Model numbers vs. years made

[Brian1045 28]

Ok...

Am I correct in saying that on all or most of the 50's, 60's and maybe 70's models are determined by the last number of the model being the year of WH?

I was always under the impression that my WH was a 1964 model. This model of Tractor is posted in here under 1964 and 1965. One of those years is wrong.

I have the original receipt from the dealer for my 1045. It was purchased new on May 14th, 1964 for $690.00 + $13.80 tax.

Doesn't that seem a little early for it to be a 1965 model? So in short, is it a 100% fact that the last number is the model year?

This has been driving me nutts!

I'm hoping anyone and everyone here can straighten this out for me. If one person here disagrees with anyone else...I'm screwed again..

Thx...Brian1045

[Michael Bullington 5]

Hey Brian,

Wow I think this one will be interesting...I was always under the impression that the 1045 was a 1965 model....May the 14th 1964 would have been real early for the square hood to arrive,, but hey who can argue with a receipt...Wow! But for the most part I think everone considers these models to be 1965 ..maybe your on to something!!!

Good Luck,,

I cant wait to see the responses myself!

Michael

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,513]

Brian,

Check this thread. http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?showtopic=643&hl= Go down to BPJunk's post. He explains it.

Here's Bill's explanation:

The Wheel Horse model 1045 was built for a few only months in 1964, from August to October 1964. The number "5" in 1045 stands for electric start and "4" stand for year of manufacture.

You are doing a good job on your restoration as I see yours has the original correct types tires, the tires on the front were only used on the 1045 of which no other Wheel Horse model used this tire. The Goodyears on the back are the same way. The hood on a 1964 model 1045 is different from other 1965 to 1967 square hood models, if you compare the front of the 1045 hood where the decal would go to a '65 to '67 you will see the indentations are not the same.

My 1045 is still being restored , it is completely original and a real power house to drive! I have put my 1045 in a few tractor pulls while the mower deck was still on ..... even the drive belt to the deck still in place! Mine still has the original serial number decal that was used only in 1964.

Bill in Richmond, Va.

[CasualObserver 3,408]

:hide: Hrmmm.... BP's description doesn't fit the May 1964 receipt? If they weren't built until August... I doubt anyone was "pre-paying" for one in May. Something here doesn't add up. Brian, can you scan us the receipt so we can see it?

Oh... and yes... the RJ-58/59 were their production years, then 1960-1967 the model numbers "typically" tell you the details based on the (Hp)-(starter type/trans)-(year) naming convention.

ie... 400 (4) 4hp-(0) recoil start-(0) 1960...

or... 753 (7) 7hp-(5) elec start-(3) 1963...

or...867 (8) 8hp-(6) six speed- (7) 1967.

I say "typically" above because there are a few exceptions like the 633, the 1054a and the 1045 that don't fit the standard naming convention.

[Brian1045 28]

UGH...lol

I'm starting to understand it...But maybe not.

Yea..I'll scan the receipt. But get this. This is even more confusing.

The top of the receipt says May, 14th 1964.

But at the bottom marked "paid in full" it says july 7th 1963...All written in ink.

What in the H*** do I do now?...

I'll post later tonight, when I locate a scanner.

[Teddy da Bear 11]

If it was anything like me.... It takes me a few months before I start writing down the new year's date...

Possibly what happened there..... Person just used to writing 1963......lol

[Brian1045 28]

[wh500special 2,240]

Boy, you guys are sweating the details here...

I don't know what to tell you about your receipt...I am thinking the 1963 date was a flub, but who knows? Perhaps bleed-thru from the Carbon transfer paper used on a prior sale.

My opinion is that the 1045 was a 1964 model so named because WH had already used the 1054 moniker on another tractor. However, the price sheet shown in the new price thread doesn't (yet) list a 1045 for early 1964. But since I can't substantiate my view (and it really isn't that important to me) I will not elaborate on THAT any further

BUT - there's always a but(t) with me - here's something else to chew on for you guys that care:

Look closely at the photos of the Indy 2.5 in Martino's book...especially the first version of the book since the pictures are better. Note that you see a fleet of 753's (ID number plainly visible on the side) and either a 953 or 1054 leading the way. But in one of the photos - which appears to have come from the same event (1964 i am betting) - clearly shows a few 1045's with their square hoods and wierd front tires.

Perhaps these 1045's were prototypes. Perhaps this series of photos was from a 1964 event and RECO used a bunch of readily available 753's out of convenience. Maybe this WAS a 1963 event and these 1045's aren't yet named. Maybe the tractor Brian has is one of these very ones pictured. Maybe I will get off my duff and do somthing other than pontificate about little red tractors for a change....

Anything is possible.

Just don't forget to keep in mind that no matter how highly we we think of WH tractors and the company that made them, there is a definate legacy of improvization within the brand. These were garden tractors afterall and there were few big "model rollouts" to speak of, especially in those days. WH had a definate penchant for creating a new model number for even subtle changes and even on a year-to-year basis so rolling out a 1045 against the nomenclature conventions they used is certianly plausible.

Your receipt adds real value to your tractor no matter how much it confuses us. THANK YOU for sharing.

Steve

Edit: does the second line on the receipt reference a 1964 36" deck?

