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The F-12 came out in 1932, but apparently IHC didn't have an engine ready. They used a Waukesha flat-head for a while. The IHC overhead-valve engine came out in 1933. F-12 production extended into 1938, but that was also the year that the F-14 came out (same tractor, higher engine speed, gears re-ratioed to give about same ground speeds as F-12, steering wheel raised up, long brake levers). I always thought that the F series was phased out BEFORE the letter series was put on the market, but according to Baumheckel and Borghoff in their "International Harvester Farm Equipment Product History 1831-1985," the F-14 was made into 1940 to SN 155401, and so were the F-20 (to SN 148810) and F-30 (to SN 30221). I don't always believe everything I read in all the pretty books that come on the market, but this one looks well-researched and I am inclined to accept the information.
Not everybody was enthralled with the H when it came out. It seemed underpowered compared to a rubber-tired F-20, which had a LOT bigger engine and therefore much more torque. This may have been at least part of the reason why IH continued with the older models. I remember some griping of this sort back then, when I was getting old enough to drive and thought the H and M were the most beautiful tractors I had ever seen. I still think that, but I have spent a good many hours on both F-20 and H, and I can definitely state that the F-20 (on rubber) can do more work than the H. As far as comfort goes, the F-20 is from the caveman era, while the H is
quite comfortable for its time.
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