Name/Title
Tractor - IHC, Model Farmall Cub F, Year 1949Entry/Object ID
1998.049.1Description
The McCormick Farmall Cub essentially founded the postwar compact tractor market when it was introduced in 1947. The market for this little tractor was the small-acreage farmer and it was designed by Farmall engineers in the years following World War II to replace a horse or mule for farming purposes. The Cub resembled a scaled-down Farmall A and it was built in the "CultiVision" style first used on the A. The engine was offset 8 inches to the left while the driver's seat and steering wheel were on the right. This concept resulted in a clear view of the ground just below the driver's feet, perfect for the cultivation of vegetable crops and small fruits grown in beds. Some photos of early models, possibly prototypes, show the "McCormick-Deering" name on the hood, along with "Farmall" and "Cub". However, most production versions of the original Cub had the "McCormick" name, in common with the rest of the wheel tractor line by 1947. The original 9-hp (pto) Cub used an International 60 ci L-head 4-cylinder gasoline engine governed at 1600 rpm, a 3-speed sliding-gear transmission, 3.00-12 2-ply front and 6-24 4-ply rear standard tires, and a red screen grille. It was built through 1954. By 1953 a high-clearance option with 4.00-15 front and 6-30 rear tires increased crop clearance about 2 inches. The original Cub was painted "Harvester Red" except for a group of white demonstrator models produced in early 1950.