JD 50W High-clear- won't sell ?

Are folks leary of the true identity ???

Since it is my tractor you are referring to, I believe I am best able to answer your question. Part of the problem is people like JDVan (See post below) who make comments like there were "many more made" three times in their post without a shred of evidence to back up their assertion. Actually, the folks at Two-Cylinder (See the Nov-Dec 1990 issue) believe there were fewer than 300 Model 50's built configured like the 'true' 50-W during the entire production run of the Model 50. Two-Cylinder also devoted several pages to this discussion in their Jan-Feb 2000 issue. Another reference for information about the 50-W would be the April 2002 issue of Green Magazine. Unfortunately, JDVan would have you believe this reference material doesn't exist and that his 'opinions' are fact. The fact is, the 50-W I am selling is one of 133 built and anyone that does any serious research will find that I am not misleading anyone by making that statement.

I have been told that I am "too proud" of my tractor and I take that as a compliment, better to be proud than ashamed. I have had offers from people that are looking for a rare tractor at a bargain price, but I will wait patiently for the buyer that appreciates the 50-W for the wonderful, very limited production tractor that it is.

Dennis

I own a JD 520 High Clearance tractor and I have done an archive search on the serial number. JD did not record this special configuration in their production records even though there is a leading JD Magazine claiming that only about 40 were built. That claim cannot be proven. Buyers need to be very cautious when a seller makes a claim of limited production quantities. Caveat Emptor!

Potential buyers of my 50-W are always told to research the Model 50-W in the Nov-Dec 1990 and Jan-Feb 2000 issues of Two-Cylinder, in the April 2002 issue of Green Magazine, and with the John Deere Archives. I would suggest you check those references yourself. Maybe you could report back with your findings. In the meantime, would it be possible for you to tell us how many "many more" is? Is it 100, 2000, 15,000? By the way, as a member of the 'price police', you can probably tell us all where a one of only 133 built, Model 50-W should be priced, right?

Dennis

Read the information again. Contact the JD Archives again. The 'true'(and only) 50-W was built in 1953. Calling tractors built in 1954, 1955, and 1956 50-W's is the real deception. They were not then and are not now 50-W's. Two-Cylinder's information and my information is coming from the staff at the JD Archives. Are you suggesting they are part of some great conspiracy? It is common knowledge that the type of records you would like to find for your 520 are not, and have never been, available. However, I have no doubt that if the records existed you would be touting the rarity of your tractor. It also sounds like you have some personal issues with a particular magazine.

Dennis

After all the controversy of the last 10 times this tractor has been argued over. I think the collectors are disgusted & fed up. It has been a bad marketing decision. I don't think a true 50W or a later 50 with high clear options would bring what a nice row crop 50 will until the smoke clears.

If that is the case, then when the "smoke clears" I will be the proud owner of a very collectible JD Model 50-W, one of only 133 built. We can argue all day about what we will call the tractors that were built in 1954 and later that look like a 50-W but aren't and how many were built, but the fact remains that the final word belongs to the folks that keep the records. If the rarity of the 'true' 50-W had been first disclosed in a different publication, I believe some of the people that seem to be so bothered by this issue might be singing a quite different tune. It is unfortunate that so many people dislike a certain magazine editor so much that they will go to any length to discredit anything and everything the man says and writes.

Dennis

So if a true 50W was really worth a $hit load then a later one with the 50W parts would be worth a fairly decent $hitload as well.

Maybe a 'premium price' would be a more appropriate term. How can we know what a 'true' 50-W is really worth? Other than mine, when is the last time you saw one advertised for sale at any price? Could it be that since only 133 were built that they are so scarce that they just are not available? I know where there is one available that is stuck and missing some parts and the seller is firm at $2500.00. Another consideration is that a good number of 50-W's were shipped to CA and the shipping from there to your place or mine is not inexpensive. Gosh, maybe my price is too low. Also, could the economy be having some impact on tractor prices?

I sure hope that we have answered Chris' question.

Dennis

I almost bought a 50 wide once until i compared the HP to that of my 420. Just my 2 centagos. They are great JD's