What do you consider a low serial number?

Super-H-Mike · Jan 3, 2012

I was looking at a SH on Ebay today which the seller is proclaiming is a low serial number 1953. The tractors number is #5360. According to this site, the starting 1953 number was 501 with around 21,000 or so made that year. That doesn t seem very low of a number to me as it is about 1/4 the way into the total. Do you ? Would that number add any value or special interest? Under the 1,000 number might do something for me.

Wardner · Jan 3, 2012

I have SMTA 60177 (series start at 60000) and

F400 520

Don't think those numbers improve the value of either tractor.

rustyfarmall · Jan 3, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:38:06 01/03/12) I was looking at a SH on Ebay today which the seller is proclaiming is a low serial number 1953. The tractors number is #5360. According to this site, the starting 1953 number was 501 with around 21,000 or so made that year. That doesn t seem very low of a number to me as it is about 1/4 the way into the total. Do you ? Would that number add any value or special interest? Under the 1,000 number might do something for me.

Serial number 501 or maybe 502 might add a little extra interest, but after that it's just another Super H, and the price will be determined by the condition.

Vito · Jan 3, 2012

For collectors they usually get excited in the first ten and last ten of the total production.

Vito

PaulGinMn · Jan 3, 2012

I have the 28th M made and I think its something unique

53 super H · Jan 3, 2012

I have a 53 super H number 2468J I thought it was a little different the way the numbers worked out. My dad bought the tractor new and it has always been on our farm.

Super-H-Mike · Jan 3, 2012

Yeah, My grandfather bought one of my Supers new and it has spent it s whole life on the farm that I now own. It is very special to me. I myself have spent many,many hours on it, let alone my dad and grandpa. More than a tractor,its a family hierloom in my mind. That one is # 18513. I hope to pass it down to my kids someday as well.

Ron W · Jan 3, 2012

IHC started production building Farmall f-12 with the overhead valve IHC engine with serial number 3035. I have tractors 3072 and 3185.

JRSutton · Jan 3, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:14:14 01/03/12) I have the 28th M made and I think its something unique

What would be interesting is if somebody kept records of the the lowest numbers LEFT.

You're #28 might be worth more if #1 through #27 weren't around any more.

(and the other end of the spectrum - last one made would be good to own too).

Hard to prove of course - but fun to think about anyways. Maybe this site should keep a sort of "guiness book of tractor serial numbers".

You could claim yours to be the oldest until somebody came along with a lower number and took the honor.

Tom Fleming · Jan 3, 2012

in the spirit of your question, I would say that any existing tractor in the first 100 built would be of interest. The lower you go, the more interest.

Look at it this way. In early production, 100 tractors a day was about the norm +/-. So, if I had a tractor built during the very first day of production, it would make my heart go pitter patter.

But, always remember. Beauty and worth are always in the eye of the beholder. One man's treasure is another man's junk.

You asked for opinions, and I gave you mine. That and $.25 will get you a cup of coffee..........oh wait, that and $1.25 will now get you a cup of coffee..............showing my age again. :wink:

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2012

i have a 240 row crop number 534 that i would consider a low serial numbered tractor but dont realy consider it worth anymore than anyother 240
i was once told consecutive serial numbered tractors are something collectors look for also was wondering if theres any truth to that also?

Super-H-Mike · Jan 3, 2012

I agree with you there. Seller is trying hard to make something out of nothing was my first impression . You see all the time the claims of "rare" , "hard to find" etc. on Ebay. Buyer beware .

mike1972chev · Jan 3, 2012

I think LOW production numbers are cool,but I like the tractors you know the FULL history of.those are the ones that are desireable to ME.When I got mine,I could tell it had been low hours and taken care of.It had cultivators on it at one time,LOVED to see those in action!I would love to know ALL it did in its glory days!

I think "valuable" is TRULY measured in how your tractor investment served YOU.NOT what someone else thinks it it worth!
I have seen ALOT of tractors that people do not see as monitarily "valuable" or colectable,but served the owner MANY,MANY years of valuable service growing crops and maintaining the farm.

Now TO ME THAT IS THE TRUE VALUE OF A TRACTOR! That is what they were built for in the first place.To work,NOT as a collector item.But I love those collections!

Super-H-Mike · Jan 3, 2012

I like the history too, it adds interest to me . On my own SH from my grandpa,it was bought new locally and was the only tractor on the place til 63 when a used SM was bought at an auction. If there was an hourmeter on it I am sure it would be astonishing!It had one clutch in the sixties and I did a valve job on it in high school AG shop class. Other than that,really nothing except maintenance was ever done. It is tight,very original and in great shape. It is the first tractor I ever drove.A true testament to the design of the machine, proper upkeep and carefull use.

clint s · Jan 3, 2012

Speaking of serial #'S, my 200 has the serial # 200. I think that's kind of cool but probably does not add much value.

ihredo4 · Jan 3, 2012

To me if it is a 3 digit number it is a low S/N. That is based off the tractors that started with 501. I have the oldest known O-4 S/N 706. It is the 11th one made and has block 511 to back that info. So this tractor was built in the first batch run of O-4s. Kind of neat to me.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 4, 2012

The first W4 tractors built were shipped to the UK. Serial no 503 as been on the same UK farm from new and I have seen 508, 532, 538, 784 and 785. When IH started building the B250 tractors at Bradford they also started serial numbers at 501 and my B250 is serial number 549 with the very early injection pump. MJ

F-Dean · Jan 4, 2012

At least once a year, Red Power magazine publishes the lowest and highest existing number for most IH tractor models.

CNKS · Jan 4, 2012

I don't know what you have, 200 serials started with 501.

pat in wis · Jan 4, 2012

Mike - just out of curiosity-are you in Minnesota? A few tractors with serial numbers close to yours are in Minnesota. I know what you mean about heirloom tractors, I still have the original H purchased by Grandpa in late 1940 - has never left the farm by more than 5 miles. Pat

What do you consider a low serial number?

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