Walk Behind Garden Tractor

Earlier this year I acquired a Walk Behind Garden Tractor with a disc and a cultivator. I cannot find an identification tag on it, nor where one has been. It has a Patent #2 368 290 which I believe was issued to Simplicity in 1945. The engine is a Briggs & Stratton Model N, Type# 306114, and the SN is 472569. Any info as to identification, Date of Manufacture, and ball park value would be appreciated. It does run and I used it in my garden this past year just to make sure it would work. Thanks for any and all help.
 
Thanks a lot. Now if I just knew for sure what brand of tractor and what year it was, I would be happy. Would like to sell it, but need to know just what it is before I can even advertise it.
 
My Simplicity has a tag on the frame inboard of one of the wheels. Just you can't read it with the wheel on there. Mine has a model 9 engine on it, and you have to move the belt to change speeds.

A Picture of yours would sure help.
 
Thanks for the info about the tag behind the wheel. I will give it a closer look on Monday. Would post pictures, but am technologically challenged (LOL) and have no idea how to post on here. Maybe tomorrow I will try to figure it out. Once again, Thanks =!
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, if yours is like one of these they're not worth much. I got the smaller one with a rotary mower for $35 at an auction (new engine since) and the bigger one with 3 speeds and plow for a little over $100.
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Simplicty Model L used the Briggs & Stratton model N engine mid 40s to the 50s. Weight is listed at 175 lbs. and tires are 5" X 12". It was the smallest model at the time at 2 horsepower. Bigger was the Model M with the Briggs & Stratton Model 9 engines rated at 3.1 horsepower with 6" X 12" tires. I left close to a dozen behind in central NY when I moved a few years ago. They were bringing $35 at auction and wasn't worth the bother to bring them there.

The earlier models from early 40s were heavier and likely worth more. 1940 Simplicity with the 5 horse Briggs weighed 720 lbs.
 
My tractor was built under a patent issued in 1945 and the Briggs & Stratton Model N engine was manufactured in 1946 so I am guessing it is a Model L. Tomorrow I will take the wheels off and see if I can find the Serial Number plate. It is in good shape and runs well. It has a disc and a cultivator. I don't really need it, but if someone wants to buy it I will sell it. I don't have to get rid of it so I am not giving it away. Thanks for all the help.
 
I've always like the old two-wheel tractors I had near 100 of them when I moved and had to get rid of most. I have never figured out why they haven't gone up in value. Fun to use, fun to work on and research, and real easy to truck. Regardless, most I am aware of sell for near nothing at auction. My neighbor inherited his father's Waterbury two-wheeler. Never been left out since new. All the paperwork, implements, etc. He wanted me to buy it for $500 and I did not buy. He then asked me to truck it for him to Macfadden's Auction in Sharon Springs, NY. I tried to talk him out of it but he was sure it would bring a fortune. Sold for $35. And of course, after that he acted mad at me as if I was somehow my fault. Yeah, I DID truck it there, for free, since he did not even own a pickup truck so I guess that makes me guilty.
 
I need to go to your guys auctions. The last one I saw sell with a three speed brought $400 and it was stuck. You wont touch a disc for one for under $100 here.
 
I agree with the others about low value. I had the model that you moved the belt to change speeds with a row cultivator attachment. Entire outfit looked practically unused. I couldn't get anyone to buy it and as a matter of fact gave it away twice and couldn't get the recipients to come get it. The engine is now on a shelf and the rest went to China.
 
I cannot find a model or serial number plate anywhere on this tractors. The only plate showing has only the patent number. This only has one speed but I just had it running a few minutes ago and it starts and runs great. The belt on it is good and the tires which are knobby tread are not rotted or cracked. As I said, I would like to sell it, but it is too good to give away. Surely someone will want it.
 
