George Logue also held several machinery patents, including one for a mine sweeper that he built for the U.S. Navy in 1977. The remote-controlled machine incorporated pneumatic controls, video-camera monitoring and hydraulic self-leveling technologies.

According to Eric Orlemann, a heavy-equipment historian and photographer who featured some of Logue's vintage machines in his 2000 book ">"Caterpillar Chronicle," many of the units are still in working condition.

"He liked running this stuff," says Orlemann, who adds that Logue regularly scrounged through Caterpillar dealerships to find old parts.

"You'd be surprised what they've got sitting around in old boxes," Orlemann explains.

Anyone can ">attend the auction in person or online, but winning bidders must pay a 2.5% premium that is capped at $950 per lot, says Ritchie Bros.

Who will be bidding? The antique-tractor hobby is alive and well, experts say.

"Anyone who wants to start a new collection or fill a slot in their collection" will be there, says Orlemann. "There are people out there, and most of them are contractors," adds Edwards.