1937 International Harvester D-40 Truck.
• International Harvester was formed in 1902 under J.P. Morgan’s personal guidance as a merger between the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and the Deering Harvester Company along with three smaller agricultural equipment firms.
• Interestingly Cyrus McCormick invented a reaper when he was 22 and his patent was challenged by John Manny of Rockford, Illinois in 1854. Manny hired local attorney Abraham Lincoln to represent him.
• 1905 saw International Harvester manufacture equipment in Norrköping, Sweden (1905) and Hamilton, Ontario to handle the overseas demand.
• International Harvester started selling tractors in 1906 from the newly acquired Ohio Manufacturing Company.
• 1909 The Auto Wagon, or the “Farmer’s Wagon” could have the rear seat removed and haul 800 lbs. of cargo.
• In 1907, the company introduced the Auto Buggy, the company’s first passenger vehicle.
• With a large dealer network servicing the agricultural market across the continent, International Harvester provides trucks for all the continental US military bases.
• McCormick-Deering ”TracTracTors” of 1929 were IH’s First Crawler Tractor for construction and agriculture.
• 1931 saw International Harvester getting an Exclusive Contract for supplying trucks for the Hoover Dam project.
• 1934 International Innovation the first tandem axle, six-wheel trucks, providing power to both rear axles.
• For 1937 the D-Series replaced the C series and all models ranging from 1/2-ton to 10-ton capacity, were introduced within a month, unlike the standard practice of gradual implementation of new models.
• The depression had been cruel to many manufacturers but International Harvester had sold 100,000 trucks in 1936, a first for International Harvester and were financially stable.
• Profits of $29,760,000 for 1936 funded the new designs for the 1937 trucks. $16,000,000 in dividends were paid out to stockholders.
• At the beginning of 1937 International Harvester employed over 50,000 workers.
• In the mid thirties, International Harvester had 5,200 truck dealers while over 3,000 of them also sold farm equipment.
• For 1938 they introduced a Raymond Loewy designed step-van and had also provided 20 of their models with available diesel engines.
• An unexpected economic downturn in 1938 saw a drop in sales of 27%.
• for 1939 International Harvester offered 49 models of trucks.
INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER MODEL D-40
Specifications:
Rated Capacity: 2 to 3 tons.
Carrying Capacity: 9,500 lb.
Available Wheelbases: (WB) 134″(3.4 m) 146″(3.7m) 158″(4m) 176″(4.47m)
Turning circle (feet), 46.5′(14m) 48′(14.6m) 53′(16m) 58′(17.6m)
Frame: Pressed steel channel with deep center section,
Engine: International Harvester, valve-in-head type,
6-cylinder (replaceable cylinders); 259.76 cu. – in. maximum brake h.p., 89 at 3,200 r.p.m.
Maximum torque, 192 pound-feet at 800-1,600 r.p.m.
Carburetor: Downdraft type. Oil-bath type air cleaner.
Underseat fuel tank of 21-gal. capacity.
Clutch: 11-in., single-plate, with vibration damper.
Transmission: 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse with quiet
Axle Reductions: 5.625 to 1, 6.5 to 1, or 7.4 to 1.
Brakes: Service: 4-wheel, hydraulic, self-energizing, internal-expanding, two-shoe type with vacuum booster.
Tires: 7.00-20 balloons, front and dual rear.
Controls: Left-hand drive. Spark, throttle, and light controls on instrument panel.
• Standard Equipment: Cowl and dash; front fenders; short running boards; front bumper; spare rim; tire carrier; license brackets; horn; electric headlights and combination stop and tail lights; air cleaner; jack and tools. Speedometer, heat indicator, ammeter, gasoline gauge, oil-pressure gauge, instrument light, choke, and throttle controls mounted in panel on dash.
• Special additional cost Equipment: All-steel cab with one-piece V-type windshield, rear-vision mirror, and windshield wiper; de luxe and sleeper cabs; high-tension magneto ignition; power tire pump; oil filter; Finish: Frame and wheels, red. Fenders, running boards, and aprons, black baked enamel. Grille, hood and cowl, a glossy, durable finish in a choice of four attractive colors. Lamp rims, hub caps and bumper, chromium plated. Polished stainless steel trim on grille and hood side panels.
