1st Bamboo Beige S/N

[Richard L]

Looking through the FENA site is the article by Paul Nelson titled "EVOLUTION OF THE FERGUSON TO-35 TO THE MASSEY FERGUSON 35" shows the Bamboo Beige was not used until sometime in May of 1956 at the same time the F 40 was put into production. At this same time the three prefix letters were starting to be used and the serial number plate background was changed from dark green to black. So the way I understand it all 55 and the early 56 up to the same time the three letter prefixes showed up those tractors were Light Grey and Dark Green. Once they started to use the Bamboo Beige I guess they had extra Green paint so they used it up on some of the Beige tractors. It does not say at what serial number the Beige was started, so if when you are looking at 56 TO 35s check to see if they have the three prefix letters. If we all check this at shows we could possibly find that out. Write down the serial number and mention if it has the prefix letters or not and what they are plus the colors of the tractor. To make it easy on every one you can send that info to me and I will start a data sheet to see if we can find when the earliest prefix letters show up. jumpstart@charter.net Richard
 

[s19438]

early grey and green 35's did not have letter prefixes.
 

[Richard L]

You are correct just as I stated in the posting.
 

[Rob in OH]

Richard do you have a copy of Furrows Issue #34?
If you don't I'll copy mine and e-mail it to you. Paul Nelson did an article on Beige/Green &
Beige/Flint 35's that may help you get your project started. I'll keep a look out for Serial
#'s for you.
 

[Richard L]

Thank you Rob, yes I have all the issues. Thank you
 

[s19438]

i had a hard time understanding what you said.
 

[Gov35]

as the treasurer of FENA I also keep a small registory of tractors and this is part of what I have on the TO-35's
35-TO 1955 Green belly 145141
35-TO 1955 None 147183
35-TO 1956 PSGF 170319
35-TO 1955 S 146625
35-TO 1955 S 146662
35-TO 1955 S 149487
35-TO 1955 S 149512
35-TO 1955 S 163467
35-TO 1955 S 163667
35-TO 1956 S 168192
35-TO 1956 S 168600
35-TO 1956 S 169005
35-TO 1956 S 169399
35-TO 1959 SDM 193629
35-TO 1959 SDM 202480
35-TO 1956 SGF 170239
35-TO 1956 SGF 170248
35-TO 1956 SGF 171140
35-TO 1957 SGF 173722
35-TO 1956 SGM 167877
35-TO 1956 SGM 171278
35-TO 1957 SGM 171780
35-TO 1957 SGM 172234
35-TO 1957 SGM 173459
35-TO 1957 SGM 173779
35-TO 1957 SGM 174926
35-TO 1957 SGM 175661
35-TO 1958 SGM 179734
35-TO 1958 SGM 188497
35-TO 1960 SHM 204309
This was taken from members so is what I am told. In this listing there is only one at the top that does not have an "S"S for the deluxe
ther are others that are in another section which do not have the "S" in the prefix
 

[2tractors]

I too had to read it over and over to comprehend. My understanding is there are both gray and green and beige and green. All 55's should be gray and green and then in 56 it's anyones guess which combos are present. Owning a 56 which had traces of beige and green and no letter prefix along with having power steering (which was beyond repair)makes this a interesting subject. my serial # is 169312
 

[Richard L]

s19438 what I tried to say, if you ever see a 1956 TO 35 send me the serial number and the prefix letters if it has any. Paint color might help also. Maybe working together we may be able to figure out the serial number for the last Grey and Green 1956 and the first Bamboo Beige and Grey (or Bamboo Beige and Green) since there is no paper work showing exactly at what serial number the Bamboo Beige was started.
 

[Richard L]

Thank you 2tractors every piece of information I can get will help to narrow down the S/N at which the company started using the Bamboo Beige paint.
 

[Gov35]

This is just a guess, but would not the 3 prefix would have begun in the first months of 56 as the MH-50 would have used them, and the MH-50 was released before the F-40.
 

[Richard L]

David, paper work has been found listing the last Beige and Grey and the first Red and Grey in 1957 but nothing has been found for the last Grey and Green or the first Beige and Green (or Grey) in 1956. I am just interested in trying to figure out (if possible) what S/N the first Beige tractor was.
 

[s19438]

here ya go.

S 168569


number 1412 in the "56" run.
originally grey and green

 

[Richard L]

Don't feel bad s19438 so does my wife. LOL