Model Equivalence

[Mike Newth]

I think that it would be useful to share intelligence on model/part equivalence. To give an example : I have a Ford 2120 which would have been a New Holland 2120 had it been built a year or two later - but it was actually made by Shibaura . I've no idea whether Shibaura made an identical model of their own which could be a source of second hand spares from a breaker or whether certain systems - say steering, engine etc. would be common to the Ford 2120 and one or more of their other creations and thus whether I potentially can get new or used parts cheaper under a different label.
In a world where the same part from within the same company can cost almost 15 times as much in one country as in another I have a feeling that end users could do with all the help we can get in opening up the market. Anyone got info to share?