The Farmall Cub was the smallest tractor International Harvester made, built at Louisville, Kentucky from 1947 to 1979 and sold at different times as a McCormick-Deering, a Farmall and an International. Over 245,000 were built, which makes it possibly the most popular small tractor in history.
Farmall Cub at a glance
| Maker | International Harvester, Louisville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Production | 1947–1979 (a final run in 1981) |
| Class | small general-purpose tractor |
| Engine | C-60 four-cylinder petrol, 59.5 cu in (0.98 L) |
| Power (early) | 9.25 hp (6.9 kW) on the belt, 8 hp at the drawbar |
| Power (later) | up to 15 hp by 1975; 18 hp in the 184 and 185 Lo-Boy |
| Wheelbase | 69.25 in (1,760 mm) |
| Layout | offset to the left, driver on the right (‘CultiVision’) |
| Colour | IH Red, Federal Yellow as standard from 1960 |
| Lo-Boy version | introduced 1955, wheelbase 62.5 in (1,590 mm) |
| Built in France | St Dizier from 1955; Super Cub 1958–1964 |
| Total built | over 245,000 |
Written from the English Wikipedia article on the Farmall Cub, a single source.
History of the Farmall Cub
Development began in July 1943 under the designation Farmall X, with a two-cylinder engine that was soon replaced by a four. A prototype was running by December 1944, and in September 1945 the machine became the Farmall Cub. Its market was the small-acreage farmer: it was designed by Farmall engineers in the years after the Second World War to replace a horse or a mule.
The Cub’s layout was the key to its usefulness. The tractor was offset to the left while the seat and steering wheel sat on the right, a concept International Harvester called CultiVision, which gave the driver a clear view of the row being worked. The little C-60 engine of 59.5 cubic inches produced 9.25 horsepower on the belt and 8 at the drawbar in early form; over the years rated speeds rose, reaching 15 horsepower by 1975 and 18 horsepower in the 184 and 185 versions of the Lo-Boy.
Two main variations were sold: the Standard Cub and the Cub Lo-Boy, introduced in 1955. The Lo-Boy had its rear axle housings rotated and its front axle lowered, dropping the tractor 7–8 inches and shortening the wheelbase from 69.25 to 62.5 inches, which lowered the centre of gravity, reduced the turning circle and made mowing easier. The Lo-Boy was replaced in 1969 by the 154 Lo-Boy, which looked like the larger Cub Cadet garden tractor and was followed by the more powerful 184 and 185.
Colour tells the story of the Cub’s changing market. In 1950 a batch of white Demonstrator Cubs with red wheel centres was supplied to dealers for demonstration work; most were repainted red before sale, but some escaped. As sales shifted from farming to industrial use in the late 1950s, Federal Yellow replaced IH Red as standard in 1960, with red as an option. In 1963 the grille became flat and the Farmall name gave way to International. Cubs were also built at St Dizier in France from 1955, becoming the Super Cub with a more powerful engine from 1958 to 1964. Production at Louisville ended in 1981.
Design and features
- CultiVision layout: the tractor sits offset to the left, so the driver sees the row and the implement.
- C-60 engine: a small four-cylinder that grew in rated power over three decades.
- Lo-Boy: a lowered, shorter-wheelbase version for mowing and manoeuvring.
- Colour as a signal: white demonstrators in 1950, red turning to yellow in 1960.
- Long life: over 245,000 built, and many still at work on small farms.
Farmall Cub versions
- Standard Cub (1947–1979): the original layout.
- Cub Lo-Boy (1955–1969): lowered and shortened version.
- 154, 184 and 185 Lo-Boy: later replacements styled like the Cub Cadet.
- White Demonstrator (1950): dealer demonstration tractors.
- French Cub and Super Cub: built at St Dizier, 1955–1964.
The Cub was the smallest member of the family described in the Farmall article; the medium-sized Farmall H was the line’s best seller. More IH machines are in the collection.
Video: International Harvester Farmall Cub Tractor
Video by Marc Chrétien on YouTube.
Sources
- Farmall Cub, English Wikipedia: development, layout, engines, versions, colours, production
