IHC plow - hoping for a clue from you folks

Husband and I saw this IHC plow and would like to know more about it. Hoping you folks can lend me a hand with some information:

1. What is the model number? (The IHC logo was the only identifier that we could find.)

2. What range of years would these have been manufactured?

3. Is it period-correct to go with our 1931 Farmall Regular? (If yes, we do want to find one after we get the old girl running - and he wants this type of hook-up on the plow).

4. What is a fair price range when buying one of these plows?

Oops, sorry - should have posted this in implements! Brain-blip. Will post it there also.

Looks like a John Deere plow to me, Where abouts was the IHC logo? Was it on a small part?

Sweet, it is a #8 IHC with brake away hitch.
rope trip steel wheel plow. Horse draw first but pulled by tractors in the 20"s and 30"s till present. oldiron29

Its not a #8 little genius, its an IHC 'Little wonder' . the modle number is escaping me right at this moment. the tail wheel on the back is simply a depth wheel while in the furrow hence the ridgid mounted (and adjusted) tongue. the two large steel wheels are the only ones that touch the ground during transport, similar to early deere plows

I never saw an IHC with that kind of hitch and break-away. Does it have a tail wheel? I thought al #8 had one. The hub looks very IHC, definately not JD whells. Could it possibly be made up of mixed parts?

(quoted from post at 00:04:13 05/09/12) Husband and I saw this IHC plow and would like to know more about it. Hoping you folks can lend me a hand with some information:

1. What is the model number? (The IHC logo was the only identifier that we could find.)

2. What range of years would these have been manufactured?

3. Is it period-correct to go with our 1931 Farmall Regular? (If yes, we do want to find one after we get the old girl running - and he wants this type of hook-up on the plow).

4. What is a fair price range when buying one of these plows?

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Plow is a McCormick/IH Number 4 "Little Wonder" tractor plow. They were made in the 1940's and '50's, so, not "period correct". Hitch is a compression spring release type. You'll need a spanner wrench to adjust the springs if the original style nuts are there. This plow was not designed for "heavy" ground.

Check for slop in the wheels and condition of wear parts. See if everything looks correct and nothing looks bent, twisted, or welded.

Those compression springs appear to be over tightened on the hitch, and it will not break away properly set how they are.

AG

Nahh, the hitch latch part on a JD is flat, not round.

It would also appear that the sliding block on the hitch that the draft hook goes into could be broken, and the homemade bracket flips down to hold the block in place when it's slid foreward. There should be a handwheel or set screw on the far side that isn't pictured of that sliding block that tightens up to hold it in place.


AG

Nope! This and the one in the background are definitely IHC. You can tell by the beams which were only seen on IHC plows. The plow in question on iron wheels has a steel "tail wheel" that does not provide depth or level control. The plow in the background is on rubber and has a depth control "tail wheel". Even new IH plows can be had to replace the probable "Plow Chiefs" shown on both plows.

agree with no 4 Little Wonder, brother has one on rubber.

The Little Wonder was made in the 1920's, 1930's. It would be correct for a Regular.

(quoted from post at 01:57:59 05/09/12) The Little Wonder was made in the 1920's, 1930's. It would be correct for a Regular.

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Little Wonder No. 1's and 2's were made earlier.

Little Wonder No. 3's and 4's were made during the '40's and '50's. No. 1 Little Wonder was built during the early to mid '20's and the No. 2 Little Wonder was built from the mid-'20's until the early 40's, IIRC.

AG

Thank you.

How does one distinguish between a #2 and a #4?

Sounds like we need a number 2 to be period correct - though I guess someone sure could have had a Regular around home for 20+ years but could have updated to a more modern plow.

Thank you. General concensus seems to be that we need to find a #2 to be period correct. Though who knows, we may settle for a #4 if, over time, we cannot find the other model.

Thanks for comfirming #4. Does your brother like the way it plows?

