An Old Family Friend and New Acquisition

My Dad bought this Long new in 1977. By the early 1980s his declining health forced him to stop growing tobacco. Moving back home and buying part of my Grandpa's, Dad's dad, farm in 1978, I have spent many hours using this machine. Dad passed away in 1985, and with few exceptions, I have used it as if it was my own since then. With mom's passing last fall, I now am the "official" owner. It has been a good tractor and has needed one major repair. It had to have a new clutch many years ago. It was in a fire once under a tobacco barn shed. Fire inspectors think there was an electrical short in the barn wiring. When it was refurbished, 460 decals were applied " cuz that's what we could find." It is a 360, 35 hp, but it pulls as good as my 42 hp Long 445, which preceeded the 460.

For most of its life, Long Manufacturing tractors were made in Romania by Universal Tractor. In addition, Universal sold tractors labelled Allis Chalmers, Leyland, Hesston, and White Oliver. There may even one or two more, but memory ain't what it used to be. The main difference was in paint color and decals. A neighbor ordered a crated Universal Tractor years ago. It came with multiple decals and name plates. He assembled it, painted it orange, and an Allis was born.

Longs were assembled in and distributed from Tarboro, NC. They do have a few minor common problems, but are/were not as expensive as the well-known brands, and have been a good heavy source of horsepower for us. Fuel economy is very good, especially when haying.