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Leo: The main work load of those old gas Farmalls, was quite quickly taken over by diesels in the 1960s. Farmers were looking for more fuel efficient hp, thus the old gas H, M, 300, etc. soon became the 2nd tractor, regelated to duty only in busy times of the year. Just to give you an example, when my dad got his first haybine, the Farmall 300 burned 3 IMP. gallons of gas per hour on that job. Later the Farmalls 560D and 656D ran that same haybine much better and faster on 1 IMP. gallon of diesel per hour. Needless to say the 300 never saw a lot of haybine work after that. I know a farmer had one diesel he worked year around. He had 5 or 6 Hs and 300s he used only in haying and manure spreading. Soon as those two jobs were done each year, he parked the gassers and removed batteries until next season. Most folks marvel at how long the Hs and Ms have lasted. There is no mystery, newer, lighter and much improved diesels with 3 point hitch made them obsolete. The 50s, 60s and 70s were also relatively good economic times down on the farm. Wasn't very hard to justify going out and buying that new diesel. You never traded of the H, M, 300, etc. Great to have around just as a spare. Yes, I for one believe there is an unusual high percentage of Hs and Ms with low hours. Much the same is happening today with 100hp+ two wheel drive tractors, 4x4 is rendering them obsolete.
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