A Few Questions

Next, I would like to kow what the intended purpose was for the Farmall B. I think it is about the ugliest small tractor I ever looked at! I look at it and think...why was it ever made? It just seems that the C/Super C is a more logical choice beyond the A models.

Now to add my comments on super a and belly mower. Mine is a 59 in and rear discharge so i can see the right side and usually overlap the cut area a little.
Don't know anything about the B.

I live in hilly country so the narrow front are not particulary safe( for my taste). So i stick to the wide fronts. Yep some are prettier than others, but they are all history.And i am glad folks are aout there trying to save them or rescue them whichever the case may be.

I own a BN and use it with a 6' woods belly mower and I wouldn't trade it for anything else. I always felt the A and B had a better balance of power vs. traction, while the Cs I have run seemed a little under powered for its traction.

My only complaint with the BN/woods combination is that it's hard to see the line between the mowed and unmowed grass. Either the seat should be on the left, or the mower should be offset to the left and discharge to the right so you can use the 'cultivision'.

IH also ended up with three different implement systems based on the width of the mounting on the drop housings- A, B, and BN, which was totally crazy. H and M implements were interchangeable, even though different sized tractors, but A, B and BN implements were only close cousins, which is poor manufacturing strategy.

IH started engineering the C in late 1939/1940, and had prototypes operational at least by 1942. Production was of course delayed by WWII.

The C was of course not easy to get on or off (except mine which has a nifty step added by my grandfather). As far as quality of cultivating and manouverability, it was a great tractor. Ergonomics left something to be desired, you ended up with a neckache if cultivating all day- the Allis B/C was superior in that regard, but that's the only superiority I would give the Allis, and I've used both the Allis and Farmall C extensively for cultivating back in the farming days. I've only driven a B a few minutes, getting on and off is easier than the other small Farmalls, but haven't cultivated with an A or B- I've pulled wagons quite a bit with Super As in tobacco, not a bad tractor for the purpose.

Have you seen any pictures of the "Prototype C" ?

It would be interesting to know the evolution of the features eventually incorporated into the production C.

The early experimentals were known as Farmall Es, and although I don't know of photos, it is known from some other records that they had live PTOs.

Live PTO... wouldn't that have made them a dream. I'm sure cost came into the equation once again.

Thanks for the reply.

Your sure got your drawers wrapped around the PTO didn't you! If it was so great, why aren't they still making it? Anything with all those attributes and superiorities could never lose it's popularity...your description is of the Holy Grail, not an obsolete tractor nobody misses...but you. I started a discussion here and didn't ask to be denigrated with your implications that I am stupid, unlearned and terribly uniformed. Your efforts to expound your wisdom is laced with the grace of a near sighted boor.

And I agree, the "B" is butt ugly.

When I was a teenager, I knew a man who had a B and it was rough back then..30+ years ago. he had an old Ford of some description (like some people, they all look the same to me) and I think he may have pulled a wagon with the B but don't think he had an equipment for it at all. I wouldn't be surprised if he still has both. There tons of C's and Super C's in this area and many H's and I think every farm had a Cub or A/SA to cultivate tobacco with. The B was a rare bird to see. By far the old Ford's were most common..in fact I think they were hatched out on these small farms around here. I have ran a few old 8N's and 600's..thank god most have been converted into hubcaps by now..hehehe!

steveormary