Some odd things about my 1944 M

[Dave Downs]

I’ve always wondered about some things that are odd on my M.

First thing is the gearshift knob - it’s a metal casting, looks to have a part number 9837D. I’ve never seen anything but rubber ones. 

The shift lever itself has only one bend, down near the platform like an H has, all the other shift levers I’ve seen on an M have a second bend to the right to put the knob closer to the steering post.

The starter button is on the left side of the steering post, again like an H. Most M’s I’ve seen have a foot pedal or a pin through the bottom of the steering post to activate the button mounted at the bottom of the gas tank support. There is a hole through the steering post that the pin would fit if the button was mounted on the tank support.

I wonder if these items are due to it being a wartime build?

[axial_al]

I don’t know about the starter button, but am pretty sure the cast shifter knob was because of rubber shortages during the war.  A neighbor had an M  that the original paint turned orange on because of a shortage of some paint ingredient.  This was a story that my Dad, a lifelong IH man told me.

[sandhiller]

The shift knob on my mower M, not sure the year

[vtfireman85]

Mine had an H style button when I got it. I never thought the push rod thing was a great idea, i would presume someone added that. 
is your nose emblem steel or aluminum? 

[forwhldrv]

We have two I9’s that have the cast shift knobs ones a 43 ones a 45. It’s kinda a cool conversation piece. 

[int 504]

My 1945 A has a cast knob also. WW ll production change. Rubber was short.

[from H to 80]

Those oddities interest me,we have a 70 Oliver with an aluminum hood, that i suppose was a war time change.That is one of the reasons they were called the    "greatest generation " they adapted and overcame. This weekend we need to remember and salute them.

[Big Bud guy]

I have 4 war time JD Ds.  Honestly there is nothing unique about them that I can see.  Wouldn’t know they were built during the war except going by the serial number 

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

My 1945 O4 has the wartime steel shift knob on it.

[EquipmentJunkie]

My grandfather's first tractor was a WWII-era JD model A.  While we don't have photos of it since film was difficult to get (even post-war), it was said to have been shipped in standard, Army olive drab paint.  The family traded it off for an AW in the early-'50s, so I don't know anything about it today.

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

18 hours ago, Dave Downs said:

I’ve always wondered about some things that are odd on my M.

First thing is the gearshift knob - it’s a metal casting, looks to have a part number 9837D. I’ve never seen 

The starter button is on the left side of the steering post, again like an H. Most M’s I’ve seen have a foot pedal or a pin through the bottom of the steering post to activate the button mounted at the bottom of the gas tank support. There is a hole through the steering post that the pin would fit if the button was mounted on the tank support.

I wonder if these items are due to it being a wartime build?

I have never seen it in the parts books, but now I am wondering if some were built that way during the war?  I have a 1945 M that has the starter button in that location as well. Maybe it was just a popular modification over the years?  But when a 1944 and a 1945 M both show up that way,  you do start to wonder. 

[Gearclash]

It wouldn’t surprise me at all that during WWII rubber shifter knobs were replaced with iron.  Rubber was in short supply compared to iron.  As I recall, in some instances new tractor models that had been sold with rubber wheels briefly went to steel wheels to reserve rubber for the war effort.  Civilians had a hard time obtaining new tires as well.