Decals for Super A

[Gerry Powell]

Does anyone have an opinion on where to get the best decal set?
Also, I see that you can get a decal set for "Super A" or a "Super A Culti-vision". Is there a serial number sequence that used the different decals?
Gerry

[Rudi]

Ken at Carter & Grunewald is a pretty good bet. They are an IH dealership, he is the author of a number of IH Letter Series. Cub and Cub Cadet books. He would know what decals are suitable for the year of your Super A.

Maple Hunter -- contact info is on the server under Specialty Services is another great place to get decals.

[spadra]

According to Guy Fay's book*, the change from "Culti-Vision" (1001188R1) to no "Culti-Vision" (1001474R1) occurred on or about August 16, 1951.

matt

* Fay, Guy and Andy Kraushaar. Farmall Letter Series Tractors Originality Guide. MBI Publishing Company, Osceola, WI. 1998. p 132.

[Gerry Powell]

My serial number is 305628, made right about the time of the changeover.
I notice at OEM Tractor Parts, the culti-vision set is about $20 more than the regular set, I wonder why.
Gerry

[Rudi]

Gerry:

Again in answer to your first question on where to get the best decals.. I know that many like OEM and they have some good stuff.. but IMHO OEM is one of the last places I would go for decals -- about the same chances of buying them from some purveyor on who sells generic decal sets. Why take a chance when there are pro's who can supply the correct ones at a reasonable price. As I mentioned, Maple-Hunter and C&G are two good places to try. C&G is a good one cause if you give Ken your serial number he can tell you exactly what decals you need for your Super A. I have a feeling the Culti-vision might be correct but maybe not original to your SA. As you know, when a decision came down to change -- the break would be at a specific serial number on the paper work but the actual change over on the line may have occurred a little later on as they would use what they already had in the pipeline.

OEM may charge more because of the revision itself... but I am just guessing.

[spadra]

the culti-vision set is about $20 more than the regular set, I wonder why.
Gerry

Because they can?

[DanR]

C&G. I did a SA 4 years ago,a working tractor, and the decals are in perfect condition.

[Super A]

My serial number is 305628, made right about the time of the changeover.
I notice at OEM Tractor Parts, the culti-vision set is about $20 more than the regular set, I wonder why.
Gerry

I am sort of "anal" about Super A decals, because when I first started planning to restore mine way back in 1993, the Culti-Vision decals were available nowhere.

Since your tractor is close to the change-over, I expect that it might have had the Culti-vision decals when it was new. Only way to know for sure, if the tractor has been repainted, is to sand down with some fine-ish, maybe 120 grit or so, sandpaper and see what you can find underneath. My theory is that they probably continued to use the Culti-Vision decals well after the change until the supply was used up.

FWIW I got my decals from Mark's Tractors, advertised in Red Power. They are the vinyl style and look very good. IF you get the culti-vision decals, you'll probably need to find a good sign shop to make you some vinyl "CULTI-VISION's". All the decals on the market have that in black. In real life, it was white lettering.

To me, decals make the restoration. And it seems like, since it's so easy to re-print stuff with a laptop, scanner, and printer, decals are getting sloppier and sloppier....incorrect size, fonts, etc.
Al

[Gerry Powell]

I've put on several decals but I don't know where the "CAUTION" and the "BE CAREFUL" decals go. Can anyone help me?
Gerry

[Super A]

Post a picture. I can't visualize what they look like. You may not even use them.

Al

[Gerry Powell]

Here is an ebay link to a decal set that shows the "CAUTION" and "BE CAREFUL" decals included in kits.

[Super A]

Here is an ebay link to a decal set that shows the "CAUTION" and "BE CAREFUL" decals included in kits.

If you are going for the original look, don't use the caution decal. Don't use the Oil Level decal either. Be careful goes on the gas tank, between the filler cap and the "teardrop" part of the tank. Guy Fay's Letter Series Originality Guide gives an exact measurement for it I believe, however my book is on my desk at school.....shoot me a PM if you want the specifics.....

Al

[spadra]

Gerry -

First off, I want to say that I'm not an originality expert. I have however, been doing a little decal research for my own 1951 Super A using WHS photos and the Guy Fay book referenced above. Here is my two cents worth:

Caution - The "Caution" decal shown in the e-bay link, to the best of my knowledge, has no place on a 1951 Super A. Not sure what it belongs to.

Be Careful - This one is a brake warning, and does belong on a 1951 Super A, although I'm not positive if the decal shown is completely correct. The correct decal (1000704R4) is shown here: http://www.tmtractor.com/new/de/de35.htm

Now, this is a link to TM and therefore, the decal is shown on a Cub hood. However, the placement on a Super A is similar. It needs to be on the hood center line, with the bottom edge 2 1/4 inches from the end of the fuel tank.

There is another "Be Careful" decal that belongs on a Super A. This one is a PTO warning (1000636R5) and is located on the top of the PTO guard. It looks thusly: http://www.tmtractor.com/new/de/de36.htm

Again, the picture shows placement on a Cub.

matt

I've put on several decals but I don't know where the "CAUTION" and the "BE CAREFUL" decals go. Can anyone help me?
Gerry

[spadra]

Al -

Any idea where the large "Purolator" oil filter decal comes from? All of the vintage Super A pictures that I have seen show a much smaller oil filter decal, similar to that found on a Cub.

matt

[Gerry Powell]

I don't know about where it came from, but the "Purolator" decal is really too big for the SA oil canister. I put mine on as low as I could and the top inch or so extends into the curved top where it creases when applied. I have seen a canister on a B that was taller than the SA, the decal would have fit on it okay.
Gerry