What year?

jd2cyl1943 · Aug 22, 2023

My John Deere B is S/N 138090. What year is it?

So this is one list a found for the mid production Bs.

1941 96000
1942 118721
1943 136315
1944 149219
1945 167700
1946 179788
1947 191303

So, if you go off this one the first 1943 B was S/N 136315. But wait. Here is another list.

1941 96000
1942 126345
1943 143420
1944 152862
1945 173179
1946 183673
1947 199744

If you look at this one the fist 1943 model is S/N 143420. So now what? Well, My next step was to look to the Two-Cylinder club. They say the first 1943 b is S/N 136315. But my official research document done by them says my tractor was built August 19, 1942. As far as I can determine, S/N 136315 is the first B for the 1943 model year, while S/N 143420 is the first B actually built in 1943. I've always gone off the model year number, but it is a little confusing to say my 1943 B was built in 1942. What are your opinions? What year do I consider it?

PeterE · Aug 22, 2023

The 143420 start is from the brown book, published by Deere in 1976. There has been a lot more (and better) research into production history since that time.

Production years never align with calendar years. You can probably walk into a dealership right now and buy a 2024 model new car.

old popper · Aug 22, 2023

Go by the Model year. That is the correct way. I have # 147011, also a 1943.

Patsdeere · Aug 22, 2023

You have to remember that some list use
actually calendar to create a year
others use the modem year. Just like I can
by a 2024, in October of 2023. So is my
new car a 2024 or 2023? It'll always be
called a 2024.

Pete in MD · Aug 22, 2023

At the time your B was built in August 1942 the JD Model Year started on July 1 of the previous year
and ended on the following June 30.

The 1943 Model Year started on July 1, 1942 and ended on June 30, 1943 so your B is a 1943 model.

redforlife · Aug 22, 2023

One list evidently gives listings for start
of Jan. 1, and not the actual start of
model year which would be earlier at the
model change.

Any changes that would of been made and
incorporated into the new model year, would
of been made back at the model change. Any
difference there would of been between a 42
and a 43 would of been made at that time.
So the lower earlier number would still
indicate a 43.

Not all changes were made at model change
time frame. But most were unless change was
not ready to be made at the time. Then it
might be delayed and incorporated when
ready. And also, parts surplus might of
been used up until the run of old style
parts were gone. But this probably wouldn't
take long on something that was being mass
produced such as the B.

IaLeo · Aug 23, 2023

I did not realize that JD made any tractors for agriculture during WWII. Leo

Leroy · Aug 23, 2023

Yes but you could not go direct to dealer to buy one. You had to go to the goverment board first and prove you needed a tractor and get their aprovel and when you were then put on the list any tractor that became avaible you had to take even if not the make you wanted or fall to the back end of wating list. My 1944 Ford 2N Dad had to do that to get it.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 23, 2023

Unless you're willing to buck over a century of convention and tradition, go by the "model year."

You could also make it official, and get one of those fancy certificates from Deere that tells you what day your tractor was made, what model year it is, and how it's a special one-of-one model that nobody else has.

Pete in MD · Aug 23, 2023

Barnyard,

The kid said he has one of those ''fancy certificates from Deere''.

What year?

jd2cyl1943

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