Yes, my husband mentioned that to me when we were looking at it. Though when I'm shooting photos - my mind really is more focused on the photography. But I believe he said something about a set-screw and about something else not being correct. I would have to ask him, but he is at work.

AG in IN,

Thanks again for all these details. You guys are always so helpful and we really appreciate it so much!

Husband will be watching for all that you mentioned. He is a welder by trade and a mechanic by love of all things old. He has restored several antique tractors and is a thorough guy...(no Smurf-guts blue-goo gasket fixes around here...LOL) and has a Little Genius plow and a JD plow though I am not certain of the models for them. Thanks again and have a great day!

Old-F20,

Thanks for your reply. I will copy/paste all these for my husband to read.

Does #8 refer only to Little Genius? Because we have a Little Genius on rubber and this one in the photo is substantially different from ours. Thanks for your reply.

Yes, there is a wheel at the back - you can barely see a tiny bit of it in the photo. General concensus leans to a #4 Little Wonder. My husband felt it was all IHC - he just did not know the model number and wondered about the value. Thanks for your reply.

What does "Plow Chiefs" refer to? My husband may know - but he is at work. So just thought I would ask.

Yes, my husband felt it was all orgininal IHC. Thanks for your reply.

The logo was somewhere on one of the frame rails... I THINK. I remember seeing it when I was taking photos - then finding my husband to bring him over and show him the plow. Wish I had taken a closeup of the logo! I just didn't as he sometimes gets tired of waiting for me as I am photo crazy - probably shot about 250 pics that day and we were not at the sale that long because we had company coming over that day.

(quoted from post at 12:07:58 05/09/12) Thank you.

How does one distinguish between a #2 and a #4?

Sounds like we need a number 2 to be period correct - though I guess someone sure could have had a Regular around home for 20+ years but could have updated to a more modern plow.

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A #2's LW's beams are flat, and don't look like the "I beam" type picured on this plow.
The #2's LW hitch doesn't have the long, flat upright adjustment piece like this plow has. It has a round rod with a loop in the end that bolts to the hitch with a clip/bracket and threaded for adjusting on the other end that goes through a bracket on the plow frame. Otherwise, this spring type/style of hitch could be on a #2 LW. Other hitch types were available.
Coulter mounting brackets are lighter and break easier, and the coulter standard/shank diameter is smaller. I think the heavier brackets and larger shanks were options, though.
Tail wheel is different on a #2 LW. It's larger, and bolts way up on the rear bottom's beam. There's 2 set screws on top that allow for side to side adjustment of that wheel.
#2 LW's mechanical lift would be similar, and it has two adjustment levers, too.

#2 Little Wonder is a lighter, lower clearance plow. Some probably got wore out during the depression and scrapped during WWII iron drives, and some more were probably worn out during the war and scrapped afterwards. Can't be too many of them left, at least not compared to the popular #8 Little Genius, or even the #4 Little Wonder.
As far as the newer plow/older tractor, it might have been easier to buy a new(er) plow during the war or even for a while afterward than someone getting their hands on a new(er) tractor. There was some equipment rationing going on, and the gov't. was setting some of the prices.


There should be at least one of the old chain lift "Genius" or "Little Genius" plows that should be correct for the era, too. Early No. 8 Little Genius plows were made in the late 20's, too.

If you're serious about it being period correct, remember that some plow bottoms weren't available back in '31. "Plow Chief" is a reference to a plow bottom type that uses a 2-piece share and spearpoint combination (that wouldn't have been available in 1931).

I think there was also a #2 Genius or Little Genius plow. I think it was a chain lift plow from the teens or twenties, though. Totally different from a #2 Little Wonder.

AG

Thank you for such a great description of the differences. Sounds to me like we'd be better off with the #4 Little Wonder since it sounds tougher (and I really like the ibeam look of the frame-flat does not sound as nice looking) or else find ourselves a rusty Little Genius. Will leave the ultimate decision up to The Boss though.