My mom inherited a 1939 Farmall M from my grandpa a couple of years ago. It’s a beauty of a tractor, and the happy memories of riding it with my grandpa make it all the more special. I’m sure many of you feel the same way about a special tractor that belonged to someone you care about.
If you are looking for an excuse to celebrate your favorite tractor (and who wouldn’t?), find your tractor’s date of manufacture and throw a birthday party! Here’s how to do so for Farmall tractors. 
Many of you probably already know how to find the year of your tractor’s manufacture by looking up the serial number. My app, Tractor Guide, and plenty of written guides, like what’s in the Steiner catalog or in other books, can match the year with the serial number. But if you are going to throw a birthday party, you’ve got to get more specific than that!
Farmall and IH tractors have dates cast right into key parts that indicate their precise dates of “birth” (or rather, the date the parts were cast in the foundry). Of course, most parts would be seasoned for several weeks before being machined and assembled into a tractor – making the actual manufacture completion date of a tractor a month or so after the parts were cast.
It takes a little bit of discifering to determine your tractor’s casting day, but once you catch on it’s not too hard.
The first two numbers in the code are the month and day – for example: “6 11” is June 11 and “12 5” is December 5. To determine the year, look at the last letter in the series. Add the number of that letter’s place in the alphabet (A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, and so on) to 1930 to determine the year. Here’s an example: The letter I is number 9 in the alphabet. When you add 9 to 1930, you get 1939 – the year of our sample tractor’s manufacture. At the end of the article is a table to make it a little easier, along with a couple of exceptions to the letter/year system. 
Of course, your tractor might have a couple of parts with different casting dates on them. It’s also entirely possible that a part with a date code has been swapped with a part from another tractor. But if you are looking for a day to throw a birthday party, I go by the date stamped on the block – that seems to be the heart of the tractor to me. It’s also the easiest to find!
This can be a lot of fun. Perhaps you’ll find a tractor that shares your birthday, or the birthday of someone in your family!
You might also find tractor twins – I did! We bought a Farmall H sight-unseen from an online auction a year or two ago. When my Dad and I went to pick up the tractor, we were delighted to see that everything was in proper working condition. Out of a moment of curiosity, I looked up the serial number to determine the year of manufacture. It was made in 1939, the same year as my grandpa’s tractor! Then I started to wonder how far off the date codes are. I looked at both the date code on the engine block of the H and my grandpa’s M and was shocked to find that they were the same! Both my grandpa’s M and this auction-sale H were cast at the foundry on the exact same day, August 29. We bought the H intending to resell it, but instead we’ve started a collection.
This August, we’re planning a birthday celebration for our beloved M and H. How about you? Have you ever celebrated your tractor’s birthday?
| Year | Code |
| 1931 | A |
| 1932 | B |
| 1933 | C |
| 1934 | D |
| 1935 | E |
| 1936 | F |
| 1937 | G |
| 1938 | H |
| 1939 | I |
| 1940 | J |
| 1941 | K |
| 1942 | L |
| 1943 | M |
| 1944 | N |
| 1945 | O |
| 1946 | P |
| 1947 | Q |
| 1948 | R |
| 1949 | S |
| 1950 | T |
| 1951* | U |
| 1951* | V |
| 1951* | W |
| 1952 | X |
| 1953 | Y |
| 1954 | Z |
| 1955 | A |
| 1956 | B |
| 1957 | C |
| 1958 | D |
| 1959 | E |
| 1960 | F |
| 1961 | G |
| 1962 | H |
| 1963 | J |
| 1964 | K |
| 1965 | L |
| 1966 | M |
| 1967 | N |
| 1968 | O |
| 1969 | P |
| 1970 | R |
| 1971 | S |
| 1972 | T |
| 1973 | W |
| 1974 | X |
| 1975 | Y |
| 1976 | Z |
| 1977 | A |
| 1978 | B |
| 1979 | C |
*Multiple letters were used in 1951.
Wayne Swenson says
Thanks for the summary info.
Byron says
How do you know if its a 33,57,or 79? Letter C.
Thx
Rachel Gingell says
The era of the tractor should be a general clue, however, to determine the exact year you could look at the serial number and match it to a guide (like a Blue book or the Steiner catalog).
Joe Callahan says
Rachel, I’m glad to see it stayed in the family as we so sold a Farmall C many years ago that my Grandfather owned that I am currently trying to find.
