International Harvester Company was formed in 1902, Cryrus H. McCormick
was President and Charles Deering was Chairman of the Board.
IH manufactured various types of stationary engines, different types of
tillage, planting, and harvesting equipment, wheel, and crawler type
tractors, construction equipment, trucks, milking equipment, and even
household products consisting of air conditioners, freezers, and
refrigerators.
The first all “International” tractors appeared in 1908, the “Mogul”
and “Titan”.
The all purpose “Farmall” tractor appeared on the market in 1924, the
F-12, F-20, F-30 in 1932, the F-14 tractor in 1938 and 1939
IH painted the early tractors grey then changed to the familiar “red”
color in mid 1936.
In 1939, the second “generation” Farmall tractor appeared, The A, B, H,
and M, followed by the C, MD, Cub, W-4, W-6, and W-9. The “letter” model
tractors, produced from 1939 to 1954 are the most well known IH tractors
as many are still being used today.
In 1955, IH changed from the letter designation to numbers, 100, 130,
200, 230, 300, 350, 400, 450, 600, and 650.
In 1958, IH changed the design of their farm tractors and went to the
model 460, 560, and 660.
IH was one of the few companies that produced the whole entire
product. They did not buy parts from outside vendors. They produced
everything in their own factories down to the nuts and bolts used for
assembly of the tractors and equipment.
IH continued to build on tractor improvements until the agricultural
division was sold to the J.I. Case company (Tenneco, Inc.) in 1985,
becoming CaseIH.
In 1999, Case merged with New Holland and the company is now called CNH.
Case Corporation sold
off assets in England resulting in McCormick International USA, their
tractors are sold as McCormicks.
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