This is my dad’s 1936 BI John Deere Tractor. My dad, Don Huston, bought this tractor from the City of Great Falls, Montana in 1945. The tractor came with a street sweeper broom, a seven foot sickle blade mower, pto drive, attached directly to the draw bar. The mower has not been restored but available for restoration. Our small farm, 3 miles south of Great Falls, is where this picture was taken. This tractor was used to mow alfalfa hay, rake and bale on this same field.
We know the tractor was sold to the City of Great Falls, Montana in 1936 to sweep city streets and mow undeveloped gravel roadside grass. The City of Great Falls purchased this BI through a Caterpillar/John Deere Dealership, then located in Billings, Montana. This tractor is thought to be only one of TEN ever produced. What makes this tractor so rare is the limited number of BI tractors manufactured in 1936, traditional yellow industrial color and a special gearbox drive, when engaged, turned a front chain drive street sweeper attachment. The mower and broom sweeper were on the tractor when dad brought the tractor home. Dad sold the sweeper in 1947 to a private citizen.
This tractor is still in our family and stored inside a secure workshop. This tractor is for sale. It was completely restored inside and out by my brother Ray, while my folks were still living. Ray has passed, but four brothers share this tractor now. If interested in buying this tractor, write to larrysvtx@gmail.com
I enjoy chatting with interested individuals about the history of the tractor and how it was used on our small farm 865-599-3899.
Thanks for being such a great company.
Regards,
Larry Huston of Knoxville, Tennessee
EDWARD SIMPSON says
wow so cool
Larry Huston says
Thanks Edward Simpson. It really is a like new tractor. We went to JD archives for the information about how the trail led from John Deere, though Billings, MT Caterpillar Dealer/John Deere. Great Falls ordered the tractor new. We have done limited research in the Gt. Falls Archives, trying to find the selling price and when the tractor arrived in the city of Gt. Falls. The trail is pretty cold, but some of the living retired people working in finance for the city says it’s likely still available.