Historic data

[Jack Kline]

I recently talked to a John Deere Collector and he told me that if you write to John Deere Hqs with a serial number they can tell you when it was made and the daeler it was shipped to from the factory. My question is --Does International Harvestor provide the same infor for their products. I have a 1954 MTA and I would like to have that info on it. can anyone help me?

 

[Al L. in Wisc.]

Sad to say, but by my reading the last four months or so ago, no. With postings on demolition of old IH/IHC facilities, interest increase regarding histories of tractors and usually folks stated records don't exist. Yup '...why keep anything like that around, nobody will ever want that' I hear that sad comment more and more as I age each day and my interest in aging stuph/stuff increases. On a + note, the Wisc. State Histerical (I like to use that word, even though I know it isn't correct) Society has a wealth of IH/IHC material archived for viewing in Madison. Wish I had a better reply for you. :^(

 

[Anonymous-0]

No, if IHC ever kept that info it is buried in a warehouse at the University of Wisconsin. Some relative info is uncovered there occasionally, but don't hold your breath.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Pardon me, the WisKonsin Histerical Sosiety.

 

[Harold H]

Jack,

It is my understanding that all of the sales records, with information as you want, were disposed of when Tennaco/Case/IH purchased the farm equipment division. All of the technical information was given to the Wisconsin Historical Society as mentioned. Lots of information available there but no sales records.

Harold H

 

[Chadd]

Well, International Harvester might have helped you, but I doubt Case IH can. As Harold mentioned, I am pretty sure most of the sales records were gotten rid of during the merger, as Case wouldn't want several warehouses being filled with paperwork dating back to the 1940's. Your only chance of finding that information would be the previous owner. Some dealers kept their sales records from the 50's, but then you need to know which dealer it came from to begin with. Also, some dealers wrote down tractor serial numbers in the cover of parts manuals with the owner's name so the owner didn't need to have the tractor serial number memorized. So many IH dealers went under in 50 years, though, that getting info from a dealer is a pretty long shot. God only knows where that tractor has been in the last 50+ years. The only reason I know where our W6 came from is because we were the second owner (well third if you count the dealer we bought it from in the 60's) and W6's were so unusual in our row crop heavy area, that my uncles and grandfather knew who got rid of it in the first place. To this day, there are only 3 other names in the dealer W6 parts manual besides ours.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Jack, Just like the others said IH didn't keep those kind of records. On the other hand FYI............ Go find an old Case tractor and Case/IH can tell you everything about that tractor, build specs, date of build, dealer sent to, etc, etc! Won'thelp you here but maybe somewhere in the future.
Later,
John A.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I sent my H tractor serial number to the Wisconsin Historical Society (via email), and received the following letter:

"Based on the information you provided, your Farmall H was built at Farmall Works in Rock Island, Ill in February, 1950. Enclosed is the price list for Farmall H tractors and attachments closest to that date. Since the copy is under five pages, we are sending it to you at no charge".

They sent me 2 pages of prices for whatever you wanted to add to tractors in those days; belt pulley-$45.50, swinging drawbar-$5.25, lights-$68.50, LiftAll-$56.00, fenders-$15.75 pr, PTO-$30.25, weights-$28.25 pr, etc. I know most people think tractors came with this stuff on it, but dealers had to order all these things so customers would have what was needed. Even the muffler cost $3.75! Base tractor, with 11X38 rears and 15.5x16 4 ply fronts, listed at $1514.50 and weight was stated as 3520 lbs.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I forgot to add to my previous note: They did not give me the dealer's name who ordered the H, nor who purchased the tractor.