"WD 10."..Is it a 1948 WD serial #?

I should have tried to take a photo of the  rear differential housing, but the lighting was not good.

I looked for the Serial Number of this WD that I saw on a lot, owned by a friend.  STAMPED into the rear differential housing was "WD10".  Then, just a little beyond that is what looks like a machine cut out about the height of the numbers, but spaced beyond the WD10 far enough that other numbers COULD have been stamped before reaching this cut out.  Again, it is a rectangular cut out, about the height of the letters, but spaced far enough from the WD 10 that it it doesn't look like it was made to alter the serial, because other numbers COULD have been stamped in the space between the WD10 and the beginning of the machined out rectangular box.

What do you guys make of that?    Is it a 1948, serial #10, or, is it something else, like a 1952?  I don't think it is a 1952, because the cutout box is spaced a bit from the WD10 that is stamped into the rear differential housing.

The tractor is for sale, so I want to make sure that I have the serial correct.

There is a number beginning with 2 on the transmission housing just in front of the shifting handle, on  the side facing the fuel tank  It has some letters like CP and then ends in KC. 

What's your opinion?

Thanks,


Dex


Tractor with lots of photos will be posted in classified.


Edited by Dexter Peabody - 25 Aug 2012 at 11:35pm

CTuckerNWIL.

The WD10 is stamped where the bottom arrow is in the photo that you provided above.

The WD10 is closer to the left in the photo where that bolt is to the far left in the photo, then the cut out is about where the tip of the bottom arrow is.

What do you make of that?  Is it the 10th WD made in 1948, the tenth WD ever made?

Thanks for your help.

Thanks, CTuckerNWIL,

I will check that out.  I couldn't see anything on  the access plate when I looked.   I only saw a faint WD10 and then that etched out rectangle where I have described above.  Funny that no numbers immediately follow the WD10, before the etched out rectangle begins.

I will try to post a photo, too.

Thanks,  again,

Dex

That early WD rear end had some weakness problems, and many were changed to the newer style.  The serial number was then supposed to be restamped in the new area, but many weren't restamped at all.

Edited by TedBuiskerN.IL. - 26 Aug 2012 at 7:21am

WD's actually started at #7.

Thanks guys,

I am on my way over to that WD, take some photos and try to observe some of the suggestions and comments that you made, while standing at the tractor.

It sure looks to me like someone "eradicated" the last 4 digits of the serial number

By looking at the foot pedals in the above photos, does it lead you to believe that it is a 1948 WD, or, otherwise?

Thanks,

Dex

I doubt it's a 48 because of the later foot rest and the position of the serial #. You never know though It could be replacement housing and someone put newer footrest on it but not likely

Looks ground out to me. If it was more consistant like a key way slot when who knows but that is clearly the work of a grinder. It is possible that the rear ent was swapped out at one time or another and they ground that number off so the rear ent year wouldn't change the rest of the tracror

Since the right side foot rest is not from a 48 and both the engine and tractor number have been ground away, I would say somebody was pulling a scam in the past.  There was no WD13 engine number.

CtuckerNWIL and OldOrangeIron,

I have to take issue with the "scam" speculation, in regard to the serial numbers.  From my understanding, this tractor came in from the field in a trade with a friend of mine who owns a very small car and implement lot in rural Ripley County, Missouri.  In Ripley County, no one would give you squat for an old Allis Chalmers tractor.  Their only concern would be, "does the damn thing run?".  If you were going to scam someone, wouldn't you fill in the etched out blocs and paint over them, to make it look like it had not be tampered with?

I believe that this tractor has only been traded locally, so no need for a scam, and alteration of serial number.

This guy is the same guy who sold me my WD45.  He said it was a 1958.  That is because it was bought NEW in 1958, so he ASSUMED that it must be  1958 WD45. (There were none made, stopped in 1957, right)    Only until I got on here checking my serial number out to find out that it was a 1957, did I know where to look for my serial number.

He just got this tractor in on a trade late last week.  I checked the place where my serial number is, and it said "WD10".  Today, I wiped off a lot of grime, getting some on my dress shirt in the process, and found "WD31" where the engine serial number should be behind the carb.


As soon as I downsize the photo, I will  upload it.

Thanks, but, down here, the serial number don't mean crap.  I got interested in the serial number when I found the "WD10" on the rear, shown in the photos above.

Here she is, the WD with the questionable serial number and pedigree.

NOW, I don't know a lot, but if someone was attempting to pull a serial number scam on someone, to make this a more valuable WD, I doubt, that they would bolt that tool box, or, wooden beer ice chest onto the side of it, put a special homemade thermos jug holder on the left fender, make an angle iron doo-dad contraption for the front end, and weld a back rest contraption to the back of the seat.  Just my opinion.



NOTE!  the REAR WHEELS are painted YELLOW



Thermos holder is round aluminum doo-dad on left fender.   Snazzy back rest, welded to seat.




What is this number and markings on the gear shift, engine side?




The rear, where it says "WD10" then there is the etched out, block beside it.






ENGINE # behind car on left side.


   SO, what year WD is it?  I want to know before I put it on Craigslist, and, maybe, this site.  I don't want to mislead anyone.  Need you all's help.  Thanks


Edited by Dexter Peabody - 27 Aug 2012 at 10:46pm

I don't know how your going to tell the year. It would be interesting to know why it's like that. Not a bad looking unit either even has wide front.

My dad had a WD that was a demonstrator from a dealer that had the serial numbers machined off like that, and it was done by the dealer. He explained why it was done, but that was over 40 years ago, and I cant remember the details. It had something to do with excess inventory and dealer territories.