Oliver 1655 Mowing and Haying for the Ostriches

This 1973 Oliver 1655, with a gas engine and 3900 hrs, was purchased by Ed Brown in 2017 from a farm near Boone, Iowa. It had been used for almost 20 years on one of Iowa’s first ostrich farms for mowing and haying operations. The tractor had been well cared for. Ed completed some light restoration work, a new paint job with new decals, new lights, and a new canopy in 2021. While the tractor’s fieldwork days are now on pause, it is regularly used for tractor rides and parades around central Iowa.

The Oliver 1655 was manufactured at the Oliver-Charles City plant from 1969 through 1975. It is equipped with a Waukesha-Oliver gasoline or diesel engine. The gas engine was 265 cu inches with a 3.75 x 4 in. bore and stroke. The engines were rated at 2200 rpm. The helical gear transmission with six forward and two reverse gears was standard. The over/under hydraulic shift transmission was also optional, and this tractor has this feature. This permitted on-the-go shifting for a total of 18 forward speeds. Mechanical front-wheel drive was optional. The 1655 had a Drawbar HP test of 61.9 and a PTO HP test of 70.57.

Ed Brown
West Des Moines, Iowa
Tractor Photo Contest Winner