1954 BARBER-GREENE 550

1954

BARBER-GREENE

550

Used

A specially modified John Deere model 50 was the tractor chosen by the Barber-Greene Company, a materials handling equipment company located in Aurora, Illinois, to be the power source for the company’s new windrow loader introduced in 1954. The special order John Deere 50 tractors shipped to Barber-Greene to be paired with the Barber-Greene model 550 windrow loader differed from the regular model 50s in numerous ways. Special smaller diameter cast rear centers with 8 by 28 rims (fitted with 12.00 by 28 tires) were used to allow the windrow elevator to pass over the right rear tire. In addition, the smaller diameter rear tires allowed for reduced travel speeds. Given the reduced diameter of the rear wheels, the use of a special shorter yoke for the 10 inch single front wheel helped to level the tractor front to rear. Clearance issues between the tractor and the windrow loader required the tractor headlight supports to be bent upward, the left rockshaft to be shortened and the left brake assembly to be replaced by the shorter one previously used on the model “B.” The standard 17 inch model 50 steering wheel was replaced by a 19 inch unit to provide for easier steering since the tractors were not equipped with power steering. The windrow loader was powered off the tractor engine flywheel and not the PTO; therefore, the entire PTO assembly was deleted and a PTO delete cover was provided. Finally, the steering shaft was shortened four inches to allow additional standing room for the operator and the throttle control lever was rotated forward to compensate for this new steering wheel position.