super H serial #

Anonymous-0 · Sep 24, 2009

I am looking at a Super H, the serial # is that of the last 700 1953's made. It has the battery under the seat, live pump, and the front frame of the 1954. How do I know what year it is? Did they use the 54 style on the last few 53's made? Thank's for any info.

ScottyHOMeY · Sep 24, 2009

I'd be guided by the serial number for production date. THe tractor may have been modified over the years.

See what you can find for date casting codes on it. A tractor built late in '53 should show Ys for the year. The same would be true of one built very early in '54, if you find most of your casting dates to be in the last two or three months of '53. (That's one argument for using the serial number to date it.)

If you find any Zs, you'll know that that part was cast in '54. What you still won't know is if that part was swapped on later or the tractor was actually put together in '54. (Another argument in favor of the serial number.)

The way IH did things, one shouldn't be surprised if there was some overlapping of parts/features during the transition from Stage I to Stage II Super Hs. Then there is the confusion of IH's records which, in that era, ran from November 1 to October 31 leaving us, fifty-some years later, to wonder if the tables we rely on for dating by serial number aren't a little like the auto manufacturers turning out cars in August and calling them the next year's model.

D Slater · Sep 24, 2009

Last SH type features or stage 2 as called by some started with tractor serial # 19234 in 1953.

400Dtractorman · Sep 24, 2009

They started making the 53 super h look like the 54 model late in 1953. Not sure of the serial # break but the 53 model will have a Y code one the axles and if it has a wide front end it will be the old type. The 54 will have a Z code and the wide front will be like the 300 and 350 models. Thats how I tell them apart.

Red Mist · Sep 24, 2009

(quoted from post at 13:13:32 09/24/09) Last SH type features or stage 2 as called by some started with tractor serial # 19234 in 1953.

It is as D Slater says. There is no difference between a late 1953 (Serial#19234 or higher) and a 1954, except a late 1953 will have "Y" casting dates vs. "Z" date codes on 1954 models. The grill, front bolster, battery location, etc. are all the same above #19234, regardless of year cast or assembly date. I have #20856 J and it is identical to higher numbered SH's with "Z" castings. My latest castings have a date of 11-25-Y. It may have not been shipped until early '54 - who knows?
Hope this helps you.
Mike

Anonymous-0 · Sep 24, 2009

Thank's to all that replied, I am going to look at it again tomorrow. Nice to have this forum to ask question's, and get answers. Thank's again

Hugh MacKay · Sep 25, 2009

Don: One of the items you'll find as you encounter more details on IH tractors, a very low percentage of changes occured at years end, or even model change for that matter.

The Super A is a prime example, more changes occured during Super A production than in the rest of the entire 40 year production of that basic offset tractor. This includes model changes as well. The early 50s were progressive times at IH, improvements just couldn't wait for years end.

super H serial #

Anonymous-0

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ScottyHOMeY

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D Slater

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400Dtractorman

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Red Mist

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Anonymous-0

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Hugh MacKay

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