1949 John Deere A

Serial No: 634392
Built: April 29, 1949
Delivered to Lansing, MI

This tractor was built with a regular (row-crop) pedestal with Roll-A-Matic.  It came with a gas engine, electric start, and electric lights.  There is nothing "unique" or "rare" about this tractor.  But it has been in the family since it was new.

This tractor has been parked outside most of its life, hence the decals are gone, along with most of the paint.  From what I understand, Grandpa used to park it out on a hill behind his house.  To start the tractor, he would get it rolling down the hill and clutch-start it.  In the winter, he would then immediately run it to the house, where he would fill the radiator with water.  When he was done, he would park it back on top of the hill, and in winter, would drain the water.  This eliminated the need for both batteries and coolant.

Starting about 1973, it was parked outside next to Grandpa's wood pile where it almost disappeared under vines and other growth.  Dad and Grandpa revived it in 1988, drove it some that summer, and parked it in Grandpa's barn at the end of that summer.

It sat again for another 4+ years.  In 1993, I started messing with it.  The carb was sent off and rebuilt, the oil and coolant was replaced, and the battery recharged.  It then fired up and started rolling again!

Here is how it looked that day in the fall of 1993 when we got it started and running again.

In April 1994, it moved off the farm where it had been for 45 years, and over to my farm.  A complete working (not showroom) restoration will be in the works after the 40U is complete.  (Can't have all your tractors dismantled at the same time, y' know!)

More detailed pictures and information here.
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