Special Member Profile
Minneapolis Molines Abound at the Spencer Farm
2003 Threshing Show to feature some of their favorites

By Jeff Christensen, Editor, Nowthen Threshing News, newsletter of the Nowthen Historical Power Association

Let's review the numbers: One farm. Two people. 97 tractors. And only 20 minutes from the Nowthen Threshing Show. You would think that the Smithsonian Institution was opening a farming exhibit hall in rural Minnesota, but it's actually the home of one of the Nowthen Historical Power Association's most interesting couple.

Bob and Mae Spencer enjoy a few moments together on the deck of the craft building at the NHPA Show Grounds.

Longtime NHPA members Bob and Mae Spencer live on an 11 acre hobby farm in Otsego, MN. Although it might not be the Smithsonian, the land does hold a lot of history as at one time their parents farmed several hundred acres there starting in the 1930's.

As mentioned, Spencer's own 97 Tractors - 57 of them "running" Minneapolis Molines. Bob started acquiring tractors in the late 70's mainly just to collect. Back then he would hear about an available tractor through magazines, auctions, or mainly by word of mouth. One of the first tractors Bob traveled some distance to get was a John Deere model D, located on property some 50 miles west of Jamestown, ND. He paid $75 for it, and that same tractor still sits in his collection to this day. Other makes and models they own include Allis Chalmers, International, John Deere, Case, Oliver and other "odd ball" models (as Bob calls them); a Cleveland Crawler, an Avery, a Wards, an Eagle, and others too numerous to mention.

Bob's collection of tractors is just that - a collection. However, he has occasionally sold a tractor or two, if it were a duplicate of one he already had, or one he sold to get another one that he wanted. And sometimes his tractors get a little publicity. In 1996, photographer Dave Arnold came to the show grounds, and photographed several of the Spencer tractors for the 1997 calendar "Historic Farm Tractors". Included in this calendar is the top photo of this page, the 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF, a 1933 Thieman Tractor, and a 1936 Eagle model 6B, which Bob notes is probably the rarest tractor that they own - only about 200 were ever made. And in 1998 and 2001 tour groups of Minneapolis Moline collectors came to their home to view all the tractors lined up on display (see photos).

Three Minneapolis Molines on display for the Minneapolis Moline Collectors and Factory Workers visit. From left; 1938 ZTN, 1944 ZZTS, 1948 ZAE.

With the number of tractors on site, and the acreage that they have, you'd think that they were farmers for a living. Not so. Bob has worked for 37 years in mechanical maintenance for Hoffman Engineering in Anoka, MN, and Mae is a home maker, who spends much of her time working with arts and crafts in the family's original farmhouse near by.

Bob and his sons started exhibiting with NHPA in the mid 1970's, when the organization was known as the Anoka Engine Club, and the show was located down in Rogers. Sometime around the late 70's or early 80's the family officially joined the club, which went on to become the Rogers Pioneer Power Association, then upon the move to Nowthen - NHPA. When Bob first started to bring tractors to the show back then, he didn't have his own trailer. He would rent a truck from an auto parts store in Monticello to bring his tractors down to the shows.

Mae spends most of her time at the show in the craft building, doing various handiworks, and pottery demonstrations. Sometimes she lets kids try their hand at pottery by helping them to spin a slab of clay into something recognizable. This is an area of interest that she has been involved with since the days of the Rogers show grounds. Bob spends much of his time involved with threshing and bailing demonstrations during the show.

Mae spends most of her time in the craft building doing various demonstrations, such as pottery and quilting, during the show.

Sons, Steve of Big Lake, MN and Wayne of Elk River, MN are as actively involved with the show as their parents. Bob and Mae donated a fire truck to the club, one that they had purchased from the city of St. Michael, MN in 1994. Wayne can be seen driving this "water wagon" around the grounds on a constant basis, watering down the dusty roads of the show grounds. Of course, all members of the Spencer family can be seen in the daily parades, driving their finest-from their Minneapolis Molines, to other lesser known classics.

Although they are visitors and exhibitors at other area shows, Bob and Mae really aren't involved with other clubs like they are with NHPA. However, visitors to the Hastings show can sometimes see Mae doing her demonstrations at that show.

More Minneapolis Molines on display. Looking down from the roof at a row of R's and BF's.

Bob, Mae and their family really enjoy their time spent with NHPA. They enjoy the people that the club attracts, and feel that they are a great bunch of people to work with.

With the 2003 Nowthen Threshing Show featuring Minneapolis Moline, Bob must be wondering how many to bring!