My dad and grand-dad sold Farmalls during the war [and after]. American agriculture was considered a BIG part of the "war effort," and there were no restrictions on farmers buying a new tractor during the war. How do you think America got fed, when most of the young men were being sent off to war? We sure as heck didn't import the food! The government actually encouraged farmers to become more efficient, and a tractor replacing a pair of mules was a great way to increase productivity, to feed both the nation AND the military men fighting for us.
Yes, there was gasoline rationing; but farmers could generally get a "C" card, which meant virtually unlimited gasoline for ag purposes. Plus, many of the wartime tractors were set up to run on kerosene or "distillate"...so those would start on gasoline, and then switch over.
But tractors weren't rationed...and NO, the "majority" of tractor production was NOT "allocated" to the military. This wasn't the Soviet Union, and the government didn't have GI's out there on government-owned tractors raising the crops. If a farmer could get by with a tractor on steel wheels, rather than insisting on rubber tires, tractors were NOT hard to get...AT ALL.
That's 54,576 Farmall M tractors built in "the war years."
Or 188,312 combined.
The US Military did NOT buy 180,000 Farmall H and M tractors during WWII. Nope. DID NOT HAPPEN. It would be more likely that FARMERS bought 180,000 Farmall H and M tractors, and the military bought 8,000 [or less].
It was the MILITARY tractors that were the rare ones.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Show Coverage: Central Illinois Strawberry Festival - by Cindy Ladage and Janna Seiz. Every year the coming of summer is highlighted by different events for different people. For some, it is heralded with the end of school, tilling the garden, or completion of the planting season. To us, connoisseurs of find food, antique tractors, farm toys, crafts, and downright fun, the annual Strawberry Festival means summer is here. Every year, in Carlinville, Illinois, the Macoupin County Historical Society and the Macoupin Agricultural Antique Association team up to fill th
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
