Been looking at production numbers of early md's (1941-1946) and the numbers are fairly low. With that being said the registry page on this site does not list but a handful of early tractors. So my question is what years are your mds?

Mine's a 1947. Serial #143370. Has a Freeman 7' FEL on it and live hydraulics.

Mine is a 1951. Runs great! Throttle is getting a little stiff though so I guess I will be tearing that apart and cleaning everything. Have a few little thins left to finish on it and then I have to decide if I am going to paint it or leave it original...have thought about clear coating it as is. What do you guys think, paint it or leave it??? I hear the RPRU will be in Des Moines in 2017 so would like to take it their.

Looks good, get the battery boxes and original generator for it so it's complete and you will have a sweet looking md. Leave it original it gives character. He's a few pics of mine. 41,51,53smd I am putting back together.

Love your early one on full steel! I have a battery box for mine, just not on in those pics. Generator crapped out so I converted to alternator. Been keeping my eye out for a nice SMD, but the ones I find seem to be priced a little too high for my liking.

Where you at IA tractor kid?

I am rural Mount Vernon.

Runnells, just SE of Des Moines.

Leave it!!!I like/prefer "original" over perfect 'factory' restorations any day. Once you paint it,It becomes just another "repainted old tractor".

Mine are restored, paint goes with it. It is a hobby, why do I want old ones just sitting there? --- it depends on the person. I get satisfaction by doing one, or 5 so far for me.

My MD is a '52. I am the second owner.

M's didn't sell well in their early years as people thought they were too big so MD's would even be less. By today standards its hard to imagine an M being to big.

Isn't that the truth. I use my M for pulling the manure spreader and grinding feed. I can't imagine getting on it each day to do my field work. I always think of things cutting a swath just larger than the tractor (planter, etc). That M seems awfully little after being in the bigger machines. We planted sedan and milo with a four row three point planter. I just shake my head at that each time I make a pass of 12 rows at a time. My grandfather would just be shocked. There's only two tractors on this place that he would even feel familiar with. I feel totally helpless on it when the wheels start spinning in a soft spot. There just isn't enough machine there to claw her way out!

In the advertising, IHC would say if you had a 1/4 you can buy a H, and if you had 240 acres you could afford a M. The dealer also filled out a short survey of how many acres and other tractors the farmer had, when you did buy a tractor.

Yep, the war years also affected production as well. After the war you start to see a big spike in m production and sales.