Farmall SuperMTA

 FARMALL SUPER M-TA

The Super M-TA was made only in 1954. 26,924 tractors of this type had been manufactured by IH.

Serial Numbers of this tractor are located just in front of the starter. Numbers start at SM-TA60001 to SM-TA83523.

Horsepower for this machine is 44.23 at the drawbar and 47.07 at the belt.

The Super M-TA (SMTA) was the first Farmall tractor that had live power. This was in the form of Independent PTO.

The TA on the Super M allowed the tractor to quickly downshift in the field. This gave the farmer the advantage in twice the gear selection and the ability to shift on-the-go. The gear ratio of the TA was 2.63:1.

The Torque Amplifier (TA) is just what it sounds like. It gives more torque to the tractor. In basic it reduces speed and transfers that energy over to pulling power. Or it could transfer pulling power into speed.

The SMTA would be in the beginning of the quest for more power for IH in the tractor race that sought for more power and higher gear ratios.

The M is the grandmother tractor of the SMTA. The M led to the development of the Super M. The Super M was the first tractor to mount the TA on and the SMTA was born.

The SMTA like the M was a very versatile tractor, it was produced in many different variations. It had three different front end options available a single tricycle - most commonly used for rice; a dual tricycle - normal front end; and the wide front - another option for farmers. The tractor also had different fuel options it had: gas, diesel, distillate, and LPG. Other variants of the SM-TA are the SMD-TA, SMV-TA, and the SMDV-TA.

The average cost a Super M-TA sold for in 1954 was around $2500. Today (2014) they sell for around $5500-$6000.

So what is rarer than a Super M-TA? A SMTA  TA delete. Yes there are those out there. The evidence is in the size of the tractor. The SM-TA is inches longer than the Super M. A simple way to tell the difference between a true TA and TA delete is the SMTA had wings on its emblem. The SMTA  TA delete had the wings removed.

Why was the SM-TA made only one year? Because International Harvester in 1955 came out with its number series and the SMTA became the 400. There is very little difference between the SMTA and the 400, most of it is just restyling of the decals and different tin work.

The Super M-TA is my favorite tractor. I love to start her up and here her 4 cylinders purrrrrr. Love to sit atop the beast and do hay with it. Better yet take her to shows and catch the envious glances in the crowd.