[Brian1045 28]

Edit: does the second line on the receipt reference a 1964 36" deck?

Yes, it's the mower deck, sold separately. Amazing that the decks cost as much as they did...even back then.

Thanks for all the info. You boys seem to know your stuff! :horseplay:

[Tennessee Country Boy 0]

:D Ok, this one is for Wild Bill to answer: You say the 1045 is a 1964. Then does that make the 1046 a 1964 The 4's are in the same spot. This ole Tennessee Country Boy thought this would bring on some good talk :omg:

[CasualObserver 3,408]

If you run the numbers on the receipt... the mower deck isn't priced at $350, it's included in the $690. It looks like a "pd" (for paid) next to it, and then subtotaled to the balance of $340. I see a "Diff" next to the $690... I wonder if this original purchaser had traded some older model in? Based on the Jan 64 price list... I would guess the price of the tractor alone would have been somewhere in the neighborhood of $800, and the RM-364 deck was priced at $130 by itself, for an estimated total of $930. less a trade-in would then transfer to the sales ticket as a difference of $690. Be interesting to know what other older WH was traded!

[Brian1045 28]

The 1046 was only made in 1966. (Info from Tractordata.com)

I say "typically" above because there are a few exceptions like the 633, the 1054a and the 1045 that don't fit the standard naming convention.

I wonder if there are any other exceptions out there. :hide:

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,513]

Jason, that's what I'm seeing on the receipt also. Also, I see a tax of $13.80 and a balance of $353.80. The $350 amount has a Pd in the column to the left of the price. Also, what's the marks in the blocks above the "Description" column?

[CasualObserver 3,408]

There are Xs in the Cash and Charge boxes.

[DMESS 24]

Ok, this one is for Wild Bill to answer: You say the 1045 is a 1964. Then does that make the 1046 a 1964 The 4's are in the same spot. This ole Tennessee Country Boy thought this would bring on some good talk

It is my opinion that the 1046 was a late 1965 production slated as a 1966 model. The tractor is a 1056 with the 1045/1055/1075 style shallow sump K241. My guess here is that they were simply using up engine inventory during the transition to the new long frame/hood style machine.

It's tough to dispute Bill's info on the 1045 production. It does seem logical that this machine would be late 1964 production with intentions of being a 1965 model. I don't, however, know where he's referencing this info. These machines certainly could have been tooled up earlier in the year. Specially given the work invlolved with the new hood design.

I've noticed the Indy pics and I think they represent two different events. 1963 with the 753's and 1964 showing the 1045's and what would appear to be wide wheel 854's if you look closely. Hard to argue with the pics showing the 1045's during what appears to be the 1964 Indy 500 in MAY! :D

[Brian1045 28]

He had put all the money down except for $353.80 in May. I suppose he paid the rest in July. One payment was cash the other was charge.

[Michael Bullington 5]

Tennessee Country Boy asked me to post this,,he doesnt have photobucket yet...This parts manual shows Wheel Horse considered the 1045 as part of the 1965 Line up..even though some where produced in 64

[Tennessee Country Boy 0]

:D Ok, I got in on this topic late. But here goes again. And yes I think the 1046 is a 1966 (no question about it), but in turn I think the 1045 is a 1965. No question about it. I have a set of dealer books I bought from a dealer going out of business. In these for the year 1965 it has listed the year models. It list : 1054-A, 1075, 855, 1055, 855,("1045"), 605, 655, l-105 & L-155. I do not know how to put a picture on here, but my son does. I have scanned a copy of this and email to him. He is going to post the picture for me. All of you that have these books you can look in them at 1965 and it will show you 1045 for 1965. :omg:

[wh500special 2,240]

I've noticed the Indy pics and I think they represent two different events. 1963 with the 753's and 1964 showing the 1045's and what would appear to be wide wheel 854's if you look closely. Hard to argue with the pics showing the 1045's during what appears to be the 1964 Indy 500 in MAY!

Dang it Dustin, you're right! Again! The wheels DO look different now.

So, to waffle a little bit...Now I think the 1045's WERE indeed 65 models.

Steve

[Tennessee Country Boy 0]

Brain1045, I went to the Tractordata.com where you came up with the 1046 was a 1966. This tractordata.com also says that the 1045 is a 1965. So, like I was saying, 1045=1965 and 1046=1966. Everyone have a great evening :hide:

[Michael Bullington 5]

Hey I have an ideal ...lets call it a 1964/5 ...half breed ,,,just like it looks!! :hide:

[bell 11]

Or, we could all be right and just call it a 1964.5.... :D

[Brian1045 28]

:hide: :hide:

[BPjunk 184]

Boy O Boy !!!

Where to even start with these questions.

1) The Wheel Horses used at the Indy 500 were any and every tractor they could get a hold of. This is why you see different models but you see more of the newer ones.

2) Printed material is always made with prototypes, the pictures are not the actual models produced. Remember the new models were not thought up on January 1st.

The receipt is interesting and will take some studying to figure out.

Brian can you post the serial number of your 1045?

This picture is the serial number of mine.

Wild Bill in Richmond, Va.

Attached Image

[HorseFixer 2,012]

Looks to me like a 3 was scratched over a 4 on that reciept :hide: