Combines Reflections on 2000

It's sad anytime any brand of dealer goes out, and I'm sure there will be many more before this is over, but life will go on, painfully for those who had to go out. As for painting the Gleaners, they had no choice. The only supplier left to supply the galvanized sheets, couldn't make them to match anymore so paint was the only alternative. It's sad also but life goes on. May 2001 bring us higher prices, better margins, and more money to pay off the debt, or better yet, have a banker who will loan you more! Enjoy

They began painting them in '96 I believe - when the C62 was introduced. Ever heard of the "Silver Series"IJ they were the first ones. As lbran mentioned, they were having such a hard time finding galvanized sheet metal that would match over the whole combine that they decided to start painting them. I toured the Gleaner factory in '89 and there was mention way back then that it was hard to make everything match. I'm suprised it didn't happen earlier. It could be worse though - while touring that plant, we saw parked on a lot, a long ways away, a Gleaner painted Deutz green. Now THAT would be something to have a stroke over! Ugliest thing I ever did see. Why I didn't snap a photo of it while I had the chance, I'll never know. You can rest assured though, that under that pretty powdered silver paint, there is still the good ol' galvanized metal. If the paint gets scratched, it's not nearly as noticable as say missing green or red paint, and it still won't rust. Gleaners are proof that beauty is more than skin deep! Heck, I wouldn't even be too terribly upset if they went to using silver plastic side panels (Tom hides his head under his arms in fear of beatings!) It's all in the process of progress, I guess.

I saw one of those green gleaners on a dealers lot on time and I must say it was one of the uglyest things I have ever seen. The paint they used was not even good quality. One of the gleaner reps told me Deutz wanted to try painting them to match the tractors like they did in europe and only did a few as a test. He said farmers who saw them disliked them so bad they never did paint any more. I wonder what they did with the ones painted greenIJ Any one knowIJ

Remember back in the days of the C2s and such well the english built their versions called super c,superA ect.They put decent length walkers in them and then painted the end result bright orange.Now those machines stood out. john

they took off the Gleaner decals and put on JD stickers and sold the "STS'R40's" for list price!. lawsuits are now being defended by deere from owners neighbors wanting the high-tech units and can't find any more to buy!