industrial super a identification

hello im redoing a 52 super a model# (FAA I) ser331381. we bought this in 1977 and was painted red before we got it. as time went on more and more yellow paint showed up. i tried to sand the old super a emblem off and it appears that another super a emblem is underneath. im assuming that the emblem should say super AI and the brand should be labeled international. it has a foot throttle, front end brace going to back of block, and a heavy round front axle that is not in parts book tc-39 c. this tractor was used in the state of IL to mow levees.it is also lower to the ground than others that i have seen. can anybody help me identify this tractor so I can put the proper labels on it and color. thanks.

it also has a waterpump and a 113 eng FAAM

The serial number poses a problem. FAA-1 (not I) would indicate a Super A-1. The problem with that is that they were built only in 1954, and began w/ Ser. #356001. As far as the serial number, those built as Farmalls had a prefix of FAA, and the Internationals (industrial) bore IAA. If it were a SuperA-1, the motor prefix would have been FCM instead of the FAAM you have, which would be right for the SuperA of either stripe.

For decals and emblems, the only distinction between the Farmall and the International (industrial) SuperA series was the long decal on the hood. The FAA would have the Farmall decal, the IAA International. The Super A circle was the same on both. By '52, I believe both had only the rectangular IH emblem on the front of the grille. Earlier years, when the wide "wing" grille emblem was in use, there was the same Farmall/Int'l distinction in the wing as in the hood decal.

As far as color, it very well could have been yellow originally. IH would paint a tractor any color you wanted as long as you ordered enough of them. Otherwise they were red, just like everything else. A lot of As and Super As were sold for mowing roads and left the factory painted yellow or orange, and it's quite possible your tractor is one of them.

Your setup sounds like a bit of a hybrid, what with the foot-feed. That was generally unique to the IAA version, but that's not saying it couldn't be original. Same goes for the front axle. On FAAs, round was standard, but the rectangular tube standard on the IAAs was an option. I don't know that the round tube was listed as an option for the IAA (it would be a direct, bolt-on swap in any event) but, again, if you ordered enough of them, IH would build about anything you wanted within reason that could be assembled from available parts.

Not sure what to tell you about it appearing to be lower to the ground. On an standard A/SuperA of either type, the bottom of your oil pan would be just about 24" off the ground, and the bottom of the main part of the tranny about 22". Tire size will make some difference but, if yours is significantly different from that, there's the possibility that it is one of those bought by another company as a partially completed chassis adn fitted with different running gear and/or gearing for use as an aircraft/industrial tug or other custom use, which might explain the 1 or I you're seeing after the FAA prefix. I'm not well-versed on the more common variations like that. Maybe some others will jump in with some names.

I have one that is almost the same description as yours. It was used in Jackson County Illinois to load road salt (has loader), etc. What county was yours used in?

Brian

monroe. it has the IH badge on the front of the grill. as far as the front axle goes,i broke a spindle in early 80s and had the local dealer order one. after 3 attempts they gave up as all the ones they came up with were incorrect, mostly taller. mine has approx 7 1/2" drop from center of spindle to center fo the axle tube. the tube is approx 4 1/8 in diameter and is 1/2 in thick. thanks for your replies.

the FAA I as it appears on the tag looks different than the 1 that is in the serial number. i will sand off the farmall on the hood and post back soon with the results. thanks for your help guys. alex.

I have a 1949 Farmall Super A Industrial. The serial number right off the plate reads: FAA AAI 270091, so I think that the industrials must have also read AAI? It has the foot throttle and also the square tube front axle.

I have pretty much the same tractor too! But mine sit normal height and has 16in rubber on the front.
A friend of mine and me cleaned it all the red paint off and it was yellow underneath and now its repainted yellow. It gets a lot of attention at the shows and on the HTA tractor ride!

well got the farmall sticker sanded off and it appears that the underlying sticker is longer and shorter. i can make out most of what says international. on the upper LH corner there is something else, but cant make it out. will take my time with any further sanding as i bought a new hood. the letter designation still seems to say super A. does anybody know what the yellow paint code should be? thanks, alex.

(quoted from post at 20:00:36 04/03/10) well got the farmall sticker sanded off and it appears that the underlying sticker is longer and shorter. i can make out most of what says international. on the upper LH corner there is something else, but cant make it out. will take my time with any further sanding as i bought a new hood. the letter designation still seems to say super A. does anybody know what the yellow paint code should be? thanks, alex.

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I sure would like to know what you have found regarding a paint code. Mine is a 49 Super A with all the industrial hardware (axle, throttle pedal, fire extingisuer, etc) and it appears to have been originally yellow. Mine is clearly a Navy tractor, has the brass military plate on the battery box, and something that has us all scratching our heads. The distributor is a vertical mount delco. The installation strongly suggests the distributor is factory original. Does anyone have information on this type of set-up for the military? CH