Parts from an IH factory from the 70's

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by bocephus1991

It could be true . I read somewhere the they used Cubs to move people and parts around the factory . Would be great if someone could verify that's what they were used for. They both look alike except for the main supports are a little different on both. Thanks for sharing!

From what he says, one was for the front, one for the rear. Maybe the front attached outside the frame, the rear on the inside?

[Mike McKown]

My cousin worked for IH in the Louisville Plant where Cubs were built. He was in maintenance. He had his own cub that he rode around on that had a platform similar to what is posted here. It was to carry tools and parts. He worked in the Foundry, not assembly where the tractors were assembled. He said plant security also used a couple of Cubs to ride around the plant on.

My guess after talking to him, those platforms were a local invention and even if they were used in a plant, carried no IH part number for the design.

[jimbob200521]

Originally Posted by Mike McKown

My cousin worked for IH in the Louisville Plant where Cubs were built. He was in maintenance. He had his own cub that he rode around on that had a platform similar to what is posted here. It was to carry tools and parts. He worked in the Foundry, not assembly where the tractors were assembled. He said plant security also used a couple of Cubs to ride around the plant on.

My guess after talking to him, those platforms were a local invention and even if they were used in a plant, carried no IH part number for the design.

These came from the plant in Moline, IL. And you're right, I'm told they were just put together to use around the plant, nothing official so no IH badge.

[DoubleO7]

Kinda funny to look at them and then think they built them with the supports too close together.
Had to cut the first ones off and add material to the outside of the originals.

At a factory that DESIGNS and builds much more complicated assemblies.

Or maybe after the narrow frames got retired, they altered them to fit onto wide frames?

[DoubleO7]

If those tractors were used inside the plants, were they running on propane?

[olds45512]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

If those tractors were used inside the plants, were they running on propane?

Probably not cause that was back when men were men and not a bunch of that were afraid of everything killing them. Ive had guys quit working for use because they were worried about getting cancer from the chemicals, not that its not a legitimate fear but if your gonna be a bodyman you cant spend all day worrying about putty dust getting on your skin.

[Maxwelhse]

Originally Posted by DoubleO7

Kinda funny to look at them and then think they built them with the supports too close together.
Had to cut the first ones off and add material to the outside of the originals.

At a factory that DESIGNS and builds much more complicated assemblies.

Or maybe after the narrow frames got retired, they altered them to fit onto wide frames?

The design of the tractors wasn't done at the factory. At least I was always told it was done in Chicago? In either event, I doubt design had much to do with what amounts to a board on the front of a tractor.

and... you clearly haven't met enough "maintenance" guys in your life. Most factories have an army of them and about 4 are good (over 4 shifts usually at most factories, so one poor guy is suicidal from being bothered all the time and he seldom actually gets any work done.. he becomes a "field" manager) and a dozen are moderately good.

The others do stuff like that... It works, but you don't call those guys when its time to rebuild your stamping press. The factory needs ALL of the different types, so it works out.

edit: Now that I look more carefully I may take it back... It looks like the two arm "parts" are of different thickness.. I'm wondering if the original arms bent/broke so they relocated them inboard and used heavier material?

Could be lack of material, by design, by repair, or just silly. It's still a cool thing to have around.

[DoubleO7]

Originally Posted by Maxwelhse

and... you clearly haven't met enough "maintenance" guys in your life. Most factories have an army of them and about 4 are good (over 4 shifts usually at most factories, so one poor guy is suicidal from being bothered all the time and he seldom actually gets any work done.. he becomes a "field" manager) and a dozen are moderately good.

The others do stuff like that... It works, but you don't call those guys when its time to rebuild your stamping press. The factory needs ALL of the different types, so it works out.


Could be lack of material, by design, by repair, or just silly. It's still a cool thing to have around.

And if those ""maintenance" guys are union, you are lucky to ever get anything fixed at all.

[Maxwelhse]

I've been down that road too and it wasn't that bad. I actually disliked being IN a union more than I minded working WITH unions. The "16" good ones are still the same theoretical number of good ones union or not. The good ones are usually good because they like money. OT = win for somebody on jackpot day when ya gotta have it NOW. FWIW I'm pretty sure the IH guys building cubs were represented (big strike in 80? 81?).

[red56turbo]

Could've been used in a factory, who knows but someone that worked there. And back in the mid 60's when a 100 was in a factory, those guys are all getting older. I have seen pics of modified 682's used in the factory that had hard tires and bumpers on them. I think those bumpers were more used for pushing things around and not hauling workers. Neat story though, Ryan.