55 AB-H plow...What do you think? PICS!

Hi,

this is my new toy, which I am planning to pull with my '49 JD R or my '47 JD D or my '56 Oliver Super 88 Diesel. I don't want to work with it seriously, it's just for kicks.

Please let me know what you think about this one, because JD plows are extremely rare over here in Europe.







Can anyone figure out the year of this one? What means 55 AB-H? Is it complete?
Thank you, Hendrik

Yes it is COMPLETE, for being RARE over there you could not have done better. As for the HITCH position , you will have to adjust that for your tractor as for now , now wear near correct position. Would guess it has all orig tires , a PLUSS all the COULTERS are there and not worn or beat up.The SPOKE wheels look in great cond. IT also has the TRIGGER trip release HITCH so make sure you afix the trip rope so as that it will come unattached if plow were to come unhitched from tractor upon hitting and obstruction while plowing.Will like to see it hitched up when ready and if more questions let me know.The letters mean, A having steerable tail wheel B i am realy not sure if i ever knew and the H means it could be supplied for HYDRAULIC operation in stead of GROUND lift as you have now, and your plow came into production in 1946 as it was originally a MODEL #46. Orig MANUALS are avail quite easily over here if you were to advertise you would find one very easy and not to EXPENSIVE.Be proud as you have something many other people would like to have in that COND, in joy it and PHOTOS later would be nice.PS: Your plow is what is called a TRUSS FRAME DESIGN as plows before this model were all cast FRAMES wear as yours is a STEEL TRUSS FRAME PLOW big improvement .WHAT WAS THE PRICE TAG? HA

Not sure what year it is, but the tread on the land wheel is probably a Firestone, as that tread was used by them up 'til the mid- to late '40s.

Nice looking plow!

Thank you for your information. I am going to pick up this plow on saturday. Price of this was about 1,200 $.

I will post some pictures when I got it home.

Hendrik

Nice looking condition...

The Hitch does actually look as if it was installed up-side-down..

The straight drawbar part should now be closer to the side with the traction tire, straight (front-to-rear) ..and set

to a position that puts the Rt rear tractor tire in the Furrow, with the front plow bottom cutting 14" (if it is a 14" plow).

Those Hitches are versatile and easy to adjust..

I like your chain and Bull-Ring, to hold the Tongue up..!!!!

Have fun..that "R" is going to PLAY with that...!

Cover-Boards are always a nice addition, although purists would say Jointers would be more appropriate..either make for a cleaner finished job..

Ron.

(quoted from post at 04:56:52 10/05/15) Hi,

this is my new toy, which I am planning to pull with my '49 JD R or my '47 JD D or my '56 Oliver Super 88 Diesel. I don't want to work with it seriously, it's just for kicks.

Please let me know what you think about this one, because JD plows are extremely rare over here in Europe.

Thank you, Hendrik

Click to expand...

A beautiful find and in very complete condition. Very nice and historically significant. It is good to preserve such things so future generations can see the real thing.

You will already have noticed that it has 3 different wheels. I don't know which wheels would be "correct" for a plow of this vintage, or indeed if the front 2 wheels would have been of one type and the rear of a different type. I would be interested to hear what is determined to be correct.

Do you plan on restoring it?

Grouse

Grouse,

I looked through some original sales brochures and found that those wheels/tires could certainly be correct and possibly original. The furrow wheel and tail wheel all seemed to have the ribbed tread tires, while the land wheels were a mix of ribbed and the Firestone type (tractor tread) tires. Also, the ones that had the tractor tread type tires had them mounted with the "V" pointing forward. Who knows?

(quoted from post at 12:14:52 10/05/15) Grouse,

I looked through some original sales brochures and found that those wheels/tires could certainly be correct and possibly original. The furrow wheel and tail wheel all seemed to have the ribbed tread tires, while the land wheels were a mix of ribbed and the Firestone type (tractor tread) tires. Also, the ones that had the tractor tread type tires had them mounted with the "V" pointing forward. Who knows?

Click to expand...

That is very interesting. It's odd that Deere didn't make any attempt to make they appear similar, but probably just using wheels that were already in active use on other implements.

Do you have any idea of the year or year range?

I really love the fact that people are preserving not just tractors but the implements as well. It's important for future generations to understand how we got to where we are today.

Grouse

Tractor tread tire is for traction when you pull the rope to raise the plow

Nice looking plow! Here is a link with more information, if you look at the 3rd picture in the 3rd row down I think you will see the plow you have. Post some pictures of the "R" if you could, my favorite tractor! Good Luck...John
Tyler the Plow Guy

Yes, I understand that, having covered many an acre with a 1-16' JD No. 51 and A 2-12" No. 52 plow with a '43 'B. And, I think the ground-gripping would be better with the tire on looking like it's backwards. Most manure spreaders of that era had the tread pointing backwards to get a good grip on the ground to get things turning.

Of course, those plows had steel wheels.

Yep, Tyler is the right guy to send him to.

Looks like an original, low use plow that has been kept inside ( original lettering and obviously paint)I would say tires are original. Nice find.

Man, I would love to have that thing!

Hallo Hendrik,

The plow looks pretty straight (sieht gut aus). It looks to be complete. The plow shares appear to be somewhat worn, but that can be fixed.

That hitch is missing the 3 spoke cog at the end (the clevis is in it's place) so it will not 'break-away' if the plow hits a rock.

I lived in Germany while going to University for a semester in Jena. A good friend of mine lives near Bremen and owns a 630 JD while his brother-in-law owns
an 830.

The hitch will need to be set properly for the plow to pull straight.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Tyler

Thank you all for your loads of Information and your opinions.
This plow will definately not be painted. All my tractors wear their original working clothes.

Here are my potential plow tractors:


1949 John Deere R


1947 John Deere D (not running yet)


1956 Oliver Super 88 Diesel

Can anyone post a picture of a correct hitch setup, please?

Thank you...

Hendrik

.
Here is a picture from my operators manual on the hitch. Hopefully you can read the writing, it tells about center line of draft and adjustments. If you need more info let me know.

Great looking tractors! My R came out of a recylcling yard (headed for the crusher) and was not in real good condition. Looks a little better now.

Nice find. I'd like to have that to hook behind my M and just ride around watching peoples reactions. lol

(quoted from post at 18:49:24 10/06/15) .
Here is a picture from my operators manual on the hitch. Hopefully you can read the writing, it tells about center line of draft and adjustments. If you need more info let me know.

Great looking tractors! My R came out of a recylcling yard (headed for the crusher) and was not in real good condition. Looks a little better now.

Click to expand...

John,
Thank you very much for your answer. This was exactly what I was looking for. Now I know how to set the hitch correctly.
You have a good looking R over there. Have fun with it!

I will post some pictures when I got that plow home.

Thanks again,
Hendrik