TRACTOR TUESDAY #2 — FARMALL H

Welcome back to Tractor Tuesday!

Each week, Arizona Old Iron highlights a classic antique tractor, sharing its history, specifications, and the stories that helped shape American agriculture.

This week’s featured tractor is one of the most successful row-crop tractors ever built…

FEATURED TRACTOR: FARMALL H

Manufacturer: International Harvester (Farmall)

Built: 1939–1953

Factory: Rock Island, Illinois

Type: Row-Crop Tractor

Drive: 2WD

SPECIFICATIONS

The Farmall H was powered by an International Harvester 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled gasoline engine displacing 152 cubic inches (2.5L).

Horsepower: Approximately 24 drawbar horsepower and 26–28 belt horsepower, depending on the model year and fuel type.

Transmission: 5 forward speeds and 1 reverse.

Notable features included:

• Adjustable wide or narrow front axle options

• Cultivision design for excellent row visibility

• Belt pulley and rear PTO

• Optional hydraulic “Lift-All” system

• Available in gasoline, distillate, kerosene, and LP gas versions

A LITTLE HISTORY

Introduced in 1939, the Farmall H was designed to replace the successful Farmall F-20 while providing farmers with more power, improved comfort, and modern features.

Built for medium-sized farms, the H became a favorite because it could handle a wide variety of jobs—from plowing and cultivating to mowing, planting, and hauling wagons. Its versatility made it an ideal “all-around” tractor for thousands of American family farms.

The Farmall H remained in production for 14 years before being succeeded by the Farmall 300 in 1954. Today, it remains one of the most popular tractors among collectors and restorers.

INTERESTING FACTS

Nearly 392,000 Farmall H tractors were built, making it one of the best-selling tractors in International Harvester history.

The Farmall H was tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory, where it delivered approximately 24 drawbar horsepower, proving itself to be a dependable performer for everyday farm work.

The H introduced many farmers to International Harvester’s hydraulic Lift-All system, allowing operators to raise mounted equipment with the pull of a lever.

Thousands of Farmall H tractors are still running today, and replacement parts remain widely available thanks to their popularity with collectors and restorers.

Arizona Old Iron — Preserving the History of Yesterday’s Iron, One Tractor at a Time.