I'm a cross-over from the Ford N-board, thought I'd pass along a compliment to you Oliver guys.Pulled a rusted P.O.S. sickle-bar mower out of a friend's swamp last May, no one knows how long it's been sitting there, but it looked mostly complete. No I.D. anywhere, just a little faded green paint in spots, and my friend, who's getting on in years, had no idea what brand it was. Hauled it home, wife took one look, shook her head, went back in the house. Started scraping off mud, dirt, rust, soaking it in Aerokroil (great stuff by the way). Did tons of internet research trying to I.D. this thing; no luck. Matched up a knife blade at the local tractor store, replaced all the stone guards, new belt, put it back together, tried it out. Wonder of wonders, it works! Found a brochure not long after, finally got a positive I.D. on this thing: Oliver #355 three-point mower, circa 1955. I've since torn the thing completely apart (now that I know what it should look like), and it's getting a thorough restoration. Now for the compliment: Even after laying in a swamp for decades, all it took was a little TLC to get this extremely well-engineered implement back in service. The design is wonderful, allowing the cutting bar to float over the ground, hook up to a standard 3-point, and use the built-in tractor lift to raise the cutting bar for transport. This thing is way advanced over any contemporary implements, including anything Ford/Dearborn/Ferguson built at the time. It runs without undue vibration, it's quiet, it's built like a tank, easy to adjust and service. Add some "modern" belt guards, and it would compare favorably with anything you could buy new today. I'm going to restore it as close to "new" as I can get it: new Oliver green paint, decal, etc. This is one fine product. (Sure makes my old 8N look shabby....)
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