serial number - year break

[Mark Wengert]

I have three different sources with serial number and year listings for two cylinders. each is different on certain models and years. I go by the two cylinder club paper but is it right??? I have an A and according to them it is an early 45. S/N 5481XX. according to this site it is a late 44. who is right? deere archives record shows it was built 10/44 and shipped 11/44.
next question, what month did the model year change? by calender year or in the middle of the year for example? being built in 10/44 would that make it a 45 or 44? thanks for sheeding some light on the subject.....
confused in NY....
mark

 

[Andy Motteberg]

I've got a 1949 John Deere A, serial #6439XX and this site shows it is a 1949 (correct), and I have several tractor books that say it is a 1949, except the John Deere A book says it is a 1950 which is not correct. I would think that the serial numbers on this site would be correct.

 

[Mike M]

In the end what differance does it really make ?
The serial number was only intended for John Deere parts ordering and only required the number to get the right parts.( hopefully )
I saw the original sales slip for Grandpa's A and they didn't even put that number on it.
It doesn't seem all that long ago that not much fuss was even made if they didn't even have a serial tag on them. All that changed around about 1987 ? I think it was the first expo that spread the fear nation wide.

 

[dan_41jdh]

Mark,

Serial numbers, as they relate to model years, production years, and calendar years, can be quite confusing on these old two-cylinder tractors. Especially, since some incorrect information about this is still floating around.

Your tractor, built in 10/44, would be considered a 1945 "model year", just like a car built in 10/07 would be considered a 2008 "model year".

There was a forum discussion about this a while ago - see the link below.
Link

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you believe the serial numbers on this site are correct, you must still believe in the tooth fairy.

 

[Bob]

What do you guys figure you are accomplishing by XX'ing out the last couple of digits of the serial number????????

 

[CLW]

(quoted from post at 13:53:26 10/23/07) What do you guys figure you are accomplishing by XX'ing out the last couple of digits of the serial number????????

Some just don't see a need to put there full number out there. It is not needed in most cases. Some people post a picture of there car or truck and black out the tag. Some feel safer by not filling out there profile on here. It is one of the few freedoms we have left.

 

[Bob]

OH YES! The SECRET TRACTOR SERIAL NUMBER SOCIETY! (STSNS for short.)

NOW I understand!

My GOSH, what BAD things WILL happen to poor Matthies a couple of post below who posted his complete serial number!

What do the guys who "black out" their vehicle tags when posting a picture do when they drive the vehicle on the street out in the real world, with all the everyday fruits, flakes and nuts free to view the tag??? That must be HORRIBLE!

(JUST KIDDING, mostly. Now I'll just don my asbestos shorts and slink out of here for a while!)

 

[wilamayb]

What do you mean? The tooth fairy isnt real? All I can say is what the heck! And after all these years!

 

[P Browning]

Hey Bob -- That IS funny! I too wonder what some think they accomplish when they hide parts of a serial number, parts of a license plate number, or their e-mail. I do agree you don't toss things into the trash that contain your social security number or bank account numbers, or any financial data for that matter. The facts are -- that anyone who wants to know more about you can learn of it in a heartbeat, but some of the things people hide kind of goes beyond the pale. This, of course, is MHO. As for asbetos britches, I always wear them! (PatB)

 

[Bob]

You know, Pat, I think I've even "flamed" you a time or to myself! I've come to realize that as a fellow "H" enthusiast you can't be TOO bad of a fellow! Thanks for your post! And let's keep those serial numbers SECRET!

 

[Bob]

After the article linked below appeared in Newsweek Magazine the week of 9-11, I don't have TOO much to hide, myself!
My town and I

 

[P Browning]

The deal with serial numbers versus production year rears up every now and then. It all boils down to one question -- What's the difference? or said another way, Who cares? As I speak here for the lettered series tractors, no where in the parts book do I find any dates. The effectivity of replacement parts is always by serial number. And as you mosey up to the parts counter at your local JD Ag dealership seeking replacement parts, it IS NOT the year, but rather -- the model & serial numbers the parts tech will need to find your part.

