21 Apr 2023

Tractor with the X-Factor

From Country Life, 7:20 pm on 21 April 2023
The old and the new. The Farmall tractor turns 100 this year

The old and the new. The Farmall tractor turns 100 this year Photo: RNZ/Sally Round

It's 100 years since the distinctive all purpose Farmall tractor (pron: farm-all) was introduced on a Texas farm aimed at replacing horses between the rows and reducing the need for a hired hand on small family farms.

A collection of vintage Farmalls was on display last month at the Central Districts Field Days.

The first grunting, puffing, chunky pieces of metal evolved into a very popular brand exported around the world including New Zealand.

The distinctive, mostly red tractors, became a fairly common site cultivating fields. The earliest models - built by the International Harvester company - had three metal rims for wheels. 

Vintage Farmall tractors on display at the Central Districts Field Days

Vintage Farmall tractors on display at the Central Districts Field Days Photo: RNZ/Sally Round