The History of the Bradford Factory

Built in the IH Bradford factory, and initially called ‘The Little Giant’  the International Harvester B-250 was first of the ‘Bradford Tractors’ to be introduced. The Bradford works was formerly the Jowett cars and van factory and also built the Bristol crawlers for a period.

The B-250, first appeared in the home market at the end of 1955. 3,435 were built in 1956. It’s debut was at the 1955 Royal Smithfield Show at London’s Earl’s Court. Known as the ‘Little Giant’ it was far in front of the competition.

In 1957 production had really got going and over 12,000 were produced.

Reg Kelly, works manager on the 25,000 B-250

Designed to offer a higher specification alternative to the likes of the Fordson Dexta and Massey Ferguson 35.

The B-250 was compact, nimble, and lightweight. It was comprehensively equipped, with a specification that included live hydraulics for uninterrupted flow, an automatic pick-up hitch, and inboard disc brakes.

The first real production tractor to have a differential lock.

The 30-horsepower, four-cylinder diesel tractor put its power to the rear wheels via a five-forward/one-reverse gearbox.

Three years later in 1958 the B-250 welcomed a bigger brother: the B-275. Of a similar design, the larger tractor not only produced an additional 5 horsepower from a tweaked version of the same BD-144 engine, but incorporated an eight-speed transmission that combined a four forward/one reverse gearbox with a high/low range to double the number of available speeds.

The B-250 was the first tractor to be built at Bradford, it was the first of a whole range of models, they were really so much better than the competition at the time, the basics of having a differential lock (Diff-lock) as standard, a completely ‘live’ hydraulic system, disc brakes were all way out in front of the competition. The basic design factors were carried on through all of the ‘Bradford Tractors’. These various models carried on in production until 1982. They then carried on as Mahindra Tractors in India and they have carried on so that it is the most successful tractor type in the world.

The ‘New’ IH B-275 (1958)

This Report came from the Farmer and Stockbreeder of 1958

In 1958 International Harvester introduced the B-275 a close relative of their existing B-250 model.

The B-275 is fitted with a 35 b.h.p. diesel engine. The B-275 has 8 forward and 2 reverse transmission. Fitted with features such as the differential lock, disc brakes, ‘live’ hydraulics and a reversible ‘cat’ 1 and ‘cat’ 2 linkage.

With the B-275 the first six gears are spaced between 1½ and 6½ m.p.h. At the critical operating speed of 4 m.p.h. (obtained in fourth gear), changing down gives 3.4 m.p.h. changing up gives 5.1 m.p.h. This gives the B-275 optimum performance for many tasks. The constant-running P.T.O. is driven through first stage of the two-stage clutch. This is very useful when baling, combing and forage harvesting.

The B-275 price is £ 623 ex-works, standard fitting with 4.00 x 19 front tyres and 10 x 28 4-ply rear tyres.

The B-250 price with standard equipment has been reduced by £17 to £ 545 ex-works. (All prices as per 1958) 

This history is being worked on, should you have anything to help, I would be very grateful to hear from you. Mike Huntington michaelhuntington43@gmail.com Web site secretary. Thank you.

The B-414

1961 Now in 2021 the B-414 is it’s 60 year anniversary. Wow !!!!

A revised model the B-414 started life in 1961. The B-250 was also discontinued in the same year.

The 434 arrives in 1966

The 434 was the first IH made at Bradford to not have the Letter B as a prefix. This model carried on until 1972.

The 276 arrived in 1968 and replaced the B-275.

The 276 replaced the B-275 it was rather short lived and was replaced in 1972.

The International 384 from 1977 till 1982

The 384 was built at the Bradford, England factory of International Harvester in the UK, from 1977 till 1982, and under license by IH’s joint venture in India, Mahindra Tractors. This was a compact 42 hp (31 kW) model with the modern cab that had become compulsory for noise reduction. The tractor was relatively low profile as the driver straddled the transmission rather than the tall flat decked cabs of some makes. This made it a popular tractor with stock farmers as it could fit in buildings. The 384 was sold without a cab from 1978-1982 in the US, where it served as an update of the 364, using the same International BD-154 4-cylinder diesel engine.

The last tractor manufactured at Bradford was a non-cab 384, made for export, it was fitted with a down-swept exhaust and headlight fitted in the top front grille.

1982 Sadly the Bradford facility closed in 1982, at the height of IH’s financial troubles, while the Wheatley Hall Road and Carr Hill factories in Doncaster transferred to new ownership in 1985, with Tenneco’s purchase of the IH ag group.