Best Model Tractors Owners List
For additions or correction please contact chapter12@acmoc.org
I would like to thank Tom Madden for all of his help in putting this page together.
Heidrick Ag Museum Best Model 30 "Humpback" only one know to survive
1913 uk Heidrick Museum Woodland CA. humpback, orchard
Please note:
Serial Numbers or "Tractor Numbers" for Best Model Tractors have the following "Letter" at the beginning or end of the serial number.
"A" Best Model 60 SN location listed below
"B" Best Model 25 SN painted on track roller frame
"C" Best Model 75 SN painted on side main frame
"D" Best Model 40 SN painted on track roller frame
"S" Best Model 30 SN location listed below
If the number on the tractor does not include the right "letter" for the model of tractor then it is the Royality number.
The Royality number was issued after Holt and Best settled their litigation around the begining of 1919.
The serial number and royality number may or maynot have the same number of digits,
in most cases the serial number will be a lower number than the royality number.
The royality number is located on the brass tag with the pat. numbers listed, the tag is sometimes mounted on the fenders.
The serial number is located on a tag that reads "Tractor Number", which is located in the following locations:
On the left side on the engine block
Directly under the water pump-for the model thirty
Below Cylinder #1-for model sixty
Left side of seat base, or just above the draw bar on the transmission housing.
The List below has been generated from information I have recieved from machinery owners and from different publications.
see source page.
No. 188 Pictured
Best
& Holt Steam Tractors
1889 Serial No. 3 Towle Bros. Texas Hill CA. wrecked machine with parts
missing
1894 Serial No. uk nickname "Old Dinah" Furnace Creek Ranch Death Valley CA. un-restored non operational
1894 Serial No. uk Las Vegas NV. un-restored non operational
1903-1906 Serial No. uk Angles Camp Museum Angles Camp CA. un-restored non-operational
1905 Serial No. uk Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Alaska un-restored non-operational
1906 Serial No. 175 Joe Heidrick Sr. Foundation Woodland CA. Restored Operational
1906 Serial No. 185 Roots of Motive Power Willits CA. Restored non-operational
1906 Serial No. 188 Ken Eder Carthage NC. Restored Operational
1909 Serial No. uk Holt Caterpillar Houston TX. Un-restored Operational
1910 Serial No. 242 Smith Park Rexburg ID. un-restored non-operational
1910 Serial No. uk Phillips Brothers Mill Oak Run CA. Un-restored Operational
1911
Serial No. 295 Phillips Bros. Mill Oak Run CA. un-restored non-operational
Best Round Wheel Tractors
1-RW to 105-RW
1910-1916
Mfg. in San Leandro
1911 75hp round wheel tractor owned by the Shank Family
Located
in the Pioneers Museum, Imperial CA.
353B Pictured
Best Model 25
1-B to 300-B?
1918-1920 Mfg. in San Leandro
1919 uk Tom Madden Paso Robles CA.
1919 353B Carson Wiley Arroyo Grande CA.
1919 165 Bill Santos CA.
1919 199 CA.
1920 213 Spegel Family Portland OR.
386 Bright's Pioneer Museum Le Garnd CA.
1794 Heidrick Ag Center Woodland CA.
1872 CA.
Uk Tyler Family Moore MT.
S 1868 Pictured
Best Model 30
Nebraska Test No. 77
1921 S1001-S1279
1016 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA. Restored
1922 S1280-S1648
S 1298 Bob Curry Duncansville PA. Canopy
1424 Christenbury Collection NC tail seat
S 1446 Rangiora NZ.
S 1514 Doug Veerkamp Placerville CA. Orchard Restored
S 1553 Jack Wallace Woodland CA.
S 1581 CA.
1645 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA. Trans Only
1923 S1649-S2147
S 1691 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA. Restored
S 1694 CA.
S 1868 Rick Hawksworth Awahnee CA.
S 2040 Bill Santos Newcastle CA.
S 2072 Kenneth Avery Qualer Hill CT. Top Seat Snow Crusier
S 2103 CA.
1924 S2148-S3101
2401 Chris Brummett Carthage MO.
S 2702 Top Seat NC.
S
2886 Heidrick Museum Restored orchard
1925 S 3102-S4115
S 3138 Frank Portera Morgan Hill CA.
S 3140 CA.
S 3432 CA.
3507 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA. Restored
3507 is the Last Known Best 30
See Caterpillar 30 page for rest of listing
Best UK UC Davis Davis CA. Best
Best UK UC Davis Davis CA.
Best UK UC Davis Davis CA. Orchard
Best UK Antique Farm Eq. Museum Tulare CA.
Best UK Bright's Pioneer Museum Le Grand CA.
Best UK Heidrick Ag Museum Woodland CA.
Best UK Vista Museum CA.
Best UK Peter Holt TX.
Best UK National Ag Research Center Japan
538D Pictured
Best Model 40
102-D to 814-D, 868-D, 899-D, 923-D to 924-D
1911-1920
Mfg.
in San Leandro
378 D Ca.
1917 538D Carson Wiley Arroyo Grande CA.
1918 668D Paul Skirvin Philomath OR.
uk Marciel Family Altaville CA.
uk Heidrick Ag Museum Woodland CA.
1084 CA.
101A Pictured
Best Model 60
1919 101A-352A
101 A Tom Madden Paso Robles CA. Canopy
102 A Bill Santos Newcastle CA.
103 A Fred Heidrick WoodLand CA.
150 A
345 A
1920 353A-993A
372 A Doug Veerkamp Placerville CA. Tailseat
507 A
858 A Ed Claessen Waverly MN
1921 994A-1056A
1922 1057A-1248A
1078 A Jack Alexander Gilroy CA.
1159 A Doug Veerkamp Placerville CA.
1923 1249A-1684A
1366 A Caleb Carpenter Piedmont OK.
1587 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA.
1592 A Rick Hawksworth
1924 1685A-2235A
1947A
Dan Voght Hartford City IN.
1990A Tom Madden Paso Robles CA.
2363A
Russell Turner Orangeville CA.
2371 Traynham Ranches Arbuckle CA.
2472A
Dan Voght Hartford City IN.
2489A Fred Lowry Salida CA.
2501A Ken Eder Carthage, NC.
1925 Changed to Caterpillar after 2544A
UK Bright's Pioneer Museum Le Grand Ca. Tail Seat
UK UC Davis Davis Ca. Top Seat
1921 UK MN.
1923 UK England
1924 UK Bob Hill Miami MB.
uk
Peter Holt Tx.
Best Model 75
201-C to 969-C, 979-C
1911-1919 Mfg. in San Leandro
351 Heidrick Ag. Museum Woodland CA.
617
Tom Madden Paso Robles CA.
727 Bright's Pioneer Museum Le Grand CA.
880 Wallace Ranch Woodland CA.
963 Dave Marcial Herald CA.