I think the notion of production year verus calendar year has been threshed around sufficiently -- no need to re-hash that here, and so far as a "Model Year" is concerned, that term has no meaning to most of us. Now -- if you desire to know when your tractor rolled out of the factory, when it was shipped, and where to -- you can purchase this information from the Two-Cylinder Club for a fee. You will be buying a document called called a Production Record. My two cents -- one more time. (PatB)

 

[MEANJDK]

I am waiting for "Bob" to post some of HIS numbers.
Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob.
Come on Bob, let"s see the numbers for your Social Security, Drivers License, Address"s, all your vehicles VIN"s, Tax code, Firearms, computer, Rap sheets, Property ID, Medical and any other numbers that are registered and personal numbers that are referece to all that you own, that YOU deem private.
Let"s go Bob, we would like to see them. After all, most of them are public knowledge. There is certainly no harm in simply posting them on a little ole website! Nothing is gonna happen. Its just us tractor guys here. Are you confident enough, or are your personal possesions I.D. more important than other peoples stuff??
What have you got to lose? What are you waiting for? What are YOU trying to accomplish by keeping those to yourself? Oh yeah, I didnt see your last name either.
I gotta get me some of those asbestos thingys that you got.
Dang, this is fun!
See ya later Bob.

 

[msb]

Golly, Bob or is it your Honor, Mister Mayor or still just plain Bob. The whoe article was cropped. What about Brandon? Anything I can do like prayer? Your (old)friend, bob from Indiana.

 

[Bob]

I am retired from the "mayorhood", so, fortunately, just plain "Bob" will do nicely, thank you.

 

[Bob]

Lol, you're FUNNY... a tractor's serial number is a FAR cry from a S.S.N., don't you think!

 

[Andy Motteberg]

No I don't believe in the tooth fairy, never heard of a tooth fairy.

 

[MEANJDK]

Oops, you win.

 

[Mark Wengert]

I would just like to say thankyou to those who are open minded enough to help answer my questions. Shame on the rest of you for knocking me for Xing out the last 2 digits... By the way, it was because I didn't remember them and it is raining to damn hard to wander out to the barn to look!!!! so get a life and spend a little more time being helpful to those who are looking to gain knowledge. sounded like most of you folks didn't know the answers anyways and thought complaining would help pass the time. feel free to find a chat room online to spend time compalining and free up this site a little.

 

[P Browning]

Mark -- you are right. We sort of got off topic there. The Two-Cylinder Club listing of Production year serial numbers is most widely accepted, and used therefore by most folks. But as you well know, there is room for some healthy disagreement here and there, but if you choose a system and name it when stating something of fact based on that sysem, few will argue (I Hope anyway).

On your tractor, two indicators are there -- one is the month of manufacture and shipment (late in 44 makes it a part of the 45 production year), and according to Two-Cylinder's listing 542700 was the first tractor of the 1945 production year. During these years, if memory serves me correctly, the federal fiscal year started on either the first of July or of August, and Deere production years (at that time) paralleled the federal fiscal year. And so, in effect, half of the production year of tractors could be made and out the door during the last half of the prior calendar year! Now I know this is not minutia, but you canget the general idea from this line of reason. (PatB)

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bob thanks for the laugh, my wife chuckled too, might have to use a lock and chain instead of the vise grips to hold the doors shut on the shop. I don't have anything special to hide, just a plain jane B. I wouldn't post a serial number any other way. I'll post back if anything bad happens, but then I have five black cats crossing my path every morning. chris

 

[Duane Larson]

Mark,
Deere's business years were as follows:
1923-1937: November to October
eg: 1926 model year ran from Nov '25-Oct '26
1938: Nov '37 to June '38 - less than a year
1939-1947: July - June
eg: 1942 model year ran from July '41-June '42
1948: July '47 - Oct '48 - more than a year
1949 - 1960 - November to October again.
I haven't studied dates prior to 1923 nor after 1960 so can't comment on those.

 

[P Browning]

Duane -- Thanks for the come-through. I had an idea you knew -- just didn't know if you were listening. Have a Great one! (PatB)

 

[souNdguy]

Weak strawman argument.

Depending on where you live, any or all of those numbers can be found by a few keystrokes of the computer.

For instance.. in florida:

1) arrest and incarceration records ( and archives ) are publicly available.

2) property tax ID is publically available thru a search at the property apraisers office / website inthe county in which the person you are looking for presides.

3) Once you have his/her parcel ID.. you can get a site address, and any alternative mailing address attatched to that property that the owner has setup to recieve his property tax notification.

Some very draconian states have made concealed weapon permit holders info available.

some very stupid states have made it where you can purchase ( for a small fee ) blocks of D/L info, enmasse.

There are some more scarry ones that I won't even mention, because they are (legally )publically available if you know what/where to look for.

In light of this.. i think XX'ing out the last 2 digits of your serial number is gonna protect you about as much as hanging a plastic bag on your mailbox to hide the number.

Good luck.. and if it makes you feel safer at night.. more power to ya.

Soundguy

 

[steve-ny]

this whole thing got started when I swapped this A off to my buddy mark and he started calling it a '45. for the last ten years I have been calling it a '44 because it was built in '44. it has been a friendly debate ( with alot of ball breaking) ever since. by the way, the serial number is 548152.