Farmall is a model name and also a brand name of tractors produced by International Harvester (IH).
These tractors belong to general-purpose type. The first representatives of this line were as row-crop ones, and these tractors have won a large segment of the market of their times. During the period of the production from 1920s till 1970s the most part of the Farmalls were created for row-crop work, at the same time were proposed other variants such as orchard or fairway tractors. The predominant all-purpose Farmalls cost a reasonable price and was a good choice for small and medium-sized farm. It could cope with different tasks required on the farm without a need of hiring extra hands and abolition of using horses or mules. That was why Farmall was considered to be a prominent brand in the 20th century on the way of mechanization of agriculture.
Farmall was the first tractor, which has combined a set of winning traits for the row-crop category, though it was not the first tractor to introduce any of these traits.
It included a perfect configuration (one front wheel or narrowly-separated pair), high road clearance, quickly regulated axle track, perfect observability all around, moderate weight; enough power for plowing or harrowing (the power output of 9-124 horsepower depending on the model), and also the belt pulley for belt work. In addition, all these advantages were available for the customers at low cost.
A tractor showed lower overall operating costs as compared with horses, it is reliable (as well speaking of its fuel supply). The Farmall tractors of mass production with the same low-cost and high-value characteristic traits could be compared with the Ford Model T or Fordson tractors. Though, alike to Fordson in its capability and affordability, it was better in the cultivating ability.
Later the Farmall brand continued to be the leading one of general-purpose tractors. Its bright red color was a particular trait.
From 1940s till 1950s, the brand was omnipresent in farming, especially in North America.