My dad had a 1950 John Deere Model B that my kids drove on his farm in Kentucky when they were growing up. Never forgetting that wonderful experience, my oldest son, Allen, bought this 1946 Model B years later in Madera, California, and hauled it to southern California on April 18, 2002. Before then, it had rested in a not-very-protective barn for about 30 years.
The tractor was purchased new in 1946 by a returning World War II veteran during a period when veterans were given priority access to new tractors. He purchased it in Los Banos, California, and had driven it nearly 50 miles to his farm in Madera. He had a dairy and he raised hay and other cattle feed. The tractor never left his farm until we acquired it.
Allen bought the tractor after an online search. We brought it to his home in North Tustin, California, where the restoration was done. Allen, his son, Charles, and I did the restoration. Three generations worked together to bring this beautiful machine back to life.
When we started, both exhaust valves were stuck in the open position, but we had the engine running in about three days. We completely disassembled the tractor and sandblasted and cleaned every part. Cleaning the parts, and particularly the underside (which was coated with decades of grease and caked-on dirt), was a major task.
Allen sprayed the tractor John Deere green and we had it running again in a few months. By the time the mower was operational, over three years had passed. We had to rely on eBay and making parts to complete the assembly.
The No. 5 sickle bar mower showed evidence of heavy usage. It was probably purchased new with the tractor. The main hold-up in restoration of the mower was a missing hydraulic cylinder used to raise and lower the mower. We eventually found one back east.
We first mowed at Vista, California, home of the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, on June 26, 2005 (where the top photograph was taken). The tractor worked well, and we enjoyed the thrill of actually mowing with it. Unfortunately, in southern California, we don’t have much opportunity to get out in an open field to show off this machine.
We regularly show the Model B at Vista, in local July 4 parades and at other events. It’s amazing how many people come up to us and share their own nostalgic John Deere story. People love the tractor because of the memories it stirs, because it’s beautiful, and for the pleasant putt-putt sound it makes as it goes by – and because it represents American ingenuity. FC
Charles Lowry lives in Santa Ana, California. He and his son, Allen, collect John Deere and Farmall tractors, hit-and-miss engines, and antique Ford trucks. Email Charles at chashlow@msn.com.
