Case Model S Answer to Farmall H

Case countered the Farmall H with the introduction of the Case Model S

Sam Moore
October 2011

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When the streamlined new Farmall H, with its 21.37 drawbar horsepower (DHP) and 5-speed transmission, was introduced in 1939, Case dealers had nothing to directly compete with the popular machine.

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Oh sure, there was the Case Model D, introduced in 1939, but its 36.05 DHP was comparable to the 33.05 of the Farmall M. The venerable Case R had been streamlined some in 1939, painted flambeau red and given four speeds instead of three, but it had just 14.21 horsepower at the drawbar. The new Case V series tractors were being advertised as 2-plow machines, and a VC tested at 18.55 DHP, but the VC looked smaller than the H and was, by about 1,250 pounds. Something had to be done!

The Case Model S series was announced in 1940, with the first tractor shipped in November, and was intended to go head-to-head with the Farmall H. The newly designed machine used a Case-built engine of 3-1/2-by-4-inch bore and stroke, had a 4-speed transmission and used Case’s familiar roller chain drive to the rear axles.

The series was offered in a row-crop version, the SC, a standard tread S and the SO orchard tractor. During the 1940s, a model SI industrial version was built and was popular with the U.S. Army Engineers. The rear wheel tread on the SC could be adjusted by sliding on the axle, and/or reversing the wheels, rather than having to put in the awkward spacers Case used on the old RC and CC tractors.

The Model SC version of the new Case tractor was tested at Nebraska in the spring of 1941 and returned 19.33 DHP while burning distillate, close enough to the Farmall to give some comfort to Case dealers. Besides, the SC looked the part, with its 38-inch rear tires and high operator’s position.

The Case Model S was built until mid-1954 before it was replaced by the Model 300. Although the S series was popular, with a production run of 77,050 units, that pales in comparison to the nearly 400,000 Farmall H tractors that were produced. Still, the S was a sweet running and attractive 2-plow tractor in its day. FC



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  • Mike Kuhn 1/3/2012 10:14:51 AM

    Nice story about the Case SC. I grew up on dad's dairy farm in DuPage County, IL, during the '50s; he began farming with his Farmall H and added a WD Allis in 1950. Our neighbor was a J D man, but owned an SC for a chore tractor. I spent numerous hours on that tractor pulling a 4 section harrow and did not like the fact that it was geared lower than the H or WD, which made the job quite boring. Also, it did not have a starter and I was petrified to kill the motor. At the tender age of 12, I could not spin the crank to get me out of a jam. I do recall raking hay with the SC and that was a fairly pleasant job as speed was considered detrimental to the operation. Anyway, thanks for letting me share my Case experiences.

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