100 YEARS OF FARMALL

100 YEARS OF LEGACY — ONE THAT REVOLUTIONIZED FARMING.
International Harvester engineer Bert R. Benjamain - Visionary behind the Farmall tractor; First Farmall tractor hand-built prototype; McCormick-Deering Farmall logo
1923

THE BEGINNING OF FARMALL

International Harvester engineer Bert R. Benjamin has a vision for a tractor that can do it all. A tractor that can replace horses. A revolutionary design that will change farming forever.

The first prototype is hand-built. By 1930, 200 Farmall® tractors are rolling off the Rock Island, Illinois, production line every day.

Fact or Fiction

In the 1920s, over one-quarter of the U.S. labor force was farmers.

Fact

27% of the labor force was farmers. Today, it's only 1.6%

  • Black and white image of two men looking at the 1931 Farmall F series tractor in dealership
  • Black and white image of a man painting a 1931 Farmall F series
  • McCormick-Deering Farmall 12 ad circa 1931; 1931 Farmall F series ad
1931

THE F SERIES

Innovation is at the heart of every Farmall, and the Farmall F series tractor launches after being designed with a more powerful three-plow tractor for farmers with 200+ acres, along with innovations like a four-speed transmission and gasoline engine.

Another iconic moment comes a few years later when the Farmall goes red — No. 50 Motor Red to be exact. That color continues to be a staple of the Farmall and Case IH brand.

Fact or Fiction

In 1924, farmers could purchase a shiny, new Farmall tractor for under $1,000.

Fact

A total of 200 Farmall tractors were hand-built in 1924 and sold for $950

  • 1939 Farmall A "Culti-Vision" ad; 1939 Farmall family ad featuring the Farmall A, Famrall B, and Farmall H
  • 1939 Farmall schematics
  • 1939 Farmall tractor full color drawing
1939

THE LETTER SERIES

The introduction of the second-generation Farmall tractor, the famous letter series, includes A and B (small-sized), H (middle-sized) and M (large-sized) tractors and features the new Culti-Vision seating for the A, B and BN models. Culti-Vision is a revelation for farmers, as it changes the way we look at fields by moving the operator's seat to the side of the tractor for a better view while row cropping.

The letter series' modern design includes three silver stripes and a three-dimensional nameplate by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy (creator of the first Air Force One livery and the "Man on Tractor" International Harvester logo). Before the last Farmall H tractor rolls off the line, more than 390,000 are produced, making it one of the most popular row-crop tractor models in history.

Fact or Fiction

In addition to his revolutionary designs for Farmall, Raymond Loewy designed for NASA.

Fact

Raymond Loewy and his team collaborated with NASA on Skylab, the United States' first temporary space station.

  • Black and white image 1947 Case IH Farmall Super A tractor
  • 1947 Farmall M-TA tractor ad of man riding Farmall in field
  • Farmall tractor on trailer with Two men standing in front of trailer
1947

THE SUPER SERIES

The super series begins with the Super A tractor and is followed by the Super C in 1951, the Super M in 1952 and the Super H in 1953.

The super series receives numerous improvements and upgrades, these tractors largely follow the design of the predecessors, and like them, they are at the top of the class and built to last.

The Super C series introduces many of these enhancements, including International Harvester's Fast-Hitch: a quick-connect 2-point hydraulic hitch system, with a line of matching implements.

Fact or Fiction

The Farmall Super M-TA was named that due to the popularity of the animated Superman series of the 1940s.

Fiction

What made the Farmall Super M-TA so "super" was the industry-first torque amplifier, enabling shifting between two gears on the go or under load.

  • 1954 Farmall tractor being utilized by farmer; 1954 Farmall tractor being well maintained by owner; Farmall 300 series logo circa 1954
  • Two men sitting on Farmall tractors in field
  • Two men talking while one sits on a Farmall
1954

THE NUMBER SERIES

The number system for Farmall is introduced. Super A and Super C tractors became the 100 and 200 series tractors.

The Farmall 560 tractor is one of the most popular models sold after its release in the United States, while the Farmall 1206 tractor is the first row crop tractor with over 100 horsepower, making it arguably the world's most powerful and toughest all-purpose tractor of this era.

The Farmall 706 and 806 tractors make their debut in 1963. The 706 boasts a new transmission that has a four-speed main box and a two-speed range box, an optional torque amplifier (TA) that can move between gears without a clutch, power steering, and a hydraulically actuated PTO. With all these upgrades, the 706 is an instant Farmall favorite.

Fact or Fiction

The 1965 Farmall 1206 Turbo was the first 2WD row crop tractor to exceed 50 horsepower.

Fiction

The Farmall 1206 Turbo was actually the first 2WD tractor to exceed 100 horsepower, an impressive feat of engineering for the time.

  • Black and white image of a man and woman celebrating the 5 millionth Farmall tractor to roll off the production line
  • Black and white image of group gathered to celebrate the 5 millionth Farmall to roll of the production line
  • 5 Millionth Farmall ad featuring the Farmall 1066 Turbo
1974

THE 5 MILLION MILESTONE

At precisely 9 a.m. February 1, 1974, the 5,000,000th tractor bearing the Farmall nameplate rolls off the production line at the Farmall Works plant in Rock Island, Illinois — the first tractor manufacturer to officially produce past this threshold. That tractor is the Farmall 1066 Turbo.

Fact or Fiction

The Farmall H is the No. 1 bestselling row crop tractor of all time.

Fact

Over 420,000 Farmall H and Super H tractors were sold between 1939 and 1954.

2003 Farmall tractor
2003

FARMALL REBORN

After 80 years of firsts, Farmall is once again primed to revolutionize modern farming. This time as a line of compact tractors intended for the needs of smaller farms and residential acreage — continuing the legacy of innovation and versatility into the next century.

2012 Farmall tractor moving a hay bale
2012

THE NUMBER SERIES: REINVENTED

The legacy of unwavering innovation continues with the reintroduction of the Farmall A, B and C series tractors.

Ranging in size, like they did before, these tractors join utility engineering with advanced technology for today's modern farming demands and the needs of a new generation of farmers.

Modern Farmall tractor working in field
TODAY

FARMALL TURNS 100

With over 30 models ranging from the compact series to the 100A series and everything in between, the Farmall will always be the go-to tractor for all your can-do needs. Like the very first Farmall, the current series of tractors are designed to be versatile, powerful and productive — everything a farmer could ever need, all in one legendary machine.

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