Micheal says
Hello I came across your input that you are looking for a farmal mc.cormic. my wife dad who is now deceased, now the tractor is my mother in law’s and she is 91 and I’m thinking that she wants to sell it for. It is is pretty good shape and it runs just fine I used it last year to cut the pasture. If you are interested in buying this tractor please email me at michaelorr718@gmail.com. we are asking 1500 for it or you can call 208-340-2302 and I will get back to you as soon as I get an email from you. I will send pics of the tractor to you if you like just let me know. Thank you
Lynette Swendsen says
Greetings, I’m so glad I found this as my husband and I have a new youtube channel about our farm and I just received a question about the year of my Farmall M! My husband knew the year, but I totally had no idea how to figure out the age! I will reference this blog when I do an updated video!
Thank you,
Lynette
Suzette Thomas says
Thanks so much Lynette, and I am glad we could help.
Steve Mabe says
My 140 was manufactured 6/24/68 The week we got married. Thanks
Carlyle Hall says
38879 J
Farmall 140
Can anyone help with date?
Stephen Barnette says
I have a international F-12 serial number FS-49052. Need help finding the year thanks
Suzette Thomas says
Stephen on the F-12 serial number 4881 to 17410 would be 1934
Art says
Thanks for the awesome article! I bought an old Farmall A from a family. Reportey, it was ‘Grandpa’s old tractor’. Ser# AA68903. The casting letter appears to be 7-30- & either a K or perhaps X. Ssoo, K= ’41, ’64 & X = ’52, ’74. Is there a way to narrow this down?
TAMATHA CRUMPLER says
http://www.tmtractor.com/id/id_004.htm
Adam Imrie says
Looking to find details of my brothers French built International orchard tractor.
Model: SFCC V
Serial #: 500375
Tractor was built in Paris.
Mike Hogan says
ser# 106947. What year was it made? it has a scoop on it, using the hydraulic pump to raise it. Did this come with it or was this a “kit” to be installed on the tractor to clean dairy barn?
Adam Imrie says
BUMP!
Looking to find details of my brothers French built International orchard tractor.
Model: SFCC V
Serial #: 500375
Tractor was built in Paris.
Robert L Robinson says
I just bought a farmall tractor and I’m trying to find info on it . #251341R2 L and on the strip below the firing order is 3 9 and the only thing i can read on the manufacture plate is 1800. can you help? thanks
Thomas woods says
trans is stamped # FBK 55223
Matt Sponsler says
My family have just purchased a farmall H with #7880 J it says model sj on the tag also can any body tell me if this is a super H or what year Thank you
Matt Sponsler
Bobby G Carlisle says
I have a farmall tractor which I thought was a C. But futher in ordering parts. I’m really not sure. The only number I could get of offthe motor was 366204R1 and from what I can read 6-17-U or O.
Ken Dupont says
I have an International harvester 544 gas tractor.
model number 2300105u017317. how do I determine the year.
Roudy Martin says
I was trying to find the date on the left side on the tag, and this really helped me out a lot. Now I know I have a 1940 and a 1949 H Farmall.
Herschel Shirley says
I picked up a Super A from my brothers but the serial plate is gone. I looked at the casting dates on the three main sections and all were cast in April of 1955. How is that possible if Super As were discontinued after 1954?
Herschel Shirley says
I think I figured it out. My brothers told me it is a Super A but I think it is a Model 100 which looks almost exactly like a Super A.
Kent Heinke says
Great information here, but I’m still stumped and would greatly appreciate help . I’m looking at a Farmall Super C with a Tag that says Model FC and Serial 183146 J – As I understand this would make it a 1953 model Super C . As I look further at the casting numbers tough I get confused as the three main castings are as follows: 357657R2, 351697-R7, and 355986R1. As best I have been able to determine these would all have been casted March 5th , but of 1948! What am I missing?
ST says
Kent,
Unfortunately, we do not have anyone on staff that could help with that question.
I would suggest you try checking with an online group of tractor people such as MyTractorforum.com
They are a large group, filled with knowledge on many tractor brands. Most are very willing to help.
Good luck
Kent Heinke says
Thanks – trying the forums
Edward Ojeda says
I have my grandfathers International Harvester F12 and can’t seam to get a year it was made. I do have the serial number and it reads as. F S 114021 cans anyone help ?
ST says
Edward,
We have a list in the front of each tractor brand section in our catalog listing some of the years by serial #. If you do not have a catalog you can use our online catalog at https://www.steinertractor.com/Footer/FAQS/OnlineCatalog I hope this helps. Have a nice day.
Howard McIntyre says
I don’t know how to figure how you get the year. My Farmall M S. # 161057. X1 one of you PRO Reds out there help me. Thank You. Motor 44X. On trans #8 29 48 motor C 264. Eng. 356980R1 If anybody know what any of these numbers mean it would make me happy. Thank You.
Lisa Warren says
Hi Howard –
Looks like you are the proud owner of a 1948 Farmall M!