Tractor Wars Explained: Fordson, Farmall & John Deere Models That Changed Farming

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If you haven’t watched Tractor Wars on PBS yet, it’s worth your time. The documentary, based on Tractor Wars by Neil Dahlstrom, tells the story of how three companies — Ford, International Harvester, and John Deere — battled in the early 1900s to build the tractor that would change farming forever.

Before the tractor became standard equipment on American farms, hundreds of companies were racing to replace the horse. By the mid-1930s, only a handful survived — and the machines they built laid the foundation for modern agriculture.

Here’s a closer look at the key players, the tractors they built, and why they still matter today.

Henry Ford and the Fordson: The Tractor for Every Farmer

Henry Ford grew up on a farm in Dearborn, Michigan, and disliked the backbreaking labor required to keep it running. That experience drove him to build a tractor that ordinary farmers could actually afford — the same philosophy behind the Model T.

In 1917, he introduced the Fordson Model F — and it changed everything.

Fordson Model F side view: Image: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

Image: Fordson cutaway diagram, 1918 / Public Domain

At roughly $750 (eventually dropping below $400), the Fordson was the first tractor priced within reach of small farmers. Ford used automotive-style mass production and eliminated unnecessary components. Instead of a traditional frame, the engine, transmission, and axle housings were bolted together as the structural backbone of the machine.

By the early 1920s, Fordson accounted for nearly 75% of U.S. tractor sales.

It wasn’t perfect. The lightweight design contributed to dangerous rear overturns, and the worm gear final drive had durability issues. But Ford permanently reset expectations about tractor pricing.

In 1928, Ford withdrew from the U.S. tractor market to focus on automobiles — but by then, the industry had already been transformed.

If you own or restore a Fordson, having the correct operator’s manual and parts catalog makes a real difference when sourcing components and maintaining originality.
Browse Fordson manuals at AgManuals.com →

International Harvester and the Farmall: The Tractor That Could Do It All

International Harvester entered the tractor wars with deep resources, a national dealer network, and engineering muscle. What they needed was a machine that could do more than pull a plow.

That machine was the Farmall Regular, introduced in 1924 — the first true row-crop tractor.

1930 Farmall Regular: Image: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Farmall H: Image: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

With high ground clearance and a narrow front end, the Farmall could cultivate between crop rows without damaging plants. Before it, farmers often still relied on horses for cultivation. After it, a single tractor could manage plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting.

IH expanded the concept with the F-20 and F-30, and later the famous letter series — A, B, H, and M — introduced in 1939. These models became some of the most successful tractors ever built.

International Harvester didn’t win by being the cheapest. They won by building the most versatile machine.

Farmall tractors remain widely restored and used today. Whether you're maintaining an H or rebuilding an M, the service manual is essential for proper adjustments and overhaul procedures.
Find Farmall and IH manuals at AgManuals.com →

John Deere: The Late Entry That Outlasted Them All

John Deere was slower to commit to tractors. Leadership debated the investment for years before acquiring the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1918.

That purchase brought them the Waterloo Boy — and eventually the John Deere Model D.

Waterloo Boy: Image: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

1933 John Deere Model D: Image: BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Throughout the 1920s, Deere played catch-up. The Model D was reliable but lacked the row-crop flexibility of the Farmall and the affordability of the Fordson.

Everything changed in 1934 with the introduction of the Model A and Model B. These two-cylinder “Johnny Poppers” became iconic — simple, rugged, and easy for farmers to maintain themselves.

While Ford exited the U.S. tractor market and IH later faced structural challenges, Deere steadily expanded, refined its dealer network, and improved its engineering.

That consistency positioned John Deere as the long-term industry leader — a position it still holds today.

If you’re restoring a Model A, B, D, or Waterloo Boy, accurate manuals are critical for correct timing, fuel adjustments, and mechanical rebuilds.
Shop John Deere manuals at AgManuals.com →

How the Tractor Wars Shaped Modern Agriculture

By the mid-1930s, the tractor wars had narrowed to a small group of dominant manufacturers. The competition accelerated innovation, lowered prices, and fundamentally changed how farms operated.

Why This History Still Matters Today

The machines featured in Tractor Wars aren’t just museum pieces. Many are still:

• Restored for shows

• Used on small acreage farms

• Maintained by collectors

• Passed down through families

John Deere Model B: Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

The challenge is documentation.

Original operator’s manuals, service manuals, and parts catalogs were often lost, damaged, or discarded decades ago. Without accurate documentation, restoration becomes guesswork.

That’s why AgManuals exists — to preserve and provide access to the manuals that keep these historic machines running correctly.

Whether you’re rebuilding a Fordson Model F, tuning a Farmall H, or maintaining a John Deere Model B, having the correct manual on your workbench matters.

Browse our full collection of tractor manuals at AgManuals.com

Tractor Wars is available to stream on PBS and the PBS App. The book by Neil Dahlstrom is available wherever books are sold.