International Harvester Tractor Serial - Number Table-

If your serial number plate is rusted or missing, you are not out of luck. Combine the serial number table with other clues:

Example: Farmall H serial #157,000 → falls between 1942 (137,000) and 1943 (168,000) → likely a late 1942 or very early 1943 model.

This is where IH competed directly with Deere's New Generation. The serial number tags are usually rectangular aluminum plates.

| Series | Model Example | Serial Number Start | Final Serial Number | Years | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | ‘06 Series | 706, 806, 1206 | 501 | 50,000 (approx) | 1963–1967 | | ‘56 Series | 756, 856, 1256 | 501 | 25,000 (approx) | 1967–1971 | | ‘66 Series | 966, 1066, 1466 | 501 (1969) | 75,000 (1976) | 1971–1976 | | ‘86 Series | 986, 1086, 1486 | 1 | 20,000+ | 1976–1981 | | ‘88 Series (2+2) | 3388, 3588 | 1 | 4,000 | 1979–1985 | International Harvester Tractor Serial Number Table-

Note: The famous 1066 is the most collected. Serial numbers 501 to 5,000 (1971) are considered early "blue ribbon" tractors. Numbers above 50,000 are 1975-1976 models.

Before you can use the table, you have to find the digits. IH didn't make this easy—they moved the location around over the decades. Here are the most common spots:

Pro Tip: If the metal tag is missing, check the engine block. IH often stamped the engine serial number separately, which usually corresponds to the chassis number range. If your serial number plate is rusted or

| Model | Serial Start | Year | Notes | |-------|-------------|------|-------| | Farmall 826 | 6601 | 1969 | German diesel | | Farmall 1026 | 5001 | 1969 | Hydrostatic | | Farmall 966 | 10179 | 1971 | | | Farmall 1066 | 11311 | 1971 | Most produced IH | | International 1466 | 3001 | 1971 | | | Farmall 1566 | 3001 | 1974 | |

Some IH models have tricky serial numbers that require a specific reading of the table.

International Harvester Company (IH) produced farm tractors from 1906 until 1985 (when the agricultural division was sold to Tenneco, forming Case IH). To track production, identify model year, and verify authenticity, IH used serial number plates attached to the tractor’s chassis. Serial number tables (often found in service manuals, parts catalogs, and enthusiast guides) provide the cross-reference between serial number ranges and the corresponding year of manufacture. This is where IH competed directly with Deere's

This report compiles the most common serial number tables for key IH tractor models built from the 1930s through the early 1980s.

Important Note: IH did not always align serial numbers strictly with calendar years. Production years often ran from September/October of the previous year through August of the named year. Also, some models had overlapping serial ranges due to multiple assembly plants (Louisville, KY; Doncaster, UK; Geelong, Australia; Neuss, Germany).