C.L. Best Steam Tractors

Please note:

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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 Royalty number.
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The Royalty number was issued after Holt and Best settled their litigation around the beginning of 1919.
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The serial number and royalty number may or may not have the same number of digits, in most cases the serial number will be a lower number than the royalty number.
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The royalty 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 received from machinery owners and from different publications.

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Daniel Best Catalog

Best All Steel Promotional Manual

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Best Steam Tractors

Best Traction Engine Manual

1889 Serial No. 3 Towle Bros. Texas Hill CA, USA. Wrecked Machine with parts missing

1894 Serial No. unk. Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, CA, USA.  Nickname "Old Dinah" un-restored non-operational

1894 Serial No. unk.  Las Vegas NV. un-restored non operational

1903-1906 Serial No. unk. Angles Camp Museum Angles Camp CA. un-restored non-operational

1905 Serial No. unk. 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. unk. Holt Caterpillar Houston TX. Un-restored Operational

1910 Serial No. 242 Smith Park Rexburg ID. un-restored non-operational

1910 Serial No. unk. Phillips Brothers Mill Oak Run CA. Un-restored Operational

1911 Serial No. 295 Phillips Bros. Mill Oak Run CA. un-restored non-operational