Serial Numbers from Nov. 1952 onwards

[oliverchris]

I learned something new about the rather odd serial number change that Oliver instigated in Nov. 1952 (from Bulletin Hbg.#8):
I quote: "Starting with the first tractor produced Nov. 1st 1952, regardless of model, the first serial number will be 3500001, the second tractor produced will bear serial no. 3500002, etc."
I hadn't realised that these numbers covered all tractors leaving the Cleveland plant. So, to use their example: 3500001 could be an OC-18, then 3500002 could be a DD, etc.
Tractors leaving Nov. 1st 1954 onwards started 4500001 etc.

The first two letters were the year backwards, for example 45 = '54 backwards

Oliver stated that this would affect the following production models: OC-3, AD, ADR (Roosa), AG-6, BD, BDR (Roosa), BDHL (loaders), BGS, BGSHL (loaders), DD, DG, OC-18, and the following future models: OC-6, OC-9, OC-12, OC-15.

I guess this rather confusing system was dropped after 1954.

[Robert Barbour]

That is interesting information.  I new that the 35 and 45 serial numbers included all models and that they did not correspond exactly to the calander years 53 and 54 but did not know the exact dates.  I have a bulleton that gives that last serial number before the change and the first after for the crawler models.  I can post those later as I am away from home now.

[Blake Malkamaki]

Just another one of Oliver's stupidities that eventually destroyed a very successful crawler tractor company.

[John Schwiebert]

That applies to wheel tractors as well. Example let us say the last 2 digits (example lets say 37) were for an Oliver 77 rowcrop. The next number (38) might be for an OC-3. There is a list, I have seen it and I think I had a copy at one time that tells which numbers were assigned to the Cleveland plant. When the Super series wheel tractors were introduced in the summer/fall of 1954 a new serial system was started and that was used to the end of wheel tractor production. The crawlers went back to the old Cleveland system. When the OC-4 & OC 9 B series crawlers were produced in Charles City a serial number system similar to the wheel tractors was used for those 2 models. Chris: I would like a copy of that bulletin. Thanks john

[Robert Barbour]

Bulletin CL 418A from 9/19/58 lists the last serial number before the change( from 3500000 to 4501824 ) and the first serial number after the change.  They are
OC 3  10WH002: 10WH100
OC 3 31 Cane  1WC174: 1WC200
OC 6 Gas  None:1MR002
OC 6 Diesel None : 1RC002
AG     3X8836:4X000
AD     8Z852 : 8Z900
BG     12C896 : 12C900
BD     19D608 : 19D700
DG     3E428  :  3E500
DD     2L6780 : 3L000
OC 18 1KS044 : 1KS100

I know some of these do not agree with other serial number listings I have seen but this is what the bulletin states

[oliverchris]

Thank you, Bob. Interesting.
Does this mean that there were no OC-3 serial numbers issued with the numbers 10WH003 to 10WH099?

[Robert Barbour]

Yes that is correct.  There are skips in the serial numbers of other models as well. Also remember that for the crawlers with the Cleveland serial numbers there are no odd numbered tractors.