Super A-I

Going to look at a Super A-I in a day or three, has the foot throttle, 123 c.i. engine and square front axle. Is said to run good, has a low growl in 3rd and 4th gears, and supposedly good paint.

Anything specific I should look at other than normal stuff, (cracks, welds, bad leaks ect.)

I will make note of the s/n and take a few pics.

Thanks, Adrian

Adrain: It did not have C-123 from the factory unless serial number is above 356001.

Hi Hugh,

I looked on tractordata after I posted this, They claim the A-I started at S/N 356001. Is this a known fact, or were there SA-I before this S/N that came with the 113?
I am going to write down the S/N when I go to look at it, just for reference if nothing else, but if it"s in as good of condition as he says it is, I"m not even going to dicker with the price, (which I"ll let y"all know after I buy it, with pics of course).

Adrian

(quoted from post at 15:22:26 08/17/09) Hi Hugh,

I looked on tractordata after I posted this, They claim the A-I started at S/N 356001. Is this a known fact, or were there SA-I before this S/N that came with the 113?
I am going to write down the S/N when I go to look at it, just for reference if nothing else, but if it"s in as good of condition as he says it is, I"m not even going to dicker with the price, (which I"ll let y"all know after I buy it, with pics of course).

Adrian

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Adrian:

Not to intrude here, but are you confusing a Super A-I (eye) with a Super A-1 (one)? Two different tractors. The Super A-I is the industrial version of the super A with square front axle, foot throttle, etc. It could have been manufactured any number of years.

The Super A-1 is the final version of the Super A, manufactured later in 1954 with the 123 ci engine, water pump, taller hood, grill and gas tank. Usually had round front axle and no foot throttle. Not normally an industrial tractor, although I suppose it could have been if manufactured in the same series and time frame as Super A-1.

Super A-1 (one) is the really rare one, only serial number 356001 and above; Super A-I, while not common, is not nearly so rare. Hope this helps you.....

mike

Mike,
You're not intruding by any means, I welcome all information and ideas.
By the add this guy had in the paper you could not tell if they printed it as 1 or I, but I talked to him today before I came to work and he said he has restored several farmalls in the past 15 yrs. and said it has the foot throttle, square front axle, the 123 ci engine, and is a '54, the only year built.
I will know a lot more when I go to look at it, and thanks for the info.

Adrian

(quoted from post at 15:47:30 08/17/09) Mike,
You're not intruding by any means, I welcome all information and ideas.
By the add this guy had in the paper you could not tell if they printed it as 1 or I, but I talked to him today before I came to work and he said he has restored several farmalls in the past 15 yrs. and said it has the foot throttle, square front axle, the 123 ci engine, and is a '54, the only year built.
I will know a lot more when I go to look at it, and thanks for the info.

Adrian

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In that case, it could possibly be a Super A-1 Industrial; the rarest of the rare.... Hmmmm! would that be a Super A-1-I, or a Super AI-1? I don't know, but either way, a very, rare, rare tractor. Regardless, would still have a serial number above 356000. By all means, let us know.
mike

Adrain: I'll try not to confuse this. Super A-I were built during the entire production run of Super A, from 1947 until 1954. Super A-1 were built in 1954 after serial number 356001 and there were only 1957 built. I understand, and I'm not certain if this is accurate, only two of those 1957 tractors were Super A-1-I.

All Super A's prior to 356001 came from factory with C-113 engine, however all of those engines can be changed to C-123 or 3-1/8" bore.

Mike is right on the quickest way to spot a Super A-1 or A-1-I, because of the higher radiator, the fuel tank is close to 2-1/2" above the touch control unit. Regular Super A is only about 1/2" clearence between tank and touch control.

Good luck if you acquire a Super A-1-I, you'll indeed have a very rare tractor even if more than two were built. By the way, on a Super A-1 or A-1-I, the model number stamped with engine serial number will FMC and the numbers will be same sequence as Super C. First Super A-1, serial number 356001 had FMC engine number 206628. This information comes from IH records, not Tractor Data or what someone wrote in a book for profit rather than accuracy.

I thank both of you for all of the information, which I will be saving as soon as I get home, and I will take measurements off my '53 SA at that tank to touch control area and grill/rad. height, as well as all this info when I go look at it.
It will be Thursday at the latest that I get to see it. I will let you both know about it and with pictures.

Thanks, Adrian

Adrain: Thanks, if its truly what we think it may be, I'd love to see a photo.

(quoted from post at 17:11:43 08/17/09) Adrain: Thanks, if its truly what we think it may be, I'd love to see a photo.

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Hugh:
That thing could be as rare as chicken lips.
mike

NOTE -- The chassis serial number for a Farmall Super A1 has the prefix FAA-1, the engine serial has the prefix FCM, denoting the C123 engine. The INTERNATIONAL Super A-1 (it is not a Farmall) has a chassis serial prefix of IAA-1, and an engine serial prefix of ICM, also a 123. To confuse matters further, the square axle and the foot throttle were options on both the Super A and the Super A-1. Although the International A, Super A and Super A-1 are "industrial" tractors, there are no designations such as "Super A-1 I" and so on. The IAA-1 takes care of that.

Sorry, hit submit key twice.

There were a total of 1957 Super A-1's built in 1954. Of this total, 1672 were SA-1's, 58 were SA1-I's and 228 were SAV-1's.

I would look this tractor over with a fine tooth comb. All the cast numbers must be Z. In addition, look at the enging casting numbers and the serial plate for alteration. Congratulations on your find. I know of collectors who would give their first born for this tractor.

Don't know if you are looking for an A-I or an A-1(one). Let me know. Thanks