A-21 Sickle Bar Mower

JRSutton · Jul 26, 2011

I've searched and searched, but I can't find any good information regarding the original colors of an IH a-21 sickle bar mower.

There seems to be some typical farmall red on mine, but other parts have remnants of a battleship gray color.

I assume it's been repainted somewhere along the line, since this color also appears on a two way plow I got with the same tractor. But I don't know.

Unless maybe this gray is faded blue, which I see on many farmall implements in pictures???

Was the blue just used for cub implements?

Can anybody help me out here? I'm at a loss.

If I'm going to go through all the work of restoring this thing, it would drive me crazy to find out later that I painted it wrong!

Might somebody at least have a picture of an original one that's got most of its original color? Or does anybody know if they were simply all red???

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Joe-AL · Jul 26, 2011

I bought mine from the original owner and is in very good original condition.It was purchased in the late 40's and is solid red with a creme colored pitman. Wisconsin Historical Society might have the colors in their database.

Here is a picture:

JRSutton · Jul 27, 2011

Thank you!

The picture and your description helped, but the tip on the Wisconsin Historical Society helped even more. What a great resource.

I didn't find exactly what I was looking for there, but was able to find this color picture of the C version of this mower, which is very similar. I looks like it's painted just as you say - all red except the wood parts.

JRSutton · Jul 27, 2011

hmmm... just found something more at that wisconsin historical society site - under "paint decisions" that now has me wondering again (mine is a 1948):

In accordance with "Amendment to Paint Committee Decision No. 168" dated March 31, 1948, the Farmall Cub, Super A, and Super C operated moewrs will be painted in the three standard colors-- para red, blue, and cream.
Effective immediately these mowers will be painted in accordance with the following list:

Cub Mower -- all blue.

No. 24 Tractor Mower -- Break-away bar, blue; lifting springs and gag post assembly, blue; inner and outer grass rods, blue; balance, all red.

AI-23 Tractor Mower -- Main frame and bearing housing, red; lifting springs, cable guide, grass rods, cable pulley and bracket, lifting arm and lifting chain assembly and pulley shield, blue.

Wheels, cutter bars, pitman and other parts not mentioned above will be painted cream, black, varnish or blue lacquer as heretofore.

They don't specifically mention the 21... but the 24 is just a heavy duty version of the 21. The 23 is a commercial version.

A-21 Sickle Bar Mower

JRSutton

Well-known Member

Joe-AL

New User

JRSutton

Well-known Member

JRSutton

Well-known Member

Similar threads