Issue # 5: What is the year of my Tractor?
Olivers early serial number plates clearly state the model of the tractor along with the serial numbers. When the fleetlines were introduced the name plate was located on the right front side of the rear main frame. The plate indicated the Model and Serial Number. The suffix following the serial number showed the special features of the tractor and engine. KD stamped with the serial number indicated the tractor was equipped with a kerosene-distillate burning engine. The letter D indicated a diesel engine. When no letter is stamped with the serial number, it indicates that the tractor is equipped with an HC or gasoline engine. Other numbers and letter combinations can also be found with the serial numbers. C-88-D, C-77-B, etc., indicate the gear combination the tractor is equipped with.
The serial plate above indicates the model (RC 77). The number tells that its a 1951 model with a C-77-D gear combination. No optional equipment can be identified with this tag. It is also a gas model.
Each style of each fleetline model had their own block of numbers:
66 RC 420001
66 STD 470001
66 Industrial 462001
77 RC 320001
77 STD 269001
77 IND 403001
88 RC 120001
88 STD 820001
88 IND 920001
In 1952, Oliver incorporated a new serial number system which omitted the transmission code from the name plate an insterted a stractor specification number in its place. This change took place beginning with the opproximate serial numbers:
RC 66 - 430673
STD 66 - 475909
IND 66 - 462406
RC 77 - 352961
STD 77 - 274051
IND 77 - 403516
RC 88 - 140981
STD 88 - 827442
IND 88 - 290956
A new name plate was designed showing Specification Number and Serial Number, however, these were not unsed until November 1.
With the first prodcution tractors built after November 1, 1952, the numbering system took another change where all tractors used the same block of number regardless of size or model. The numbers started with 350 000. By reversing the first two numbers, you will discover the year of the model. In 1954 the numbers started with 450 000. Reversing the first two number of that serial number also indicated the year. This applied to the fleetlines wheel tractors and crawlers during that time span.
Look into Issue # 5 of Oliver Heritage for more on the Serial Number Plates! Also look at our "Tractors" section of our Website to see listings of all your Tractor Serial Numbers from Hart-Parr to the Fleetlines!
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