The famous “77” had more baling capacity than most farms needed. Larger farms and custom operators found it ideal, but for most family farms it was larger than necessary. The new Model 66 was a near-perfect fit for small farms not in the commercial hay shipping business.

The new little “66” made a 14 X 18-inch bale instead of the 16 X 18-inch bale chamber cross section of the “77.” For many farmers this was an advantage because the smaller, lighter bales were easier to handle for storage and feeding.

For all that matter, the baling capacity of the new machine was not much less than that of its larger predecessor. Unlike the “77,” the new “66” did not skip a plunger stroke to tie each bale. The knotter worked amazingly fast in the instant the baler’s plunger was fully extended with the hay held in tight compression. So there was no interruption for tying, and it had a faster plunger speed.

In a baling race with the larger “77,” the new “66” could hold its own even if its bales were not as dense. If the “77” driver went fast enough to get well ahead of its new rival there was a tendency for it to break a flywheel shearbolt on hay slugs that formed during the brief moment the plunger stopped to tie a bale. By the time the shearbolt was replaced, the "66" would be ahead.

It was rumored the new baler would be priced well below the price of the “77,” which at the time cost nearly $2,500. As the New Holland sales organization gathered for the baler’s public introduction, one person in attendance recalls the enthusiasm was so high salesmen were “hanging from the rafters.” Finally, the price of the new machine was announced to the sales organization as being “only $1,850,” and the audience cheered. It was said the price had been calculated in reference to the price of a major competitor’s baler, with the New Holland machine marked just $5 higher.

Lighter in weight, the new baler also got by with less horsepower. With an auxiliary engine, it was easily handled by the Ford 8N or a similar utility tractor. PTO models needed a bit more horsepower.

Farmers by the thousands chose the new “66” to reduce labor and cut haymaking costs. Many started towing wagons to bale and load in a single trip over the field. It became a common scene in hayfields to see farm wives driving the tractor while their husbands loaded on the wagon.

More than 63,000 of the balers were sold before the color scheme was changed in 1955 from all red to red with a smart yellow pickup. Another 20,000 of these were sold for a total of more than 84,000 before it was replaced by the Model 68 in 1956. By then there was a self-propelled version, the Model 166. It had two engines, one to operate the baler and another to power the chassis.

The “66” made use of a radical design change. Basically, engineers turned the baler on its side so the wad-board would stuff hay into the bale chamber from the side instead of the top. This quarter rotation put the knotters on top instead of on the side. Like the rest of the machine, the knotters were reliable. The pickup was aggressive and may have been the most effective in the industry, as remembered 50 years later by Otto Luek, a member of the baler’s engineering team.

It was also one of the first New Holland machines designed with special consideration for low-cost manufacturing and shipping. With wheels removed it was only a little more than four feet tall for shipping, so the little balers could be stacked on end in a partial crate, flywheels down. This allowed a lot more balers per carload, and farmers were the ones who benefited by the much lower freight cost.

The “66” quickly earned a top-notch reputation for reliability. Many of the Model 66 balers were in continuous operation for 25 years or longer. Even today, 50 years after its introduction, it is a special treat to an old farmer’s eyes to occasionally see this little farm machine from his youth still pushing out the bales.