Block serial number info

[Lt.Mike]

I know in and around the end of the early A in’47 IH stopped matching the Tractors serial number from the seat tag and stamping it into the block under #1 spark plug.
On my ‘46 it’s stamped IAA 173827 into the block.
I had a better look at my ‘53 SA (seat post tag reads FAA 348709) and took a look under #1 plug.
Wiping away the crud I found stamped in 350509 and higher on that flat area to the right the number 6 is stamped in.
Obviously the engine stamping doesn’t match the serial tag under the seat, shouldn’t expect it to but is there a production date listing for engine blocks as there is for complete tractors?
Also now that I’m thinking about it, “FAA” used on the tag would be the same discription ID used with the early A in the ‘40’s. Why wouldn’t this say Super A or FSA? It’s on a Chicago tag if that adds to or helps the puzzle.

[Jim Becker]

The first Super A built in July 1953 was 348449 with engine 349180. The first of August 1953 was 349356 with engine 351148. Take another look at the "6" and see if it is a "G" (gasoline engine). The FAA serial number prefix was used on the Super A, identical to the Farmall A. SInce Chicago was home base for IH, all tags said Chicago regardless of the actual factory location.

[Lt.Mike]

Thanks Jim, so my SA was built in July of ‘53 and has its original engine. The governor rod goes across the numbers on the block so that 6 probably is a G.
How do you break it down to the month built and engine build dates to boot? What reference material are you working from? You’ve got a lot memorized but I’m hoping this is a book or publication I might be able to get my hands on.

[indy61]

Serial Number List -- Louisville Works -- 1947-1967

http://content.wisconsinhistory.org/cdm ... hc/id/2126

[Jim Becker]

indy61 pointed you at the document I used. WHS has a lot of the McCormick IH collection online. The extent of the online items has been greatly increased with funds donated by various IH Collectors chapters. Take a look and see what we have been getting for our donations. Here is a pointer to the top page of this collection:
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Record ... le/CS15303
Note the list of items in the middle of the page. They are probably the most referenced items. It includes the serial number lists.
The Louisville Works was open for about 40 years. Changes in the way things were done and reported, or even what documents were saved changed over that time. So what you find from one period may not be there for another. It also helps to determine and be mindful of when particular documents were created, as they do not always agree with each other. Contemporaneous documents are generally considered more reliable than historical documents.

[indy61]

I've always wondered why all these documents, pictures, etc ended up at the Wisconsin Historical Society and how much more they have that is not online.

[Jim Becker]

I've always wondered why all these documents, pictures, etc ended up at the Wisconsin Historical Society and how much more they have that is not online.

I take it you just followed the "about" and "history of" links on that page and found the answers. "Huge" doesn't do it justice does it?

[indy61]

I never could find how/why the IH collection ended up at the Wisconsin Historical Society.

[Jim Becker]

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS3413

Society Becomes Permanent Home for the McCormick Collection (1951)
Cyrus' daughter, Anita McCormick Blaine, assigned Herbert Kellar the task of finding a permanent home for the McCormick collection. At the time, the collection was considered one of the most important collections of manuscripts in private hands, and was highly coveted. Between 1949 and 1951, Kellar traveled more than 15,000 miles investigating 30 institutions.
One of the institutions visited was the Wisconsin Historical Society. Clifford Lord, the Society's director at the time, lobbied vigorously for the collection. He argued that the Society would make an ideal home for it.
The Society was located in the Midwest and close to the McCormick's Chicago home. In addition, the Society had been around for more than 100 years, had the necessary storage and research facilities, and a national reputation for its outstanding collections. Finally, it was affiliated with the University of Wisconsin, which had a world-class history department and agricultural school.
Kellar ultimately agreed. The fact that he had attended school at the University of Wisconsin, and that his wife was a Wisconsin native, may have also played a role in his decision.
In 1951, based on Kellar's recommendation, Blaine donated the McCormick Collection to the Society.

[indy61]

Yes, I missed that link. Thank you!
Nice to see Navistar donated to the collection!

[Don McCombs]

indy61 pointed you at the document I used. WHS has a lot of the McCormick IH collection online. The extent of the online items has been greatly increased with funds donated by various IH Collectors chapters. Take a look and see what we have been getting for our donations. Here is a pointer to the top page of this collection:
https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Record ... le/CS15303
Note the list of items in the middle of the page. They are probably the most referenced items. It includes the serial number lists.
The Louisville Works was open for about 40 years. Changes in the way things were done and reported, or even what documents were saved changed over that time. So what you find from one period may not be there for another. It also helps to determine and be mindful of when particular documents were created, as they do not always agree with each other. Contemporaneous documents are generally considered more reliable than historical documents.

Perhaps Dennis could add that link to the Quick Links?

[viking72]

Thanks Y'all