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| If anyone is still looking, it is more or less done. It is due tomorrow, so I am not going to change it much, if at all. I am going to share it with my classmates, so I figure that I might as well share it with some internet strangers while I'm at it ;). I didn't quite get the writing freedom I wanted for it, but here she be. Thank you all for the help!
Anth0ny
English 10B
Block 6
Informative Essay
31 January 2025
The Final Years of International Harvester
Introduction
1. Prosperity reigns
A. 56 series
B. 66 series
2. Clouds gathering
A. 1400 series Axial Flow Combines
B. 86 series
3. End of the line
A. 88 series
B. Bankruptcy
4. Conclusion
International Harvester was the agricultural giant for farm machinery throughout the 20th century. They are known for several major developments, from the legendary 66 series to the first Axial Flow combine. However, they were dethroned from being number one in sales during the 1950s, which slowly brought down the behemoth that had been one of the top manufactures since it was founded in 1902. This is a timeline of IH mainline equipment and history spanning from the 56 series in 1965 to the company’s bankruptcy circa 1985.
Prosperity reigned for International Harvester who was known for their simple, yet reliable machines. IH’s 56 series tractors were released in 1965. The series included the 756, 856, 1256, and later, 1456, which eventually replaced the 1256; (Klancher 107). Horsepower ranged from 76 PTO horsepower all the way up to 130. They were almost always open station, meaning that there was no cab. Some of them were built with turbochargers, giving them more horsepower when the engine is put under a load. The 56 series ran from 1965 until 1971. It is also worth mentioning that the 26 series started mid-production of the 56 series in 1969, and ended the same year as the 56 series (Klancher 112). The 66 series is well known for the power and reliability that it brought to farmers all over the United States. The series included the 966, Hydro 100, meaning that the operator would pick a gear range and use the throttle to adjust the speed. Continuing, it also included the 1466, 1468, a V-8 powered tractor that in fact, had less power than the previously mentioned model. The series also included the 1566 which was not brought onto the production line until 1974, and finally, the 1568, which contained the same horsepower problem as its smaller counterpart and only sold 862 during its production run; (TractorData). The series ran from 1971-1976, with Horsepower ratings from 95 to 160 at the PTO. They used the same drivetrains as the 56 series (Klancher 144). However, the 66 series had more horsepower, bigger motors, and an optional cab from the factory. Starting in late 1975, IH changed the color scheme. Instead of the white near the motor, it instead was all red with the highly sought after black stripe that went along the side of the body and over the top of the hood. The legendary 66 series ended in 1976. The 86 series started the following year. IH also made some combines. This included the 1400 series, which was the world’s first Axial Flow separation system in a combine.
Clouds started gathering above IH with lower profits and an impending farm crisis. International Harvester makes more than just tractors. They made trucks, implements, and of course, combines. IH was rooted in threshing, with the two main companies that merged to form IH were McCormick, which made the mechanical reaper, and Deering, which also made a reaper. From 1977 to 1985, IH made the 1400 series combines that included the 1420, 1440, 1460, 1470, which was a model that would level itself on steep hills, and the 1480. They were made in East Moline, Illinois, which was very close to the John Deere Harvester works, their biggest competitor. “. . . IH engineers began work on a new technology in the late 1950s. . .”; (How 1). It took almost twenty years to develop and release. The combine was developed in a small building near the East Moline plant to avoid corporate espionage by Deere. Very few people were allowed in, just the head engineers. They built the main components in the garage and also tested it in the same building. They would throw in swaths of crop to test the separation capabilities. The combine was a huge success after it was released, with separation capabilities surpassing all other brands. The 86 series tractors replaced the 66 series in 1977 and ran through 1981. The series included the 886, 986, 1086, 186 Hydro, 1486, and 1586. They were very similar to the 66 series, other than a cab that came standard on every model. This cab was designed for operator comfort, being insulated, and by moving the shifters and hydraulic levers to the side of the operator instead of having to reach forward to shift, making it more comfortable and convenient for the operator. Horsepower ranged from 90 to 160 at the PTO (TractorData). Overall, things are going good for IH and the farming sector. However, things were changing for the worse quickly.
The end of the line was visible when 88 series started production in 1982 and ran until the company’s bankruptcy in 1985, with a 5488 being the last tractor to roll off the line. The models included the 3288, 3488, which was another hydro, 3688, 5088, 5288, and 5488. The series included an all new transmission. During development, the design team actually went to Deere to see how much it would cost for them to make their transmissions. They were too expensive, according to the IH team, however, the fact that their biggest competitor would be directly involved in their company and their bias against anything green likely played a big role, because they were willing to spend $240 million developing the transmission; (Klancher 203). The HP ratings ranged from 90 HP at the PTO up to 185 on their biggest model, setting the two wheel drive horsepower record for the University of Nebraska’s field tests. The 1970s was a prosperous time for farmers and manufacturers alike. However, when 1979 came around, the agricultural market collapsed. The 1980s were the worst times to be a farmer in modern history and the worst time since the Great Depression. IH’s golden age was over. The company’s bankruptcy was not an overnight thing. During the 70s, IH grossed three billion dollars in sales. However, they only turned a profit of forty five million dollars. Along with the company’s $750 million in debt, things were not going good for IH. “. . . the strike that began on November 1, 1979, dragged on well into 1980. . . Harvester opened the decade by losing $222 million in the first quarter of 1980”; (Klancher 196). The company’s debt continued getting deeper and deeper, until the company was completely unsalvageable without outside help. In 1985, the company declared bankruptcy. They were bought out by Tenneco, the company who owned J. I. Case. The two manufacturers merged, forming the Case IH that is still around today.
The bankruptcy of Harvester company was very frustrating for all involved, from the executives trying to make the finances work to the workers being laid off and the dealers trying to fill orders, and the farmers just trying to survive. However, they left a huge impact on agriculture that still lingers today. It also is a warning to all businesses: Do not rely on the future to get out of tough times. It is best to prepare and always leave a way out.
“How the Axial-Flow Combine Was Developed under Lock and Key | Octane Press.” Octanepress.com, 7 June 2016, web. 23 Jan. 2025.
Klancher, Lee. Red Tractors. Octane Press, Sept. 2013. 23 Jan. 2025.
“TractorData.com - International Harvester Farm Tractors Sorted by Model.” Web. 30 Jan. 2025
Edited by Anth0ny 1/30/2025 21:24
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Looking for info on 56, 66, 86, 88, 1400, and 15 series tractors and combines
