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I had to read and re-read your question several times. I either have the answer to your questions, or I can come close. Oliver built two rakes that match your discription.
The first one was the model 1A. This was a rake only.
The second one was the 1B. This was a rake and tedder. Your discription makes me think it is a 1B, as this one had 4 leavers. That is what you say yours has. Now to answer your last two questions.
In the 20's and 30's Oliver bought mowers and rakes from other companys. In 1944 or so, Oliver bought the Ann Arbor Company in Shelbyville, ILL. That plant built the oliver balers and hay rakes. In later years they built corn pickers, corn heads, choppers, mowers, manure spreaders, and cotton harvesters, also. Your rake was built between 1944 and about 1952. I think they came out with the #2 rake about that time. As for color, I think they were green with the exception of the wheels and the tongue, witch was painted red. Also the second wheel from the rear and the attaching arch is shown to be red, but I would think it would look better if the wheel was red and the rest of the attaching bracket was green. I hope this answeres your question.
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