We can't talk about the history of the Farmall or the International Harvester Cos. without talking about its founder, Cyrus Hall McCormick. At the age of 22, in July of 1831, he demonstrated an odd looking contraption to a few friends and several farmers. It was one of the worlds first steps towards mechanized agriculture.
 
 

     The next 30 years saw the McCormick Company prosper. Then, in 1857, McCormick faced its first major setback. The Great Chicago Fire, which engulfed more than 15,000 buildings and left 94,000 people homeless, destroyed the factory. 
 
 
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     However, it was during these price wars that IHC researched and developed a new tractor. It was a unique design: It had a high rear-axle clearance, front wheels placed close together, adjustable rear wheel tread, power take-off, and provision for a front mounted two row cultivator. These became landmark features of this design. The tractor was powered by a four cylinder engine, producing 9-18 hp. What's more, it sold for only $950.  An added option was a set of fenders, for $15.  In 1924 IH introduced the new FARMALL.

TW Cook's restored Farmall H, 1950

McCormick's First Grain Reaper

     Three years later, in 1834, McCormick patented his invention. With the McCormick Reaper, a single farmer could harvest 10 acres of wheat in one day. It took another 6 years before he sold his first reaper. In 1842 McCormick sold 29 of his new, improved model. A year later he sold 50 more. In 1847, McCormick moved his operation to Chicago and started a full-fledged factory. 
 
 
 
 
 

McCormick-Deering Harvester Tractor

     In 1902, McCormick met with his primary competitor William Deering. On August 16th American agriculture took its next leap and the International Harvester Company (IHC) was born. Between 1909 and 1914 IHC produced two basic 20 hp farm tractors. McCormick deals sold them as the Mogul and Deering dealer sold them as the Titan.
 
 

Farmalls At Work
From Farmall Action Farming Video
Produced by Lammers Video Productions

     In the 1920's IHC was hit by perhaps its greatest challenge. Henry Ford introduced the Fordson tractor. At less than half of what a farmer might pay for a Titan or a Mogul, he could own a Fordson. This resulted in dramatic price wars and forced IHC dealers to cut their prices by some $700.00 to stay in business. And, these prices included a two bottom Little Genius Plow.

Production of the new and exciting FARMALL grew from 200 in 1924 to more than 100,000 in 1930. With the development of the F-14, F-20, F-30, International Harvester Company became the undisputed leader in the powerful struggle to make our nation's agriculture second to none.