The 560 gets blamed because it was a big public failure and they didn't respond to it quick enough, they had tractors broken across the country and no idea how to fix them. The year the 560 came out also happened to be the first year John Deere sold more tractors than IH. If Deere hadn't had the new generation tractors waiting in the wing ready to deliver a 1-2 punch to IH it might not of been so bad. But Deere had the new generation out and all IH had to compete was a tractor with a sullied reputation. IH suffered from management problems and the GM syndrome- we're the biggest and we can do no wrong. During this time the company was lead by Fowler McCormick, we could have an intelligent discussion how maybe his name and the stock his family held allowed some one to lead the company that shouldn't of. IH also had a case of post war exuberance combined with a need to find new markets to grow into to absorb production capability they gained during the war and what became available after the war and they seemed to find going into new markets mare attractive than fighting for market share where they already were big. They never regained what they had after the 560 fiasco, loyal customers left them in droves and the new follow on tractors (806 & 706) were late to the market and playing catch-up to Deere. There is a list of IH dealer from the late 40's available on line via the Wisconsin Historical society, it appears to be documentation from an anti-trust class action suit. They might of felt they couldn't expand in the AG market without further scrutiny from congress. I have participated in conversations claiming the IH 2 point system was superior to the 3 point, Case Eagle claw or AC snap coupler. I have read that Deere wanted to license it and use it on their tractors but IH refused, either hoping to prop up their aging tractor line or not wanting to help improve the competitor's equipment. This weakened them long term and then a perfect storm of poor equipment, a diminishing farm economy a long and costly strike that ended just in time for another round of depressed prices in agriculture left them with little alternatives. We can talk about the divisions they should of closed or sold but their were also a few that they seemed to leave just before a boom (light trucks, lawn equipment).
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Today's Featured Article - Listening to Your Tractor - by Curtis Von Fange. Years ago there was a TV show about a talking car. Unless you are from another planet, physically or otherwise, I don’t think our internal combustion buddies will talk and tell us their problems. But, on the other hand, there is a secret language that our mechanical companions readily do speak. It is an interesting form of communication that involves all the senses of the listener. In this series we are going to investigate and learn the basic rudimentary skills of understanding this lingo.
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