Barn Treasures – News about vintage tractors and their owners
"A cargo bed on three wheels"—that’s what skeptics called the "Dieselzwerg" (Diesel Dwarf) made by Kühner & Berger. For Kevin Wölfle from Sasbach, it represents the fulfillment of a childhood dream; the 27-year-old describes it as small, agile, and incredibly powerful. Only 40 of them remain worldwide. Its name represents an entire dynasty of tractors. Stepping into Hans Kramer’s barn, it feels as though time has stood still for a moment. Everything from prototypes to flywheel tractors is housed here, all built in the family factory next door in Gutmadingen. Although these vintage machines are up to 80 years old and have developed a patina over time, they still run just as well as the day they were new.
Hardly anyone recognizes the name today: Ladog—standing for "Leichte Arbeit durch ordentliches Gerät" (Light work thanks to proper equipment). That is the name of Helmut Rombach’s three-wheeled tractor. It was built in Nordrach in the Black Forest—50 kilometers away—where the company still manufactures municipal vehicles today. SWR went looking for "Barn Treasures" once again and made some remarkable finds. These include a 60-year-old Eicher, a John Deere, and a French Latil—a unique specimen located in Saarland and the last of its kind in Germany. All of these "barn treasures" remain in active use.
Broadcasting on 03rd of November 2026 at 02:30pm on SR/SWR
Music: POPVIRUS Library
