Farmall C demonstrator

[J Bouchard]

Is there any source for the serial number range used in the 1950 farmall demonstrator tractors?
 

[Greg K]

A generally accepted range of numbers is from 47010 to 54111. There is no record of the exact numbers so this is an approximation, and maybe not all in this number range were painted white. The only real proof is old white paint, usually found in hidden areaslike under the hood, between the hydraylic reservoir and engine, inside the belt pulley, or other protected places.
 

[CNKS]

The serial has to be in the range Greg gave. The first 3 months of 1950. In other words the serial plus the white paint. Unfortunately the one who gets my originally white C will have no proof but the serial, because when I repaint I remove all the paint. If I sell it while alive I have pictures of the white paint. My repainted demo is red. However the serial will have to do on similar tractors, as no one really knows which were not painted red. I have read Guy Fay's interpretation, and he says they were painted in a group of consecutive white tractors, then IH might have stopped and restarted when they needed more -- apparantly no absolute proof of this. I never have liked the white tractors, if it worked for IH that is fine, they simply look wrong to me. I do like the gold demos, but on both it is only paint, nothing else was changed.
 

[LenND]

CNKS, what would keep somebody from taking a red IH in that series. Stripped it down like you do and painted it white. Can't tell by serial number so can't prove it wasn't originally white. Right? Just a thought. Len
 

[CNKS]

That's why the serial AND the paint is needed. But, no one can prove it isn't originally red because there is no official record of the serials. Several years ago I might have been the first or second one to give that serial number range on this forum (2002). Richard Lantis (diseased) gave me the range; he was the son of an IH dealer who inherited the dealership and was an expert on the white tractors, and anything else IH. He actually delivered a white C to a customer in 1950 when he was about 10. His dad told him to keep it in 3rd gear, he put it in 4th and almost rolled it the driveway in front of his dad and the customer.