This old International truck from the forties isn’t a static display truck at the entrance to this farm; it actually hauled the pumpkins from the field, and I’ve seen (and shot) it in several locations around this farm. But there’s no question that its patina has an autumnal cast to it, and it certainly makes for a noticeable and welcoming “sign”.
Here’s a shot of the cab I took last summer. Note the key in the ignition, as well as the plywood “window”. Reminds me of my truck, in more ways than one.
I can just hear the smooth purr of its six cylinder engine and the whine of its transmission as it bounces through the field in low gear, something it’s probably been doing for some 65 years or so. At the rate it’s aging, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still hauling pumpkins here when it turns 100.
It looks like the 48 we had around the farm when I was growing up. I wonder if it has an untraceable short like ours had. We had to disconnect the battery every time we were done using it so it wouldn’t go down on us.
Any electrical fault, on anything built pre 1970 or so is certainly traceable…
$5 says it was the cutout points in the voltage regulator ~ they stick and this allows current to back flow into the generator as it tries to run like a motor anytime there’s more voltage in the battery than coming out of the generator ~ a very common malady back in the days of generators and why I run an electronic regulator in my avatar car .
-Nate
I love these old International trucks. There is something comforting about them. This will make Ed Stembridge all misty-eyed, having sold his before he could make it earn its keep on his farm.
Not to throw a wet blanket on your nostalgia party…but did these really have an engine that purred like a kitten?
I only ask because this truck is about 10 years older than I am and my (somewhat secondhand) recollections are that these older 6 cylinder trucks roared like a lion until they were well under way. Though, I guess if this had some kind of really low 1st gear, it could lug around a field at not much more than idle speed?
At idle and low speed, they were smooth, like most old-school low-compression inline sixes. And even at work, they were relatively smooth. I’m comparing to the more typical higher compression V8 of more recent vintage trucks.
Maybe the muffler was shot?
And yes, these trucks had a low enough 1st gear to putter along at little more than idle.
My dad had something similar to this when I was growing up. I drove it when we were combining wheat and oats. It was replaced by a GMC before long. There was a two speed rear axle. I do remember that there was a push button to start it.
I never drove a K or KB, but L and R 200’s and 220’s with, I guess, the Red Diamond engine always seemed to be on the verge of flooding out and dying at idle.
At any rate, it’s an underappreciated piece of American history.
I just love seeing those old trucks still at work in “original” condition!
I love to see such vintage truck still being used today.
Look at the wheel and tire size on that old Cornbinder, and compare them with those on modern medium trucks. The International’s tires will rot before they wear out, and there would never have been much chance of amassing a load that would overload them.
Given the way tires and road were back then, they would probably blow out before they wore out.
I love these old K Series CornBinders .
Yes , the FlatHead I6 engines were *very* quiet .
-Nate
There’s an International pickup of similar vintage that’s regularly parked in front of a market near us. It’s a similar shade of green as well…though it has a much more recent paint job. There’s usually fresh seasonal vegetables in the bed, and at this time of year more than a few pumpkins. Personally I like the patina in your shots, and I always like to see an old truck still on the job.
That green is pretty common as it was one of the colors offered across the board on the stripper models at no extra cost.
Great find, good to see it still earning its keep.
Built to last,and it did.There are some old trucks like this on backroads in NJ that are still running and earning their keep. Nice Halloween-fall wallpaper.
Love the patina, love the bright orange of the load of pumpkins. Great photo and such a cool old truck! It’s amazing to see trucks this age still in regular use but it’s almost heartwarming–a tool, but a reliable one and one that its owner has put in the work to keep it in service all this time rather than discarding it for the next new thing.