HG-42 I think??

[Ronald Haines]

I just bought a 1951 HG-42 I think. The Ser# is 55GA916.
Can anyone help in tell me if this is right.I bought it in W.VA.
And was told I'm the third owner of this fine little dozer.
It has a 6' dozer blade made by A.C.Anderson. Ser. plate said HG-42.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank alot  Ron

[thecatskinner]

Ronald, first let me welcome you to the board:D

Your tractor is a 1951, in fact it is one of the last of the series.  The HG is the model number and would shortly be changed to OC, since 1951 was the last year that the HG designation was used.
For the record, your tractor is an OC in everything but name.  
You have the OC track frames and front idlers and the IBX engine.
The 42 is the gauge.  It is the distance in inches from center line to center line of the tracks.
The tractor in my post is serial # 55GA786 and is an HG-68.

Enjoy your "new" find.

[Ronald Haines]

Thanks for the warm welcome!  Could you please tell me the last serial number
for the HG models?  I haven't found this info yet in what I've gathered.  
I believe my HG42 may have been a military model by the colors underneath
the Oliver green paint.  It is military drab green.  Any one else have any
experience with this or able to shed some light on it?  By the way, I am also a gun
collector as you are!  Thanks again!  Have a great day!  Ronnie

[thecatskinner]

Ronnie, I can't find the reference at this point, I'll keep looking.  I think yours has to be one of the last because I think mine turned out to be about 150 from the end of the HG model.
The full designation of the new model was OC-3.
As for the color, yes they were used by the military, but I thought only in an altered configuration.  I'm sure someone will come along that can give you more information on that.

Regarding the picture albums the links no longer work directly.  To look at the guns go to www.imagestation.com and then you can either create a sign in for yourself or use mine: "thecatskinner" and password 1841

[Eric Severance]

Hi guys, My serial listing in CH Wendel's book states the last HG to be serial 59GA856. We have a 1951 OC-3 serial number 1WH254, and it has most of the new OC-3 features except the full flanged transmission, final drive to frame mounts. It is green, and it has an IXK engine with casting date 1947. I'm guessing the engine may be a "swap out", but I was always curious if they were using up old stock to make way for the new OC-3's.

[John]

I tend to believe that the factory,and dealers(in my case)did what needed to be done to sell tractors,regardless of serial no. or model...who would have thought at the time that this oversight would have impact on us?

[thecatskinner]

Eric, mine is a 51 HG and I have the IXB engine.  My guess is that someone changed it.