John Deere Model A

Kenneth Blackwelder · Apr 8, 2012

I have a John Deere A with a metal tag with a serial number that I can't read. I heard that they only had metal tags for 42 & 43. Does anyone know what year of serial numbers for a metal tag.

Greenday · Apr 8, 2012

Do you mean a Steel tag? All the tags were metal,brass,aluminum,steel.

Leroy · Apr 8, 2012

The metal tags were for a lot of years, all the ones I have had had the steel tags, 46 B, 49 B, 50 AR and Late A with unreadable tag but other features said it was a 51. The only one I am not sure of tag material on but think it was steel was the 38 A bought in 57 and traded on the 49 B in 1960 when I was 16 so a bit long to remember for sure. Think the brass tag was pre WW2.

Paul from MI · Apr 8, 2012

The steel tag should be readable unless completely rusted away. Try some polishing with steel wool, or something similar. My 1944 B can be read but needs some cleaning/polishing first.

Ralph Bauer · Apr 9, 2012

Try to wash them with soap and water to remove dirt and grease. If it is not too bad deteriorated, simply wetting the tag and looking at it from different angles can reveal the numbers.
If all fails, a private forensic lab can help, but you better have a one of a kind rare tractor, it's not cheap. Similar technique to identifying serial numbers removed from weapons.

John Deere Model A

Kenneth Blackwelder

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Greenday

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Leroy

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Paul from MI

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Ralph Bauer

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