International Harvester 2+2 Row Crop 4WD Tractors IH 3388, 3588, 3788, 6388, 6588, 6788, 7288, 7488

International Harvester 2+2 Row Crop 4WD Tractors IH 3388, 3588, 3788, 6388, 6588, 6788, 7288, 7488
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Boom! What’s going on everyone
What would you do if you had a huge tractor and that every time you stopped in front of your barn the hood slid off and landed on the ground in front of the barn? No joke, I talked to a couple that had just that tractor. I am going to relate that story to you but first I must tell you a back story.
John H Fitch of Mason County, Michigan was his name and his company demonstrated his invention in 1918. this was at the National Tractor Demonstration held in Salina Kansas. During the demonstration, a Four-Drive tractor pulled a four-bottom plow nonstop for 88 hours, tilling a total of 100 acres!
Now that doesn’t seem like a lot of acreage by today’s standards, but it was a lot in 1918.
I found this part of my story interesting. How many of you knew about John Fitch and the Four Drive tractor?
You never know where story telling will lead. I guess another landmark four-wheel drive tractor belongs to Massey-Harris. If you are in sales did you ever try to sell a totally new concept or new product to anyone? Difficult to say the least. Attempts to persuade farmers to switch from standard 2WD models to four wheel-drive models, well that was a challenge. It could be done but in 1930 during the great depression, well that was another story altogether.
The Massey Harris General Purpose four-wheel drive tractor announced in 1930 was developed by Canadian based Massey-Harris and proved to be a hard sell.
You see, Massey-Harris was the first major manufacturer to offer a real gear drive four-wheel drive tractor. The Massey-Harris General Purpose was said to be the result of a long research and development program. I wonder about that. The GP had difficulty in turning. It could go straight real good but turning, well something was missing.
The Massey Harris GP had plenty of pulling power, good gears, and large diameter steel wheels but the GP was a new concept in tractors. sales were disappointing and after a few short years, production ended in 1936.
After the war was over American and Canadian farmers were demanding more power and better traction from tractor manufactures. The manufacturers were reluctant to oblige them so something or someone had to fill the need.
The story goes like this. Two brothers stepped up too fill the need. They had a family farm and the brothers wanted more power from their tractors. They could not find any ready built tractors that would fill there need so from 1957 to 1958 they built one. Little did they know the work they got themselves into. Their friends and neighbors wanted one. Funny how that works out. Build something remarkable then everyone wants one. Before they knew it, they were making Steiger four-wheel drive tractors.
I could go on and tell you about the Versatile factory in Canada which began production in 1966, about Big Bud in America, and Waltanna that began building high-powered 4WDs in Australia in about 1975.
As James rolled up to the barn a little faster than his old tractor ran it occurred to him, he had better stop a little harder than his old tractor. Just when he slammed on the brakes his new tractor stopped good, but the hood didn’t. James and Susan just dropped their mouths and said WHAT as they watched the hood of their brand-new tractor slide right off the front end of the tractor and land on the ground with a thud.
First produced in 1979 the 2+2 went through 3 generations before being discontinued in 1984 with a 4th generation on the drawing boards. The rapid replacement of models was an attempt for IH to compensate for design flaws in the 2+2s and a tactic to capitalize on the tractor’s popularity. This crossover tractor offered row-crop farmers the best of both worlds: a 4WD that could readily negotiate rows.
Model numbers of the 2+2s built by International were the IH 3388, IH 3588, IH 3788, IH 6388, IH 6588, IH 6788, IH 7288, and IH 7488.
On November 26, 1984, Tenneco bought out IHC’s ag division, merging it with its machinery firm, Case. Shortly after the merger Case IH decided to end production of all IH tractors about 80 horsepower which ended the 2+2 line.
In its place, Case IH would develop the Magnum line. Incidentally there was a prototype 2+2 Magnum built and tested but never made production.
I’m Logan the 64th Gear Jammer Skeele closing the warehouse doors on another episode of Toy Talk.
Toy Talk is hosted by Logan Skeele Founder of Advantage Diecast, LLC
#diecast #international #4wdtractor

[@LowEndPCGamer100]

our 88 series 2+2's were some of the most beutiful vehicles i had ever seen growing up, second only to our cat powered cp1400 repower, which remains to be my favorite work vehicle ever built, those steiger brothers really had it going on back then!

[@Bald_Cat2007]

I've always loved how innovative international was. The 2+2 series of tractors were amazing for farmers who couldn't afford giant articulated tractor. Another notable example is the hillside combine with the tilting axles. Also FUN FACT: International Harvester had a fleet of 2 great lakes freighters. Their names? The SS International and the SS Harvester. You're welcome

[@LoganSkeele]

Thanks for the info on the Great Lakes Freighters. I think they would make a cool video!

[@edwardparkhurst9804]

Great video Logan as always thanks.

[@LoganSkeele]

Thanks to my Number 1 Fan!! Have you seen my latest on corn?

[@edwardparkhurst9804]

@@LoganSkeele yes I did it was cool