Friday, September 11, 2015

Fordson Tractor


This tractor is a Fordson Model F built from 1917-1928. The company name was Henry Ford and Son, Inc. got shortened to Fordson for the tractor name. This was the tractor that out competed horses on farms and put many of the manufacturers of steam traction engines and giant oil pulls out of business. Henry Ford designed this tractor to use some of the same parts as in his cars and trucks. The Nebraska Tests measured 14 drawbar horsepower and 26 belt horsepower making it perfect for agriculture. It pulled 1813 pounds at the drawbar at 3.21 miles per hour. In 1921 Ford sold 35,000 of these machines in the U.S. and around the world. Sales increased to 67,000 in 1922, and 100,000 in 1923.

It originally sold for $785 (equal to $10,829 in 2015 dollars), but when International Harvester and John Deere brought out competitive tractors, Ford dropped the price to $620, and then later to $395 (or $5,422 in 2015 dollars). In 1928 Ford dropped the tractor business, but continued to supply motors to Harry Ferguson in Great Britain who made many advances on the Model F eventually resulting in the 1939 Model 9N built in Ireland and imported into the U.S. as a Ford-Ferguson. They were later built in the U.S. by Ford to become the most popular tractor of all time. By 2001 half of all  9N Ford tractors were still in operation while the other half are stored waiting for restoration. 

14 comments:

  1. Quite a story... you know your tractor history as you demonstrated on my site too.

    http://2look.blogspot.com/2015/09/for-sale.html

    I see no rubber tires... steel wheels?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I thought you would like the steam pump!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a great picture of a wonderful old tractor--- but i've always loved the look of the 9N.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Loved reading about this Fordson Tractor! I had not seen a pic of it before. Wouldn't that be fun to have a tractor collection! In Wyoming there are some farms with a few tractors that are older on display on their farms. I have always been fascinated by tractors. I had to sell my newer model tractor back in 2011. It only had 50 hours on it. :(

    ReplyDelete
  5. great b&w ! i like the old ones very much, and it must be so very interesting what he had experienced :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. It's a great looking old tractor. I hope it is still in working condition even if it does show its age a little.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great photo, and I love the history. I must show my youngest son. He has loved the "grey diesel" (Ferguson T20 - I think) since he first drove one at the age of 12. They seem to go on forever. This old Fordson looks to be still in working order.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for the detailed explanation - what a wonderful old tractor.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for sharing the history, I had no idea. With those front wheels, it looks like it could run on rails. I love old machinery!

    ReplyDelete
  10. An interesting post, and great shot of this old tractor!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. My dad farmed on a fordson and bought one as a collector. My brother has it.


    ReplyDelete
  12. Very interesting read! I never knew Ford had a company with his son. Seeing that tractor is like stepping back in time. I can imagine people standing around admiring it and being astonished at the amount of work it could perform. Sad that it put some companies out of business but that is capitalism!

    Heidi Sutton @ Ag Source Magazine

    ReplyDelete