Farmall F-12
The Farmall F-12 is a small two-plow row crop tractor produced by International Harvester under the Farmall brand from 1932 to 1938, with approximately 123,000 produced. An improved model, the two-plow F-14, was produced beginning in 1938 and ending in 1939, when the Farmall letter series tractors were introduced.
Description and production
The F-12 was a smaller, modernized version of the earlier Farmall Regular, developed from a prototype designated the F-10. To reduce mechanical complexity and to improve transmission efficiency, the Regular's portal axle rear wheel arrangement was changed to a straight axle, with larger wheels to provide ground clearance. This had the additional benefit of allowing a broader range of wheel adjustment to accommodate different row-crop row widths. Versions were available for gasoline or distillate. A wide front axle was available as an option. F-12s were delivered with steel wheels, with optional rubber tires. Early-year F-12s were painted gray, like the Regular. Beginning in 1936 the F-12 was painted bright red, to increase visibility. This quickly became a trademark of the Farmall line. The F-12 cost about $600 when introduced, rising to about $700.Early W-12s were equipped with a engine, which was superseded by a similar engine produced in house by International Harvester, The sliding-gear transmission offered three gears. More than 120,000 F-12s were produced through the model's production run.