TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 1/18/2024

[953 nut 55,175]

The early days of the real  Tractor

 

The man who saw the potential for marrying a machine with farm work was Henry Ford, who spent his child hood on his father’s farm. A group of unscrupulous entrepreneurs recognized the success Henry Ford had with the Model T automobile and to capitalize on the goodwill of the Ford name they set up ‘The Ford Tractor Company’, paying a company clerk for the use of his last name. However instead of a long-drawn-out legal battle, Henry Ford chose to use another brand name for his tractor manufactured by Henry Ford & Son: Fordson. Mr. Ford was the pioneer for mass production of automobiles. Less well known is that Ford Motor Company also claims that Ford was the first to mass produce tractors for the U.S. farm industry.

The first experimental Ford tractor was built in 1907, and at the time, Henry Ford called it his “Automobile plow.” The first tractor came with an engine equipped with copper water jackets and its rear wheels were taken from a binder. Ford called his first, mass-produced tractor the Fordson.

The tractor was first built for export in 1916 and 1917 and introduced to American farmers in 1918. On a historical note, The Fordson tractor had revolutionized all creative ideas of tractor design and efficiency. The mass-produced Fordson tractor created an affordable piece of valuable machinery to farmers, and made it possible for the average farmer to purchase a new and reliable tractor.

The Fordson tractor went into mass production in 1917. The Fordson was the first tractor that succeeded in being cheaper to maintain than horses.

The Fordson tractor was the first lightweight, mass-produced tractor on the market. The models sold for considerably less than competitive models.

 In 1917, the British government had requested assistance from Mr. Ford to build large quantities of tractors to help raise urgently needed food to counteract the effect of an enemy blockade during World War I.

During the 1920s, 75 percent of all tractors built in the United States were Fordsons. The tractors could also be used for hauling lumber, coal, brick and other material and sometimes even switching loaded freight cars, the removal of snow from sidewalks and many other industrial uses as well. In all the various uses, the Fordson tractor was proving to be a very profitable investment for the growing Ford Motor Co.

The Fordson did the work faster and more economically than other tractors. When it was called upon to replace horses, the Fordson tractor had demonstrated its market dominance.

In 1928, Fordson tractor production was halted in the United States, only to be resurrected in 1939 as the Ford Model 9N. About that time, Henry Ford began to develop a working relationship with the late Harry Ferguson. The Ferguson-Sherman company, which made plow and tractor parts, marketed the Model 9N for sales distribution from 1939-1946. After the war, all production of the Ford Model 9N tractor was halted. In 1946, the relationship between Harry Ferguson and Ford Motor Company severed.

 

                                                  

                                                                                       

Edited January 18 by 953 nut

[peter lena 8,608]

@953 nut  think the  FORDSON  display  at the ZEGREY FARM BARN , is very good , also like the oiled patina look on a number  era tractors ,  , of converting open space , anything , made those early units the perfect fit , imagine , no rules . regulations  to convert your land , that also presented the , vital need for an OSHA  type of help , still many decades out . we are looking  , at the remnants of that . enjoy them , Pete

[Mike'sHorseBarn 2,998]

I'm quite partial to the ford farm tractors. My grandfather had an 8n and I used to have an 8n. Currently have a 601 workmaster.

 

 

[953 nut 55,175]

One of the farmers on the road where I grew up had a Ford 8N that he bought new in 1950. He had no children and would hire several of us boys to help him bring in hay and straw, He never let any of us drive the 8N, it was in showroom contrition when he passed away in 1975 because it was his baby. 

[oliver2-44 9,726]

The tractors could also be used for hauling lumber, coal, brick and other material and sometimes even switching loaded freight cars, the removal of snow from sidewalks and many other industrial uses as well.

I posted these before. But as 953's article says, Fordsons were retrofitted for a lot of user applications.  This one has a reinforced saddle across the rear end with a pin hitch for early semi trailers. it also has a heavier than normal front axle and a distributor ignition instead of a magneto.

You could just imagine this one being used in some early shipping factory yard or freight terminal moving trailers around.  It would be neat to save/refurbish an unusual one like this, but man would it be a project.  It would be easier to find a running one and move the special parts over to it.