RFD Mail Carrier or Farm Tractor? This 1939 Minneapolis Moline R Delivers Both!

We look back to our visit with the late, great Rex Mercer of Indiana and his authentic re-creation of a Minneapolis Moline tractor that was built to be used by mail carriers on their rural routes. None of these tractors existed anymore, but Rex used factory photos from back in the day to bring this forgotten history back to life. Rex was a U-S Marine and a long-time collector of all things Minneapolis Moline. It always was a treat to talk with Rex!
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[@Dan-qy1rg]

I like the looks of the Minneapolis Moline Mail Carrier. Mr. Mercer has a gem there, even if it's not original, close enough for me. Thanks for sharing the beauty with us!

[@stevenicoson6670]

Thanks for another great video. It was interesting and enjoyable. This tractor is most interesting in the fact it was built for mail carriers. I can see why it would work on old mud roads for the carriers. Roads were not the best in 1939 times. Neat looking rig. This gentleman did a great job of building this from the pictures. My compliments to this gentleman for his craftsmanship. Nice work Rex. Thanks for everything. The Iowa Farm Boy.

[@n.mcneil4066]

My Dad hauled rural mail after the War. He started out with horses before he upgraded to a 1929 Durant. When the roads got muddy he used a Ford 9N tractor which was not quite as fancy as this one.

[@dknust9]

Mecums had one in a auction in Lapeer Michigan that they said was original. Came out of the collection of orchards they sold. Also had a UDLX and a DLX

[@chooda76]

He did an outstanding job. No shame.

[@michaelbaumgardner2530]

First Class Indeed.

[@MarkWYoung-ky4uc]

I saw a photo of a Farmall A that had cab and was used for carrying the mail.

[@TeresaJohnson-ew4us]

You have the picture ??

[@kentcostello5286]

I seen a picture of one in a town museum in Wisconsin.

[@mmaxx8771]

Fantastic!

[@HawaiiSustainable]

Well done sir

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

Very interesting. I never knew that rural U.S. Mail carriers used tractors at one time, let alone that a specific model was built for them. Of course by the time I came along in 1968, the ones in our area were mostly using regular, civilian vehicles and sitting in the middle of the front bench seat. In the old car/truck hobby, this tractor would be called a clone or tribute. No matter what anyone wants to call it, it's a very nice build!

[@SamMaass-s5h]

It's not a clone. It was built specifically for the job.

[@MikeBrown-ii3pt]

@@SamMaass-s5h Did you watch the video? The owner said in plain English that THIS tractor WAS NOT one of those factory built for the postal service. It was restored to look like one from 4 scaled up factory archive photos.

[@n.mcneil4066]

There was a Jeep with right hand drive specially built for mail carrier service.

[@floridaflywheelersantiquee7578]

Interesting thanks for sharing

[@TF856]

There's a picture of one of those in one of my old tractor books.

[@oldtruthteller2512]

I knew of two model R MMs in my old home county. One had a cab(like the one here) and was in a shed (not being used), the other was no cab and on an abandoned farmstead in a shed that was falling apart.

[@TeresaJohnson-ew4us]

Will you sell them to me

[@bertroost1675]

@@TeresaJohnson-ew4us From what he wrote it looks like he isn't the owner of either of them.

[@paulr7547]

Impressive job

[@lynwessel2471]

When the going got tough in the winter it probably would have had tire chains on it.

[@wallycapsticks3038]

The Guild Auto Restoration here in Ontario Canada has one. This isn’t the only one. 3:11

[@brucejohnson4462]

My friend Sheldon Knutson had a couple of those. The real ones.... I don't know the size. Just that they were factory made.

[@JacobTerherst]

Was the cab from a 1939 Ford, chevy, another manufacturer or straight from MM?

[@bertroost1675]

I would guess any mailman that used this would hate it. Do the windows even roll down? It seems too high to put mail in a mail box easily. Make no sense. It looks great though!

[@sweetwater2128]

Nice Work