Tractor Trivia Octoober 27
The B reminded me of the Race
By Eric Mickelson
A fun time for me growing up was haying season. We made square bales with our 224T John Deere baler to feed our Holstein cows. Small square bales are usually remembered as hard work in hot weather. That is true but you see to me haying time was family time. SInce mom was a school teacher, she had the summers off, and was quite a farm girl! We all headed to the field. Dad always mowed with his H Farmall and a #5 John Deere mower. When I was old enough to drive a tractor I would drive the 1942 B John Deere and rake. Then came baling time. Mom would drive the tractor and dad and I would ride the hayrack stacking bales. When a load was done we would stop for a nice cold drink of water out of the plastic thermos, seldom did a drink of water taste so good!
After milking we would go back out in the cooler evening air and unload the bales from the day's baling. If it was a productive day and everyone was willing, we might even get to go to town for an ice cream cone at the Bowling Alley! You see it was hard work but to this kid it was family fun.
One time when we were in the hayfield mom and dad got to talking about what tractor was faster, dad’s H Farmall or mom’s B John Deere. After some discussion a plan was put in place to settle this dispute. Mom drove the B up onto the road and parallel to her, in the hayfield, dad also lined up his H Farmall(with the #5 John Deere mower behind it). I don’t remember for sure but I think I got to say GO! Off they went! Pretty exciting stuff for a young tractor lover. Well after their quarter mile run the B John Deere came back a winner! Being in the hayfield attached to the mower the H was probably at a disadvantage, nevertheless it was another exciting day in the life and times of tractor lover.
The fun story of when I was growing up was brought back to my memory because last Friday afternoon on my way to Bagley I was south of Gully when what did I see but an old B John Deere working a ways away from the road. I couldn’t see what he was doing. So of course I turned around and headed back to the gravel road and headed towards the B John Deere.
He was mowing his ditch with a narrow front 1940 B John Deere pulling an old ground driven horse mower. Now, you don’t see that everyday. I had to stop and visit and the nice running B idled along side of the road. I guess there is another fun day in the life and times of Eric Mickielson, tractor lover!
How about a little tractor trivia?
1. What year was the model B released released with the new sheet metal look.
A)1939 B) 1943 C) 1945 D) 1949
2. A John Deere B has a tricycle front end with two wheels. What is a BN?
3. What did it mean if it was referred to as a BW?
4. What was the next step up in power from the John Deere B in the lettered
Series of John Deere Tractors?
A) Model A B) Model H C) Model G D) Model C
5. The Model B was considered a ______(how many) plow tractor?
Answers: 1. A. 1939 2. BN has a single front wheel 3. BW has a wide front end 4. A. Model A 5. 2 plow tractor
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Eric Mickelson
Green Magazine
RIchard's Publishing
Oklee, MN 56742
218-791-9157