International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table- -

Unlocking History: Your Guide to International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Tables

If you’ve ever bought an old piece of iron, stood in a field looking at a potential purchase, or tried to order the right parts for a restoration, you know the feeling. You look at the tractor, you see the model badge, but you need to know exactly what you have.

Is it a 1949 Farmall H or a 1951? Is that a "Early" 404 or a "Late" model? The answers all lie in one place: the serial number.

Welcome to the International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table guide. Below, we break down how to find your number, how to read the table, and why it matters.

Farmall Hundred Series (1954–1958)

This series introduced the "row crop" styling with a single front wheel option. International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table-

| Model | Serial Number Start | Serial Number End | Production Years | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Farmall 100 (C-123) | 501 | 53,200 | 1954–1956 | | Farmall 130 | 501 | 22,500 | 1956–1958 | | Farmall 200 | 501 | 24,300 | 1954–1956 | | Farmall 230 | 501 | 12,800 | 1956–1958 | | Farmall 300 | 501 | 47,500 | 1954–1956 | | Farmall 350 | 501 | 18,500 | 1956–1958 | | Farmall 400 | 501 | 36,000 | 1954–1956 | | Farmall 450 | 501 | 16,600 | 1956–1958 |

The “06” Series (706, 806, 1206)

This was IH’s first modern row-crop tractor with a V-8 diesel option. The serial number table shows a critical split in 1965:

• Before 1965 (S/N 1-15,000): Had a mechanical governor and different injection pump.
• After 1965 (S/N 15,001+): Had a Roosa Master pump. When using the table, note that parts suppliers will ask for your serial number and the table range to confirm which style you have.

International Harvester “W” Series (Standard Tread)

| Model | Serial Number Range | Year | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | W-4 | 501 – 45,000 | 1940–1953 | | W-6 | 501 – 60,000 | 1940–1953 | | W-9 | 501 – 18,000 | 1940–1953 | | WD-9 (Diesel) | 501 – 27,000 | 1953–1957 | Before 1965 (S/N 1-15,000): Had a mechanical governor

2. How to Locate and Read the Serial Number

• Location: On most IH tractors (Farmall, International, Cub), the serial number plate is on the left (operator’s left) side of the clutch housing or transmission case, just below the steering column. On later models (e.g., 86 series, 88 series), it may be on the right side of the transmission housing.
• Format: Typically a 5- or 6-digit number, sometimes preceded by a model prefix (e.g., 501 for Farmall H). No letters are used in the main number, except for export models.
• Prefixes: Some models (like the Cub) use a prefix letter (e.g., FCUB for Farmall Cub, IHC for International Cub).

1. Introduction

International Harvester Company (IH) produced farm tractors from 1906 until 1985 (when the agricultural division was sold to Tenneco, forming Case IH). To track production, identify model year, and verify authenticity, IH used serial number plates attached to the tractor’s chassis. Serial number tables (often found in service manuals, parts catalogs, and enthusiast guides) provide the cross-reference between serial number ranges and the corresponding year of manufacture.

This report compiles the most common serial number tables for key IH tractor models built from the 1930s through the early 1980s.

Important Note: IH did not always align serial numbers strictly with calendar years. Production years often ran from September/October of the previous year through August of the named year. Also, some models had overlapping serial ranges due to multiple assembly plants (Louisville, KY; Doncaster, UK; Geelong, Australia; Neuss, Germany). forming Case IH). To track production

Preserving Your Serial Number

Many antique IH tractors lose value because the serial tag rots away. These tags were originally aluminum (post-1950) or tin (pre-1950). To preserve yours:

• Never sandblast the tag.
• Use a gentle brush and Simple Green.
• Apply a thin coat of clear lacquer or paste wax.
• Take a photo of the stamping for your records.

Decoding History: The Ultimate Guide to the International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table

For collectors, restorers, and farmers who still trust the iron of yesteryear, few names carry as much weight as International Harvester (IH). From the legendary Farmall letter series to the powerful 06 and 56 series, IH tractors are cornerstones of agricultural history. However, buying or restoring one of these machines presents a common puzzle: What year was my tractor built, and what factory produced it?

The answer lies in a single, stamped line of digits. But without the proper key, that serial number is just a string of metal stamps. That key is the International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table.

This article provides a deep dive into using serial number tables, explains the nuances of IH numbering systems across six decades, and offers a comprehensive reference table for the most popular models.