I have an interesting story to tell (at least I think it's interesting) about a Dad and his son and two Farmall H tractors...I always knew that Dad owned an H at one time, and so did Grandpa, but never knew all the details of the one my Dad owned. I think it was 2002 when I decided I should buy an H with a mounted mower on it from a relative - "ran when parked" - ended up spending almost a year rebuilding the tractor and the mower, but had a useful machine when I was done. The tractor I put together has serial number 101816, parts tractor is 101821 - both early '42 models. My tractor now has live hydraulics, power steering and a Schwartz wide front end, the 1110 mower works great as well. It is my first tractor and I paid for 100% of it. Here is a picture: 
After I finished my tractor, Dad talked about his H more often and I learned more details about it. It was the first tractor he ever bought with 100% of his own money. He used it for a few years on a square baler until the engine gave out and he parked it for about a year. Then over one winter he completely overhauled the engine (kinda like me) and ended up selling it - to a relative. Nope, it's not the same tractor I bought - different relative. So I contacted this relative in 2003 and asked if he still had my Dad's tractor. Yes, he did. No, it's not for sale - still uses it too much to get rid of it. But he would trade me for a different H or an M. Well, I couldn't afford to buy another tractor and Dad wasn't really interested in getting it back... Fast forward to 2006 and my relative calls me up, he found a Super M and bought it so my Dad's H is for sale. My wife and I went to look at it in July (I had never seen the tractor before in my life). Looks better than my H and has the IH wide front on it, runs good, good rubber. Serial number 122068 X3B -another '42 model! So we agreed on a price and a payment plan (I still don't have a lot of cash laying around). My Dad didn't know I was doing any of this, until another relative let it slip about two months ago. I finally got it paid for the beginning of this month so I made arrangements to pick it up while I was home on vacation. Dad went with me, saying he wasn't really sure it was a good idea to spend the money when we already have an H. Well, once he saw his tractor his attitude changed and he was grateful that I insisted on buying it back. He plans on working on it this winter in the same garage he used 30+ years ago to rebuild the engine, the same garage I used 4 years ago to rebuild mine. Anyway, that is my long-winded story of a Father and son who, 30+ years apart, fixed up a '42 Farmall H as their first tractor. I hope to keep both of them and pass them on to someone in the family someday. Here are pictures of Dad's H, we swapped to a narrow front: 
Click the link below for a video clip of Dad driving his tractor.
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