Farmall Red question

grandpa Love · Jul 1, 2022

Couple years ago the Red power round up was here in Alabama. 100s of tractors. Dozens of shades of Red. An older gentleman told us that during the late 1930s through the '50s IH bought what ever red they could get cheap. During the war the paint was especially terrible and faded to orange real quick. Now days everyone wants to paint their Farmall ' original color. My understanding is that's nearly impossible. And also when that factory was cranking out 1000s of tractors a year the actual paint job wasn't great. So.... What's your thoughts on this?

Janicholson · Jul 1, 2022

Your info is pretty much correct. The paint in the color intended in that era can be approximated, but it is all formulated with much better color control life expectancy (and shine). To duplicate the original paint is not realistic. Here is info from a contributor here on YT called CNKS. Prior to mid 1949, IH 50/PPG 70019/DuPont 7410, and others. Mid 1949 or later, IH 1102B, I don't think there is a PPG or DuPont number, ask your supplier--CaseIH does not sell it. That leaves IH 2150/PPG 71310/DuPont 96766 which appeared in 1961, which is what most people use. Jim

BarnyardEngineering · Jul 1, 2022

Many will stomp their breath and hold their feet, insisting there is only one "correct" IH red. They will point to old pictures, claim they can tell just by looking, etc..

The only color involved there is brown...

Nobody really knows what "true" IH red is because of all the reasons you stated. You can't trust period photographs because the early color Kodak film did not reproduce colors accurately.

When you find a color of IH red you like, stick with it.

Eric in IL · Jul 1, 2022

Power to the people that choose the one eyed, one horned, flying purple eater shade of PURPLE. Lol

redforlife · Jul 1, 2022

I'm pretty much on board with you. There were variables in the paint. Lesser quality during the war.

A lot of comments after some restores, that the restore looks better than when it did when it was new. When people do an elaborate paint job, and spend alot of time doing it, stands to reason the paint job will turn out better than when these things were being mass produced at a factory.
I'm sure at the factory, they were just looking for good. And not flawless, like somebody taking thier time and being really particular about the paint when doing a restore. There wouldn't of been much time for flawless at the factory. Definately not like somebody taking thier own sweet time on a restore.

rustyfarmall · Jul 1, 2022

IH had several dealer programs that offered freshening up and repaints of the older Farmalls. IH wanted ALL of their tractors, no matter how old, to look GOOD out in the fields. The majority of the Farmall letter series tractors and early number series that participated in the dealer programs would have been repainted with the IH 2150.

Any time IH came up with better paint, the older products were made obsolete.

Thus the Farmall letter series wearing the 2150 red paint ARE CORRECT according to IH corporate.

504 · Jul 1, 2022

If I am going to all of the trouble and expense of painting it will be with the 2150. THe bright red just looks better than the older paints. I had a Farmall that was painted when I bought it,after 10 years it still looked great after a wash job. I talked to the guy I bought it from and asked what he had done for the paint job. I should add that it was a family tractor and the family owned the IH dealership. Kevin told me it was a straight 2150 paint job with primer on the hood. No hardner just a can of paint.

47fivewindow · Jul 1, 2022

From 1969 till 1971 I did odd jobs after school and during the summer at IH Annapolis. This included taking 2150 rattle cans and touching up the paint on the lot tractors and putting on the dealer decals. They faded so we had to wax the hoods to get the shine back. The steering shaft was only painted on one side, the other side got rusty. Not much paint behind the starter and other crevices. In short, you could hardly do a worse job than ''original''.

Rich'sToys · Jul 1, 2022

(quoted from post at 12:34:58 07/01/22) The steering shaft was only painted on one side, the other side got rusty. Not much paint behind the starter and other crevices. In short, you could hardly do a worse job than ''original''.

This is true. These tractors basically came down the line, all assembled. and got sprayed as they went by. A lot of places got missed, or barely covered. Not like today where all the pieces get painted separately while it is still all apart, then put back together.

This post was edited by Rich'sToys on 07/01/2022 at 11:07 am.

560Dennis · Jul 1, 2022

Ih-50 Red was used from 1937 to mid 1948 .
I think your A is very close .
I looked at post going back 20 years and it comes down to a guess.
I believe it is more maroon like your A . Scanning paint from under grill ,hoods and under gas tanks is close ,but depends on oxidation,,mfg. viz.
Good Post hope it works out , as long as you like it .
I copied this is a source for a Ih -50
https://www.myperfectcolor.com/paint/384065-international-harvester-50-red

Farmall Red question

grandpa Love

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Janicholson

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BarnyardEngineering

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Eric in IL

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redforlife

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rustyfarmall

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504

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47fivewindow

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Rich'sToys

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560Dennis

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