TRACTOR TUESDAY #1 — JOHN DEERE MODEL B

Welcome to the very first edition of Tractor Tuesday!

Each week, Arizona Old Iron will take a look back at an antique tractor, its history, specifications, and some of the interesting stories that make these old machines so special.

For our first featured tractor, we’re going back to one of John Deere’s most recognizable and successful two-cylinder tractors…

FEATURED TRACTOR: JOHN DEERE MODEL B

Manufacturer: John Deere

Built: 1935–1952

Factory: Waterloo, Iowa

Type: Row-crop / general-purpose tractor

Drive: 2WD

SPECIFICATIONS

The Model B changed considerably during its nearly 20-year production run, but the early tractors were powered by a two-cylinder, liquid-cooled John Deere engine displacing approximately 149 cubic inches.

Depending on the year and configuration, horsepower increased substantially throughout the B’s production. Early versions produced around 16 horsepower at the belt, while later versions reached well over 20 horsepower.

Transmission: Early models used a 4-speed transmission, while later versions were upgraded to a 6-speed transmission.

Other notable features included:

• Rear PTO

• Adjustable rear wheel tread for row-crop work

• Narrow, wide and standard front-end configurations

• Optional electric starting on later tractors

• Gasoline and all-fuel versions

• Numerous specialized versions, including the BN, BW, BR, BO and BI

A LITTLE HISTORY

When John Deere introduced the Model B in 1935, the company was looking for a tractor that could provide the capabilities of the larger Model A while being smaller, lighter and more affordable.

The B quickly became an important part of John Deere’s lineup and was designed to meet the needs of farmers who didn’t require the size or power of an A.

The Model B went through several major changes during its life. The original unstyled B was followed by the early styled B beginning in 1939, and then the late styled B beginning in 1947.

Those changes included larger engines, updated sheet metal, improved starting and electrical equipment, and other improvements that kept the B competitive as farming technology evolved. (TractorData)

INTERESTING FACTS

More than 300,000 Model Bs were produced during the model’s production run, with the final serial number reaching 310,772. (TractorData)

The Model B wasn’t just one tractor. John Deere produced several specialized versions, including the BN narrow-row, BW wide-row, BR standard-tread, BO orchard and BI industrial models. (TractorData)

The early Model B was tested in the Nebraska Tractor Tests. In Nebraska Test 232, an early all-fuel B produced 16.01 belt horsepower and 11.80 drawbar horsepower, with a maximum measured pull of 1,728 pounds. (TractorData)

Later Model Bs had considerably more power. Nebraska Test 380 in 1947 recorded 27.58 maximum belt horsepower and 24.62 drawbar horsepower for a gasoline-powered B. (TractorData)