Going to try and post a bit more "HISTORY" as I remember it which could affect how you view her.
The good news is she was not a "daily use" implement.
I'll post a few photos along with the info
Here is the first photo, but it gives a good front view of the blade.
Here is a better picture showing the condition
and another
To All interested in our Lindeman Crawler,
I think from a purchasing or even interest standpoint it is best to offer as much information about "Our Girl" as we can remember. or assemble.
Some have asked how the Crawler was used, which is a good question and what prompted me to start putting together some memories. These might give you a bit of an idea of the use, wear and tear, and stresses put on her.
We have not come across the original papers (receipts/manuals, etc) but do have an original parts book my father kept, and wrote the serial # on, which will be included with the Crawler.
We may even be able to scan a picture or two of our father using it to "drag logs" he cut down to use for lumber to build our house at the time.
The picture if we locate it, shows myself and my sister, sitting on one of the logs chained to the Dozer. We must have been around 3 or 4 years old and both of us are now approaching 60. These photos are being sent to me and I will scan and add them.
The records indicate a Serial Number of 336460.
This page indicates that our Crawler was shipped to Lindeman in Yakima WA, from John Deere in Moline, IL around 8/16/1946.
http://www.lindemanarchives.com./Serial%20%234.html
It is our understanding that Our Grandfather Emmett O. Casler, his Brother Benjamin "Giles" Casler, and our Father John W. Casler partnered up to purchase the Crawler and used it intitally to dig basements, and then grade some home sites on Detroit Avenue (and other places) in Mansfeild, OH.
My father purchased a small (around 105 acres) farm and then bought out the other partners for full ownership.
He then used the Crawler (which by the way has a blade) for similar tasks.
He had two other John Deere Tractors for most all the regular farm work, like plowing, discing, mowing, bailing, planting, combining etc. We have a few other John Deere parts and such, as well as a full tractor that is also for sale and I will get more info on those items soon.
The Dozer was used to pull a few logs, grade various things, dig the basements of a our house he built, as well as some demo, grading. and leveling of the "old house" that came with the property. He created a couple driveways, pulled a few stumps out of the ground, and just general "HEAVY SLOW" tasks or dirt moving jobs.
All in all, he actually didn't put that many miles on it and loved it as a TOY/TOOL for the big boys to play in the dirt. I also remember him pushing Large Rocks in the fields off to the edge, or in a big pile, so he could plow and disc those fields.
So it served a purpose, but was not ever in daily use. There would be years where he didn't use it at all, and some where he might need it 2 or 3 times. So I would think you might say after the first several years it was in VERY limited use and mostly stored in the barn.
That is another point, she was always "stored" inside, and was never left "exposed" to the elements.
So you might say, he used her rather sparingly, and she sat "stored" for many years with occasional startings.
My personal memories are that our father would occsionally let out a string of cuss words, likely due to some skinned knuckles when pulling on the heavy start wheel. And once she "sputtered" and came to life, he would close the compression valves and let her "warm up". But he always had a big smile or grin on his face as he sat in the chair and took her to her task, with that popping, coughing, unmistakable John Deere two cyllinder sound,
We are trying to get pictures (it needs to be washed off from all the dust and grime)
We have several local inquiries and of course wish to receive fair market value for her. We are still looking around for Fair Market Value information.
She will now start, but does not keep running, which is likely due to the carburetor floats sticking or gunk in the fuelline needing work, but it displays that the engine, pistons and electrics are in complete working order To completely restore, you may need only disassemble, oil, clean, and paint for the most part.
I think this is an excellent copy and with likely exceptionally LOW USE for its age.
We are in the process of settling our Father's Estate, and the Crawler is stored in the large garage, where many items need to be moved to get her out, and cleaned up for pictures. We should have those soon.
So to recap:
1947 Lindeman Crawler BO Model
Serial Number 336460
Has Mounted Blade
Starts
Located in Mansfeild, Ohio
Purchased by three Relatives in 1947, but been the property of John W, Calser since at least 1949 or 1950.
Was NOT in Daily use, and actually used only on occasion after the first 5 or 10 years.
We feel that this may be one of the best "lower use" examples for a serious collector, and have already been offered some highly reasonable amounts "sight unseen", but these pictures might offer one a better yardstick of value.
