially first driven again on January 28, 2001.

On Saturday, August 25, 2001, the tractor was brought home from the shop. Daryl Haack towed it home on a trailer with his 3/4 ton pickup. We used the tractor that fall for a little demonstration work with the flat belt on an old flat belt driven circular saw near our school. We did a few unofficial hay rides on an incomplete hayrack before storing the tractor for the winter.

Some touch-up work and a few more decals were put on in the summer of 2002. The goals for that summer were the Dodge County Antique Power Show, August 3-4, 2002, in Burnett, Wisconsin, (which we made! see picture!) and the Iron Ridge Firemen's Picnic parade.

We also participated in the Mayville Audubon Days Parade, Sunday, October 6, 2002, pulling a homemade hayrack loaded with school students and parent helpers who all handed out some 400 flyers about our school. We took an "official" hay ride the evening of October 23, 2002, with the students at their annual Fall Harvest Festival and Costume Party.

Almost exactly five years from its arrival in Wisconsin a PTO shield (purchased from a dealer in Texas) was installed on the tractor. We think that makes it official, the tractor is completely put back together.

August, 2003, we were able to bring the plow home that the 9 had pulled in its day. It is an International Model 70 with four sixteens. We hope to get it ready for some demonstation plowing yet this fall.

Much thanks to Dennis (DG) Fleischer who let us borrow his tandem axle flatbed trailer for the hauling we do.

last update 08-18-2003 pictures of tractor activities coming soon