The "Letter" series of tractors was brought out in 1939. They had rubber gearshift knobs, when the war started, those were no longer rubber, but cast iron. They also had "war model" tractors.............no starter, generator or lights. All of this done to save war materials. I've seen few of these war models, but my uncle had one, don't know what year. I've got a '42 model H, it has an electrical system. The war models, didn't even have the hole machined in the bellhousing for a starter.
Dad was the only one left on the farm during the war, both brothers (older) were in it. The oldest brother told dad before he went off, that the magneto on the F-20 (their only tractor) was getting weak and what to do when it gave out. It gave out of course, dad took it off and tried to be smart about marking how it was mounted, he got in the car and took it to town (he was 12 years old), brought it back and used his marks to put it on..................it threw the crank halfway across the field. He went back and timed it like his brother told him to, and it worked. Lucky to not get a broken arm out of the deal.
