The Farmall Cub, later the International Cub, was the smallest tractor International Harvester made. Built at Louisville, Kentucky from 1947 to 1979 and sold under the McCormick-Deering, Farmall and International names, it was designed to replace a horse or mule on a small farm.
Farmall Cub at a glance
| Maker | International Harvester, Louisville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Names | McCormick-Deering, Farmall and International Cub |
| Production | 1947–1979, with the last run in 1981 |
| Project name | Farmall X, from July 1943 |
| Prototype | December 1944, with a four-cylinder engine |
| Engine | C-60 four-cylinder L-head, 59.5 cu in (0.981 L) |
| Power at 1600 rpm | 9.25 hp (6.9 kW) on the belt, 8 hp (6 kW) at the drawbar |
| Wheelbase | 69.25 in (1,760 mm) |
| Layout | offset to the left, CultiVision seat on the right |
| Cub Lo-Boy | 1955, lowered and shortened to 62.5 in (1,590 mm) |
| Built in total | over 245,000 |
History of the Farmall Cub
The Cub was planned during the Second World War as the Farmall X. Development began in July 1943 with a two-cylinder engine in mind, but the design moved to four cylinders and a prototype was ready by December 1944. In September 1945 the project became the Farmall Cub, and production started at Louisville, Kentucky in 1947, at the plant International Harvester had taken over the year before for the Farmall A and B.
The idea behind the tractor was to replace a horse or a mule on a small holding. To let the driver see the work, the tractor was offset to the left while the seat and steering wheel sat on the right, a layout International Harvester called CultiVision. It sat on a 69.25-inch (1,760 mm) wheelbase and used the C-60, a four-cylinder L-head engine of 59.5 cubic inches (0.981 litres) with a 2.625-inch (67 mm) bore and a 2.75-inch (70 mm) stroke. At 1,600 rpm the early engines gave 9.25 horsepower (6.9 kW) on the belt and 8 horsepower (6 kW) at the drawbar.
Two main versions were built, the Standard Cub and the Cub Lo-Boy. The Lo-Boy of 1955 was a lowered Cub: the rear axle housings were rotated and the front axle extensions dropped, bringing the tractor about 7–8 inches (180–200 mm) closer to the ground, and the wheelbase was shortened to 62.5 inches (1,590 mm). The lower centre of gravity and tighter turning circle made the tractor more manoeuvrable and a better mower. It was replaced in 1969 by the 154 Lo-Boy, which looked like the smaller Cub Cadet garden tractor, and the 184 and 185 Lo-Boys followed with more power.
The colours tell the story of the Cub’s move from farm to industrial work. The tractors were IH Red or Federal Yellow; in 1950 a batch between serial numbers 99356 and 106516 was painted white with red wheel centres for the dealer demonstration programme, and some of those were sold without being repainted red. Sales shifted from agricultural to industrial use in the late 1950s, and in 1960 Federal Yellow became the standard colour with IH Red as an option. In 1963 the grille changed to a flat style and the Farmall name gave way to International; the last production run in 1981 was painted IH Red again.
Cubs were also built in Europe, at International Harvester’s factory in St. Dizier, France from 1955; these “French Cubs” became the more powerful Super Cub in 1958 and were made until 1964. Production at Louisville ended in 1981 after more than 245,000 Cubs, which makes the Cub arguably the most popular small tractor ever built. Its closest competitors were the Allis-Chalmers G and the Massey Pony.
Design and features
- CultiVision layout: the tractor is offset to the left and the driver sits on the right for a clear view of the work.
- C-60 engine: a 59.5 cu in (0.981 L) four-cylinder L-head giving 9.25 hp on the belt at 1,600 rpm in early form.
- Small and light: a 69.25-inch wheelbase made for small holdings and gardens.
- Colour-coded use: IH Red for farm work, Federal Yellow as the standard colour from 1960 for industrial use.
- Lo-Boy option: a lowered, shortened version from 1955 with a better turning circle for mowing.
Farmall Cub versions
- Standard Cub (1947): the original offset row-crop tractor.
- White demonstrators (1950): white with red wheel centres, serial numbers 99356 to 106516.
- Cub Lo-Boy (1955): lowered by 7–8 inches and shortened to a 62.5-inch wheelbase.
- 154, 184 and 185 Lo-Boy (from 1969): the Lo-Boy replaced by tractors styled like the Cub Cadet, with more power.
- French Cub (1955–64): built at St. Dizier, becoming the Super Cub in 1958.
The Cub was the smallest member of the Farmall range; the standard-tread side is covered by the McCormick-Deering W-9, and more tractors are in the McCormick collection.
Video: McCormick Farmall Cub Tractor Repaired!
Video by The Bean Family Farm on YouTube.
Sources
- Farmall Cub, English Wikipedia: development, engine, versions, colours, production total
- International Harvester, English Wikipedia: Louisville plant
- Farmall, English Wikipedia: place of the Cub in the line
