Alan Danke’s tractor is the only one of its kind.
He built the tractor himself.
It is probably the only farm tractor custom made in the town of Lind Center, in Waupaca County.
“I built it completely from scratch,” he said.
Danke used parts from three corn binders, two side rakes, two threshing machines, two hay loaders, and the seat from an oats binder.
“The rest I found in a junk yard,” he said. “The wheels are from a 1950s-style irrigation system.”
The radiator is made from a hot water heater. Danke also used parts from a calf crate, a rabbit pen, a barn screen and a hay loader.
The tank was a bar sink he found at a flea market.
Danke spent 30 years building the tractor. After retiring, he finished up the project in the last two years.
He is currently working part-time in a concession stand at Hartman Creek State Park, where his co-workers are skeptical about the project.
“They didn’t think I would get it done,” he said.
He calls his creation a Danke.
“If you build it yourself, you can call it what you want,” he explained.
It was first displayed at the Union Thresheree, held July 27-29 in Symco.
Stuart Hellwig, of Jefferson, was fascinated with “The Danke.”
“That is really a unique thing,” Hellwig said. “He took the best of all the old tractor building techniques and put them all together.”