I am searching for my late grandfather's John Deere model 50 tractor that he used to pull a 4-row transplanter and also run a model 45 loader at one point. We believe it was a 1955 or 1956 model. It would have looked similar to the ones pictured in the video, with 16" single front wheel, long rear axles with the B3140R axle housing and 12.4x38 rear tires, factory 800 or 801 series three-point hitch, and likely would have had noticeable wear on the frame and axle housings due to the loader. To my knowledge it was never used for cultivating like a lot of other locally-sold 50's were, so it would not have had the frame and grill-mounted cultivator attaching/guide brackets.
This tractor spent most of its life on the farm in Mullica Hill, NJ and I believe was sold in the early 90's, but I have no record of where or to whom it went. No local dealerships have been able to provide a serial number record and neither have any nearby two-cylinder collectors, nor the retired owner of the dealership my grandfather used to deal with. I am told it could possibly be 5032055 or 5032683. There were a boat load of model 50's sold to vegetable farms in South Jersey back in the day and I've tracked down 10 of them so far - I would like to see what others might still out there. I realize it's a long shot, but it's worth a try.
If anyone knows of any vegetable-type model 50's like these sitting on a farm, in a pasture, in someone's shed, or in a scrap pile somewhere, please let me know! Will buy regardless of its condition, if I can track down the right one. Please feel free to email or message me through Facebook, KZfaq, or comment on this video.