Not arguing with your experiences but in central Ill if you take one to a spring auction at an auction center I would expect to get $400-$500 for the tractor and a couple hundred per implement. No less than $100 at any auction. I started collecting these when I was a kid. I own several. I used to buy one for under $50. I haven't seen one sell even missing the engine for under 150 in the last two years. There just aren't very many around here. So back to my original point I would love to go to the auctions you guys to to because they don't have them here.
 
It's sad to scrap'em. They can be a lot of fun. What's strange is, when both were new they sold for a similar amount as Cushman scooters. I have two Cushmans I bought in recent years and they were NOT cheap. I made drawbars for my Simplicitys that I think are an improvement over what was factory made. BTW, when I was young dad bought a Jari sickle bar mower and made me use it. I didn't like it, it was tipsy and didn't pull itself well, would have loved one of these back then too.
 
Patent was applied for in 1941 and I have specs for 1942 and 1943 showing the Simplicity tractor with just one speed and a small Briggs WI engine. The model N Briggs is the next step bigger and since you have the 1945 patent date on your's - seems it was made between 1945 and 1949. I know that by 1950, they all had three or four speed transmissions. Forest Donald designed it for Simplicity.
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Today I received an owners manual and parts list for a Simplicity Model "B" which I had ordered. My unit is an identical match in appearance to the Model "B". However, on the end of the gas tank there is a partial decal that says "ARDS" and the tractors has knobby Wards tires. Is it possible that Simplicity also made this unit to be sold under the Montgomery Ward name? Could this possibly be the reason there is no, and apparently never has been, a serial number plate on it.
 
I have a 1970 Ward's garden tractor that has the 14hp B&S engine. I modified the mold board plow to fit the sleeve hitch. Hal
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Back when I was about 8 yrs old -my father bought a used walk behind. I think the brand name on it was a "David Bradley". It had about a 10 hp motor -painted red with a full metal hood and green wheels! Funny how I can remember about it and using it at our farm. He had a plow, a front mounted sickle mower, a disc and a harrow. Had a wonderful time using it in our garden but it was sometimes a bear to handle when trying to get out of a tight space. Once I mastered using it I was graduated to a 6n Ford, then the John Deere "A".
Any one have any pictures of that machine? Are there any still around and in use? It has been over 50 years since I last saw or used it!
 
My Grandpa had one like you are talking about. He had a large truck patch and instead of using the horses to work it, he hae a David Bradley tractor. Wish I had it back but my uncle scrapped it years ago. After much research, I have determined that the one I have was made my Simplicity and am pretty sure it was made for Montgomery Ward. It has a 1 1/2 HP engine and I have a disc and a cultivator for it. I have way too many project so I am selling it in an auction in March at Penfield IL. The auction is part of a 2 day even sponsored by the I&I Tractor Club. If you could send me your email, I could send you some pictures. I am technologically challenged and don't know how to post them on this site. Thanks.
 
("My neighbor inherited his father's Waterbury two-wheeler.")

My Dad bought a Waterbury from the G.L.F. store in Cobleskill around 1950 or so. We had the snow plow, cultivator and sickle-bar mower and he built a nice little trailer for it. My brother and I did a lot of work with that little thing but years later sadly, we parted it out.

I wouldn't be surprised if your neighbor's tractor came from the same place.
 
(quoted from post at 11:07:47 02/04/17) Earlier this year I acquired a Walk Behind Garden Tractor with a disc and a cultivator. I cannot find an identification tag on it, nor where one has been. It has a Patent #2 368 290 which I believe was issued to Simplicity in 1945. The engine is a Briggs & Stratton Model N, Type# 306114, and the SN is 472569. Any info as to identification, Date of Manufacture, and ball park value would be appreciated. It does run and I used it in my garden this past year just to make sure it would work. Thanks for any and all help.
 
Hi I have one these I have a snow blower and a roto tiller. They were made by simplicity and also were sold under wards name. I have had mine since the mid 60s brute of a machine. Mine is a wards. Mine had a 7hp briggs but it started using oil so I put a 9 hp on it. I have all the manuals if you need a copy if I can find them. Some had 3 speeds forward with a two speed lever.
 

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