Do you ever wonder?

As I go down this road of a make over of my 1959 3 bar grill D17 diesel, I often wonder how things were done at the factory? I found 1 video from 1957 showing the D17 going down the assembly line, other than frame and driveline which had been primed, the fuel tank, fenders, tool box, shroud, main shroud support and other frame work supporting those components were raw materials. Components from other manufacturers were black such as the radiator. No additional primer in the video. I guess that’s why the fenders rotted so bad, no paint on them or between the support bracket before assembly. Wish there would have been at least a thin rubber gasket between them. As I watched this video over and over, it appears to me that they covered the cooling fins with maybe cardboard on both sides, and then proceeded to paint the rest of the radiator orange while painting the shroud? At final assembly it appears to be black background through the grill. That is where I get my assumption they left the cooling fins black. So much of the tractor is together when it hit the paint line I’m amazed they were able to cover all components so well. I am disappointed the factory video did not have more coverage on painting, maybe a 10 second clip and then a short clip of final assembly. With it being an assembly line, how did they accomplish to paint the 2 tone wheels? Surely they didn’t mask them off as I am going to do? Just curious if anyone knows?

i dont know.... but i would have painted the wheels before the tires were installed and put on the tractor..

I do think about things like this too, couple things you gotta think about- this is our passion , life , or hobby- this was a persons job in a factory,, sure some had bad days!! 

That seams to always happen to me also. Having to go back and touch up after tightening wheel lugs, side panel bolts and so forth. I need to keep telling myself mine is a farm tractor and not a show piece lol. Pretty amazing what they did accomplish in those days. I also noticed the painter has a hose feeding his gun endless amounts of paint. I like to paint but not everyday for 8 hours. Would be nice to know how many came off the assembly line each day. That could be figured out pretty closely with total number built each year I guess.

Price was and is still a concern in manufacturing today. No doubt they made a good product look how many are still working farms. Everyone of ours are still farming or doing chores of some type. This thread is about how did they do it?

Most of us are old enough to remember NEW CARS from the late 50s or early 60s... I remember looking under and seeing a BARE FRAME, no paint.. Some had no paint on the BOTTOM of the floor pan......I remember when my dad bought a new Studebaker in 1962... first thing we did was stop by the hardware store and buy a big pie pan and a gallon of kitty litter......... didnt want the new car to "drip" engine oil all over the concrete floor in the garage !!..

Edited by steve(ill) - 09 Aug 2023 at 4:45pm