About Us

Who Are We?

Meet the Christenbury's, a group of generational sons with the sole goal to continue their father's legacy in collecting antique Caterpillar tractors. Starting in the early 1900s, Eli and Silas Christenbury strive to continue their father's legacy as the 5th generation of collectors. But, it had to start somewhere, right? Who is behind this generational legacy?

Edward Walker Christenbury (1877-1954) and his son Silas Woodly Christenbury (1905-2003) went in together and bought their first Caterpillar tractor, a used gas CAT 15 and a new CAT No. 22 Terracer in 1938. The Cat 15 was not quite strong enough to pull the terracer and so in 1940 they traded the 15 in for a Diesel 3J D2. The salesman said they could operate the D2 on a few dollars a day of tractor fuel (diesel). In the end, the D2 had much more torque for plowing and terracing on the farm where cotton was the main money crop.

In 1947, a larger model 7U D4 was purchased with a hydraulic blade, used on the farm for general work as well as custom bulldozer work in their neighborhood. Aside from farm use and logging, the love for CAT machines only grew from there. Little did they know, this was just the beginning of an ever-growing collection of the present-day 100+ pieces, along with the love for CAT machines.

Ed Christenbury

3rd Generation Owner/Collector

Ed Christenbury (80) is the 3rd generation owner of our heritage tractor, the 1938 CAT D2 and No. 22 Terracer. He grew up on the generational Christenbury Farm in Concord, NC, with 7 other siblings. Ed went to NC State University to study Engineering, and after graduating in 1968 with a degree in Industrial Sells, he went on to work at a furnature manufacturer where he was a salemen for 10 years. After getting fed up with his job, Ed started ChrisCo Machinery, which started out as a used industrial machinery rebuilder and seller. Ed Christenbury grew ChrisCo Machinery out of his basement with his son, eventually transitioning the business to a machinery mover in order to adapt to the shrinking furnature market.

‍

Erik Christenbury

4th Generation Collector

Erik Christenbury (51) has worked for his father's industrial refurbishment business since he was 8, and has been hands-on ever since. Attending Western Carolina University, Erik has a degree in Industrial Engineering with a minor in Industrial Saftey. Raising two sons, Erik continues his fathers' passion of Caterpillar machines with their collection of 100+ pieces. On the weekdays when he's not working, you can usually find Erik at the shop working on an ever-going restoriation project.

Silas Christenbury

5th Generation Collector

Silas Christenbury (20) is currently working toward an ungraduate degree in Civil Engineering. Although he isn't able to help as much as he would like, Silas can be found in projects on our YouTube channel. Keeping everyone straight, Silas enjoys "doing whatever he does to the best of his ability", says Erik.

Eli Christenbury

5th Generation Collector

While Eli Christenbury (18) is preparing to graduate high school, he continues to be active with his father in tractor restorations and other shop projects. For the YouTube channel, Eli edits and manages, along with his brother.