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serial number plate

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:50 am
by artc
my serial number plate has nothing left on it save for the stamped serial number and RPM. # 119306 putting it at the end of 1950. casting codes indicate mid november casting (trans, torque tube, final drive) but the radiator support indicates a 'B' 1956 code.
so the serial number tag must have changed at some point long ago (1950 serial number on a 1956 support).

i wanted to be sure that i got the correct tag style from OEM, so i started checking a few things.

the existing tag is a new style tag determined solely by the position of the serial number.
my '48 cub #43296 has the old style tag.
and Guy Fay's letter series book showing 'the first cub' driven by an IH exec (and i immediately assumed to be #501) has NO serial tag or discernable rivit holes!

Before i get an incorrect tag style, at what serial number did the style change?
And how come #501 is not sporting a tag :?: :?:

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:03 am
by Super A
Look at that pic of #501 closely--It looks to me like there is something there, I think the tag had been masked off for paint and the masking hadn't been removed yet.

Can you just buy the rivets for the tags? I will have to remove the tag on my Super A to repair the seat bracket. I want to use the same type of fastener to re-attach it.

Al

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:16 am
by George Willer
Art,

If you have access to the Letourneau book "Farmall Cub Photo Archive", you'll see that many of the Cubs shown don't have tags... including the first production one, as shown on page 11. Some of the tractors shown may have been pre-production prototypes, but #501? Maybe its' tag is mounted elsewhere? Just a guess.

Many of the photos of pre-productions Cubs were taken in 1945.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 9:32 pm
by Jim Becker
The page 11 picture looks to me too like there is some masking still over the plate. That book has a very high percentage of pre-production tractor pictures. Looking through it just now, virtually every one I noticed with no plate could be confirmed as a pe-production tractor.

I have a pictue of a '49 tag (early style) and a '51 (later style). Chances are very high that you have the original plate and somebody went to the trouble of moving it to a new replacement casting.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:14 pm
by Mike Schmudlach
I know where serial number 501 Cub is and if you like I will go over and take a picture of it .
Mike

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:16 pm
by Mike Schmudlach
The serial number plate was put on after the tractor was painted.
So they would not of masked off.
Mike

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:12 am
by artc
Thanks, all.
Jim, you answered my question. given the 1956 casting code on the rad support, i was wondering if a new # tag was installed at the same time. but if a 51 carried the 'new' style, then i'm pretty safe in using it on my late 50.
any demo tractors out there using the newer style?

i wasn't thinking about pre production units as i was looking through photos, and of course, adding the tag after makes sense. that's what i'll do.
Mike, i knew 501 was around someplace, a current picture sometime might be of interest to all.

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 11:28 am
by John *.?-!.* cub owner
Mike Schmudlach wrote:I know where serial number 501 Cub is and if you like I will go over and take a picture of it .
Mike



Mike, I think we'd all like to see it. If the owner didn't object, I expect Dennis would be more than willing to put it in the photo archives.

Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:49 pm
by Dennis
Mike, I think we'd all like to see it. If the owner didn't object, I expect Dennis would be more than willing to put it in the photo archives.


Absolutely :!:

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 8:38 am
by artc
Binder Books was kind enough (in exchange for my VISA# :) ) a copy of Guy's new number series book. Left my truck unlocked, but I don't live in Swissconsin :!:

RPM change to rated 1800 was in early 1956., according to Guy.

my existing SN tag, mounted on a 1956 rad support, says 1800. So, i gather from that info that the dealer installed a new rad support on this tractor in the late '50's and the dealer installed a new SN tag after field stamping the customers old SN.

George: what style did your Demo Tractor carry :?: that, coupled with Jim's info, would put me 'for sure' in the 'new style' type tag.

But i'll ask OEM to stamp my new tag with the correct 1600 RPM.

Thanks to Guy Fay for the terrific book and the info :!:

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 10:30 pm
by Jim Becker
artc wrote:RPM change to rated 1800 was in early 1956., according to Guy.


Guy and I have been going around on that point for some time and still don't have a meeting of the minds.

He got the '56 information out of something in the archives. The I&T Red Books didn't show 1800 until '58. The serial plates showed 1800 much earlier.

The distinction may be between rpm for rated hp and maximum idle rpm (which is what the serial plate lists).

Here are '49 and '51 plates that both list 1800rpm.

I still think your original serial plate got moved from the old casting to the new one.


Image

Image

Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 10:37 am
by artc
Jim thanks for the photos. i wasn't convinced myself that the SN# was field stamped - the job looks too perfect for a 'by hand'.

the folks at OEM no doubt think i'm crazy about now, after i changed the order back to 1800 RPM. :oops:

i'm not looking for perfect, but trying at least to do a respectable long lasting, job.