[AT] Tractor collecting question - wishing

[Al Jones]

Well what I posted was pretty redundant...  :)  But I agree with Terry, I
think there are others around, scattered throughout tobacco country, people
just don't know what they have.  And I have seen some people ask some
pretty insane prices for them.  There was one on Tractorhouse.com back in
the spring priced at 10,000.  The tractor is not there now, I wonder if
someone actually paid that????

If I was to ever run across a Super A-1, I would restore it like my Super
A--as near like factory as I could.  What I really want is a later model
Super A.  I would add a fast hitch, IH deluxe seat, bigger pistons, etc.and
then a nice--but not museum-quality--paint job to make it like the Super
A's looked in later years---with some farmer updates.  This is essentially
what happened to my tractor (except for the fast hitch) between 1948 and
when I restored it.

Al


> [Original Message]
> From: charliehill <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
> To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Date: 12/19/2009 11:09:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor collecting question - wishing
>
> Ok, I found this over on Smokstak.  Now I know.
>
> Charlie
>
> The Super A-1 is a cross-over between the Letter Series and 100 Series 
> tractors. It is made of parts from three different tractors. The 
> undercarriage and drive train are the same as a 100, with all having the
"Z" 
> casting date and an FCM (123 ci) engine. The radiator, with water pump --

> which the Super A does not have, is from a Super C. The sheet metal is
from 
> a Super A. The noticeable difference between the Super A and A-1 is the 
> distance between the fuel tank and the hydrualic reservoir... the Super A 
> has about a 3/4" space between the two, while the A-1 has about a 2"
space. 
> This is due to the taller radiator and grill, and the need to raise the
fuel 
> tank to keep the 'body lines' on the same level. From what I have been
able 
> to gather, the Super A-1 is a rare find. Some folks I have talked to, who 
> have been involved with the IH letter series for a number (more than 40 
> years) have never seen one. Supposedly, the McCormick Farmall folks were 
> trying to rush the 100 series to the farmers to compete with some other 
> tractor manufacturers and didn't quite have the 100 series tractor
complete 
> in 1954, so they 'fashioned' the A-1 to get it out faster. As well, there 
> may have been less a desire on the part of farmers to accept the 'new'
100 
> series tractor, since it still sported the Super A decals, and were very 
> reluctant to buy the A-1. From what I know, the completed 100 was first
sold 
> in the latter part of 1954 (about 1200 tractors) thru 1956. As a result
of 
> slow sales of the A-1 in 1954, it has been suggested by some folks in IH 
> circles, that the vast majority of the approximately 1957 A-1s produced
were 
> shipped / sold overseas (Australia, New Zealand, South America, Europe). 
> With all that said, there may have been less than 200 A-1s that saw
action 
> in the USA. Again, I don't have factual / first-hand proof of what all I
am 
> saying, but I have spoken with IH collectors and enthusiasts, and that is 
> what they say. I do have an A-1 and am near completion of restoring the 
> tractor. I have done a lot of research and talked to a lot of folks and I 
> know of only 7 A-1s that exist, for sure. I believe there are plenty
others, 
> but folks don't know what they have, because they don't know -- what they 
> don't know. If anyone is looking for an A-1, I believe the best bets are 
> wherever tobacco wass raised during that period (KY, TN, NC, VA, SC).
Please 
> let me know if you have any questions about the A-1 that I can help with. 
> Terry
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "charliehill" <charliehill at embarqmail.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group"
<at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor collecting question - wishing
>
>
> > Don and Al,  you guys have got me now.  What is a Farmall A-1?
> >
> > Charlie
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Don Bowen" <don.bowen at earthlink.net>
> > To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> > <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 10:46 AM
> > Subject: Re: [AT] Tractor collecting question - wishing
> >
> >
> >> More than than for collecting I want a work tractor.  I have a Ford
3000
> >> that is used on a brush hog and a box blade.  I am looking for a
Farmall
> >> A, A-1, 140, etc with a good belly mounted finish mower.  Both will be
> >> used to maintain some property in Missouri.
> >>
> >> Now if a really good Ferguson 30 showed up I would be hard pressed to
> >> turn it down.
> >>
> >> -- 
> >> Don Bowen           KI6DIU
> >> http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
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