Attn-JD 5020 Guy

You want to talk about rare combines. Go look up a JD 7A and Case Rosario Special model Q. I have the Q and have to still go get the 7A.

This could be tons of fun.I've already mentioned the SP-12 registry on the Case forum here and I also placed a want ad in the ytmag classifieds for SP-12's.I'm going to run some want ads for SP-12's in some regional farm papers.I've got a custom cutter acquaintance in Oklahoma that I need to call as he knows where old stuff is at.

I've seen where some people say that the SP-12's possibly came out as early as 1947.They were probably never big sellers.

I feel that very few SP-12's are in collectors hands yet simply because nobody collects old combines.We are going to have to have the help of others to sniff them out.Most of them will be in the high plains area.I'm guessing that very few SP-12's were ever sold in my home state of MO and possibly not a one exists here today?You wont find very many east of the Mississippi River.

I saw that old post where Tom R said there were maybe half a dozen down by Great Falls.Try and get the serial numbers and pictures if possible.Thanks.Did you call Tom R?He wanted you too and left his phone number in a post.

I'm going to compile a list of other old SP combines where I feel that less than 100 of each exist.

Good luck and I hope I have to buy you a steak dinner.

Let us know what you find out.Thanks again.

It lists the SP-9 and SP-12 as the first Case self propelled combines and in the back of that book there is a table titled "Case Combine and Threshing Machine Sales Through 1950". That table lists SP sales of 31 units for 1945 but doesn't break it down to how many 9s or 12s. Then for 1946 sales were 3 units, for 1947 none, for 1948 424 units, for 1949 1544 units and for 1950 1772 units. No specifics for individual models. Would it be possible that WW II caused the drop or delay in getting the material to build more in 46 and 47 or maybe there was design or productions changes made around that time?

I also have the follow up book from 1955 and later but it has no info on Case combine production.