2 pt on SMTA

And I believe if it was to be retro-fitted, it had to be the later
style, such as the 450, 560, etc. had. Early 400 had the
platform mounted cylinder style which was quickly updated.
My SMTA has the 450 and later style.
 
There is a Smtad here locally that has the 400 hitch with cylinder support on deck plate. It is mounted using a adapter plate that the cylinder bracket attaches to. Plate sets under battery box and uses the deck plate bolts to secure it. Covers deck from gear shift back. Plate is stamped M&W Gear CO.
 
I think I saw that ad in the fall of 1953 and an insert photo showed the hood decal SMD-TA-FH (huge decal caught my attention). The model 400 was introduced in Jan 1954 at the PA Farm Show. I don't recall the type of FH, but the tractor was pictured in the furrow. The full-page ad was in Farm Journal -I think. Wonder if anyone has a Sept, Oct or Nov 1953 Farm Journal mag ?
 
Picture would probably be a prototype testing or a advertisement for a aftermarket mounting kit. If in the fall of 53 a prototype.
400 tractors weren't officially sold until November 1954. SMTA Feb. 54.
If IH intended to sell early type 2 points for SMTA tractors, would they have mounted the light bar post on the left side of the battery box right in the way of the lift arm mounting bracket?
Original 400 tractors had the light mount moved to the right side of battery box.
When the fast hitch type was changed IH changed the light to the left side again.
 
I don't want to start a war, but at a show last year, a fellow had a SMTA with the fast hitch. He had quite a bit of documentation showing it was sold new on the tractor. I suggested some dealers retrofitted the FH, but he stated that it was delivered to the dealer with the FH on it already, and he had old pictures of it being delivered new at his fathers farm--- being backed off a dealer truck, with the FH on it. It is clear in one of the pictures. I didn't really know this fellow, but found out that his uncle was one of the local dealers at that time. I knew his uncle pretty well years ago--- well respected fellow. He had the dealer's invoice selling it to his father and the FH is listed like an option as are the live hyd pump, etc. He told me that many IH guys tell him it was never an option on the SMTAs, but he is trying to research this particular tractor through the archives to learn about it--- build card, etc. I do remember that it was a pretty late serial #.
 
Jim, I believe the date on the invoice was Nov. of '54, but I couldn't swear to it. I do remember that the owner mentioned/pointed out that there was a film processor's date stamp of 01/55 on the border of all three of the snap shots of this tractor being delivered at the farm new.
 
11/54 makes it late enough for a possible back-fit of the Fast-Hitch by the dealer. If it had been 5 or 6 months earlier, it might have made a different story.

Back then, people didn't necessarily run to the drug store and get film developed as soon as the pictures were taken. But it does present the possibility of some time (and maybe hitch installation) between the sale and delivery.
 
Jim,

I agree on the probability of a dealer retrofit. As for the processing dates on the pictures, I agree again. I scanned several hundred family snapshots from the late 40's through the early 60's several years ago and most of the Christmas pictures--- family unwrapping gifts around the tree and the Christmas Cactus in full bloom in the background, etc.--- had processing dates of late January and some through the end of February on them. They waited until the whole roll was taken before they took them to the drug store. In some cases, you could tell they wanted to get them developed and just took pictures to use up the roll--- of the snow on the evergreens, and maybe a new calf or a runt pig being bottle-fed in the kitchen in front of the stove.
 
The fast hitch was sold as an attachment, did not come installed from the factory, it was shipped as a package with the tractor & installed at the dealership prior to sale.
 

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