The Farmall A is a small one-plow row crop tractor produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1939 to 1947. The tractor was popular for its set of innovative features in a small, affordable implement. It succeeded the Farmall F-14. The A was incrementally updated with new model numbers as the Super A, 100, 130 and 140, but remained essentially the same machine. Like the smaller Farmall Cub, the Farmall A features a distinctive offset engine, displaced to the left over wide-set front wheels, to allow vision straight ahead. An International Harvester C113 4-cylinder in-line engine was used for early models, increased to an IH C123 with the A-1. The most significant change was the introduction of hydraulics with the Super A. The series was produced until 1973.
| Farmall A | |
|---|---|
 Farmall Super A | |
| Type | Row-crop agricultural tractor |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester |
| Production | 1939-1954 |
| Length | 106.8 inches (271 cm) |
| Width | 62 inches (160 cm) |
| Height | 64.25 inches (163.2 cm) (to wheel) |
| Weight | 3,570 pounds (1,620 kg) |
| Propulsion | Rear wheels |
| Engine model | International Harvester C113 |
| Gross power | 17 horsepower (13 kW) |
| PTO power | 18.34 horsepower (13.68 kW) (belt) |
| Drawbar power | 16.32 horsepower (12.17 kW) |
| Drawbar pull | 2,387 pounds (1,083 kg) |
| NTTL test | 329 |
| Preceded by | Farmall F-14 |
| Succeeded by | Super A/A-1, followed by Farmall 100/130/140 |
Description and production
editStyled by Raymond Loewy,[1][2] it was one of International Harvester's "letter series", with 117,522 produced over the 8-year run, replacing the Farmall F-14. The A was rated for one 14-inch (36 cm) plow.[3]
The Farmall A is equipped with the F-14's International Harvester C113 4-cylinder inline overhead valve engine, with a 113-cubic-inch (1,850-cubic-centimetre) displacement. The transmission contains five total gears in a sliding gear arrangement: four forward and one reverse, transmitted to a portal axle. The A featured a wide front wheel track with an offset engine, intended to allow for a better view ahead and branded "Cultivision."[4] The Model A had a 20-pound stamped-steel disk on the left rear wheel and a 170-pound cast-iron disk on the right wheel; the right front wheel had a bolted on weight. The offset engine benefited front-mounted cultivators, compared with the towed equipment used by competing Ford-Ferguson tractors.[3] As with other Farmall letter-series tractors, the design featured an integral frame and unitary construction, allowing entire assemblies to be replaced. Rear wheels on all models used a geared portal axle to provide sufficient ground clearance, and could be adjusted in width over a range of 40 inches (100 cm) to 68 inches (170 cm).[5][6]
A variants
editVersions were produced for both gasoline and kerosene fuel.[3][7] The Farmall B is essentially the same tractor, but with the engine centered for narrow front wheels, and the seat offset instead of the engine, with a wider range of rear wheel adjustment for two-row cultivation.[5] The AV hiboy variant, with 5 inches (13 cm) more clearance, was intended for vegetable crops, and the International A (or AI) for industrial use. The International A featured a foot throttle and a heavier front axle, and was chiefly used as a mower.[8][9] About 210,000 As and Bs were produced, selling for between $575 and $1,000.[10]
Super A
editFrom 1947 to 1954, International Harvester produced the Farmall Super A, with the same engine displacement, but with a hydraulic lift system. About 94,000 Super A tractors were produced, including Super AV variants.[6] In 1954 the Super A-1 was produced, using a higher-rpm International Harvester C123 engine, and was otherwise identical to the Super A.The Super A/A-1 was replaced by the Farmall 100.[11][12]
Farmall 100
edit| Farmall 100 | |
|---|---|
 A Farmall 100 on a flatbed | |
| Type | Row-crop agricultural tractor |
| Manufacturer | International Harvester |
| Production | 1954-1956 |
| Length | 107 inches (270 cm) |
| Width | 62 |
| Height | 65 inches (170 cm) (to steering wheel) |
| Weight | 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) operating, 4,333 pounds (1,965 kg) ballasted |
| Propulsion | Rear wheels |
| Engine model | International Harvester C123 (gasoline) |
| Gross power | 22 horsepower (16 kW) |
| PTO power | 20.13 horsepower (15.01 kW) (belt) |
| Drawbar power | 17.83 horsepower (13.30 kW) |
| Drawbar pull | 2,503 pounds (1,135 kg) |
| NTTL test | 537 |
| Preceded by | Farmall Super A-1 |
| Succeeded by | Farmall 130 |
The Farmall 100 was introduced in 1955 as an update to the A-1. It was identical to the A-1 in all respects, but with a new grille and raised chrome lettering.[13] Engines could still be configured for gasoline, kerosene or distillate.[14] Total production was 16,191, with an additional 1,057 high-clearance models. The IH 100 was produced as an industrial tractor.[15][16]
Farmall 130
editThe Farmall 130 was produced from 1956 to 1958. It differed from the 100 in having white trim and a higher compression ratio.[17] The IH 130 was produced as an industrial tractor, and a high-crop version, called the 130 HiClear, was produced.[18][19] About 15,000 130s were produced, selling for about $2,000.[20]
Farmall 140
editThe Farmall 140 was similar to the 130, but with a 12-volt electrical system in lieu of six volts. It was produced from 1958 to 1973. In 1963 it was restyled in a squared-off manner to match larger Farmall tractors.[21] Total production was 66,290. The IH 140 was produced as an industrial tractor, and a high-crop version, called the 140 Hi-Clear, was produced.[22][23][24] Sale prices were between $2,400 and $4,300.[20]
Comparable products
editComparable products to the A included the Ford 9N, Allis-Chalmers C, John Deere H, and Case VC.[25] The Massey Pacer was similar to the 100.[13] The Ford 640 was comparable to the 130.[17] The Ford 651 and Oliver Super 66 were similar to the 140 and 240.[26]
References
edit- ^ Pripps, Robert N. (2020). The Complete Book of Farmall Tractors. Motor Books. pp. 58–59. ISBN 978-0-7603-6389-8.
- ^ Klancher, Lee (2017). The Farmall Dynasty (1.2 ed.). Octane Press. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-9821733-0-5.
- ^ a b c Pripps pp. 59-63
- ^ Klancher, p. 109
- ^ a b Klancher, pp. 110-113
- ^ a b "Farmall Letter Series". SUNY Fredonia. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ "Farmall A". TractorData. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Klancher, pp. 115-16
- ^ "Farmall B". TractorData. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Pripps, p. 109
- ^ Pripps p. 92
- ^ "Farmall Super A". TractorData. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ a b Pripps, p. 114
- ^ Klancher pp. 180-181
- ^ "Farmall 100". TractorData. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "International Harvester 100". TractorData. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ a b Pripps, p. 128
- ^ "Farmall 130". TractorData. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "International Harvester 130". TractorData. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ a b Pripps, p. 137
- ^ Pripps, p. 131
- ^ "Farmall 140". TractorData. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
- ^ "Farmall 140". TractorSpecs. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "International Harvester 140". TractorData. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
- ^ Pripps, p. 60
- ^ Pripps, p. 132
External links
edit- NTTL Test #329 - Farmall A - Gasoline at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory archive
- NTTL Test $330 - Farmall A - Distillate at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory archive
- NTTL Test #537 - McCormick Farmall Model 100 at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory archive
- NTTL Test #617 - McCormick Farmall 130 Gasoline at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory archive
