841 Gold demonstrator

[logger536]

I recently bought a 1959 841 tractor. When I purchased it, the previous owner pointed out gold paint on the rear end under the red and blue paint. He also stated there was some on the engine also. I moved it in the shop to start working on it last week and was surprised to find gold paint on the transmission housing also. We both assumed it was a selecto speed tractor originally and had the transmission swapped out, because I never heard of a 841 gold demonstrator. As I worked on the tractor this week I found gold paint everywhere. Also it has the brake locks, which weren't put on the selecto speed rear ends as the transmission has park, and alot of work to put on. Were there any other gold demonstrators that weren't selecto speed models? The neat thing about this one is that it has the elenco four wheel drive system. Trying to decide if we should paint it gold if it truly was a demonstrator originally.

 

[Bern]

It was always my understanding that the gold demonstrator models only had the SOS trans, however I have no proof of that.

 

[Sean in PA]

The Gold Demonstrator program was intended to highlight the S-O-S transmission, but some have posted here that dealers could order a Gold Demonstrator in any model. What is the serial number? There are several folks here that could tell you whether it is in the proper S/N range to be a Gold Demonstrator regardless of what transmission it has.

 

[logger536]

I'll get the serial number tomorrow and post it.

 

[logger536]

Bern, That was my understanding also. I've spent a few hours tonight researching it, and I'm finding that was the case at first, as the idea was to push the new SOS tranny, but later on, dealers were allowed to order gear shift models too. But I don't always believe what I read on the internet. Am hoping someone here has more information.

 

[jimtrs]

The real gold demonstrator has to be one of the prettiest tractors ever. Just WOW.
Not mine (unfortunately)

 

[michford]

Like others had mentioned but I have no hard evidence either, the Gold Demonstrator was only a Select-O-Speed model. Most logical explanation is a four speed got swapped in at some point. Also depends on when the Elenco was added. The internal coupler between trans and rear with the sprocket for chain drive is different between the 4 speed, 5 speed, and SOS models. Seems more likely that Elenco came over with 4 speed trans rather than after where the sprocket would have to also change between SOS and 4 speed.

 

[Greg NE]

Over the years I've seen a lot of the early SOS tractors that had brake locks on them. I can't say for sure that they came from the factory that way but my 63 4000 that my dad bought new has always had them. So I don't think the brake locks mean much one way or the other. Just my 2 cents worth , GregNE

 

[Husker 50 8n]

Greg I've also seen early SOS tractors with the brake lock. And the gold demonstrators were all early tractors supposedly.

 

[logger536]

When I saw it, I assumed the same thing that the 4 speed was swapped in also, but there is gold paint on the transmission case and I believe on the sherman shift lever. I'll have it back in the shop next week, had to move it out for another job, and I'll look closer.

 

[logger536]

Greg and Husker, I don't have alot of experience around the selecto speed models, but own a 63 4000 that was swapped out to a 5 speed. I asked about the lack of
brake locks on it and was told the selecto speeds didn't have them. So I based my thoughts on his opinion, probably not a good idea.
Thanks for your input, I like asking here for the wealth of knowledge you guys have. Thanks for sharing. I'll be down at a tractor salvage yard next week. I see
they brought in a pair of 800 selecto speeds, I'll check for brake locks on them.

 

[Greg NE]

For what's it worth, I have 2 64 4000's that don't have brake locks. My 2 63 4000's do have them along with my 59 971 and an 881 parts tractor. My dad's 4000 is an early one. It's also an oddball as it has the early transmission casting code but is a DDC transmission. I should have been clearer, my apologies. Maybe on the later tractors they dropped the park brakes but that shouldn't really affect a gold demonstrator I would think. PS, just to muddy the waters a little more, my 65 5000 with the SOS has the standard brake lock on the brake pedal assembly's also. Completely different generation of tractors I know.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

All gold demos were SOS. 4 speed trans swap probably at time of elenco install. BTW, both my gold demo have brake locks.

 

[Kirk-NJ]

The Gold Demonstrator program was intended to highlight the S-O-S transmission, but some have posted here that dealers could order a Gold Demonstrator in any model. What is the serial number? There are several folks here that could tell you whether it is in the proper S/N range to be a Gold Demonstrator regardless of what transmission it has.

Yes could order in any model 671/681/871/881/971/981

 

[Dean]

The real gold demonstrator has to be one of the prettiest tractors ever. Just WOW.
Not mine (unfortunately)

In my opinion, they are as ugly as sin. Much prefer the red/grey.

 

[Sean in PA]

Greg I've also seen early SOS tractors with the brake lock. And the gold demonstrators were all early tractors supposedly.

Depends on what you mean by "early". The '01 tractors came out in 1957, but the S-O-S models weren't released until 1959, and it was only then that they started delivering the Gold Demonstrator models to the dealers. So "early" for the S-O-S models, yes, but not "early" for the other '01 models.

 

[Sean in PA]

Greg and Husker, I don't have alot of experience around the selecto speed models, but own a 63 4000 that was swapped out to a 5 speed. I asked about the lack of
brake locks on it and was told the selecto speeds didn't have them. So I based my thoughts on his opinion, probably not a good idea.
Thanks for your input, I like asking here for the wealth of knowledge you guys have. Thanks for sharing. I'll be down at a tractor salvage yard next week. I see
they brought in a pair of 800 selecto speeds, I'll check for brake locks on them.

No such thing as 800 S-O-S tractors. They would have to be 801 series, not 800 series.

 

[Husker 50 8n]

I recently bought a 1959 841 tractor. When I purchased it, the previous owner pointed out gold paint on the rear end under the red and blue paint. He also stated there was some on the engine also. I moved it in the shop to start working on it last week and was surprised to find gold paint on the transmission housing also. We both assumed it was a selecto speed tractor originally and had the transmission swapped out, because I never heard of a 841 gold demonstrator. As I worked on the tractor this week I found gold paint everywhere. Also it has the brake locks, which weren't put on the selecto speed rear ends as the transmission has park, and alot of work to put on. Were there any other gold demonstrators that weren't selecto speed models? The neat thing about this one is that it has the elenco four wheel drive system. Trying to decide if we should paint it gold if it truly was a demonstrator originally.

I did have a SOS tractor with the brake locks. It was an early 871.