General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL/ SYNTHETIC/ GLASS/ RUBBER TIRES

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

285.0 cm

Width

162.0 cm

Height

130.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Power sources

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Ford

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Dearborn

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1939-1984

Canada

Unknown

Function

The tractor is a motorized vehicle used to pull and actuate other vehicles or implements that are not power-driven. Tractors are primarily designed for agricultural work: for cultivation, spraying, and harvesting operations. The first tractors, developed in the mid-nineteenth century, were steam-powered and were not very mobile: their main purpose was to power threshers and other equipment. The development of gas-engines in the late 19th century, and their integration into tractors, gave the machines more mobility and flexibility. Robert C. Williams writes in "Fordson, Farmall, and Poppin' Johnny: A history of the farm tractor and its impact on America" (1987) that "Of all the farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life...In one generation between 1920 and 1950, most farms in the United States changed from dependence on draft animals to dependence on mechanical power."

Technical

First hydraulically controlled mounted equipment tractor with a system of draft control invented by Harry Ferguson in England. Start of a new era in agricultural with integral equipment. In 1938, Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson made a verbal agreement to produce Ferguson system tractors. Designed by Ferguson's group, the tractors were manufactured by Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, MI. At the same time Ferguson began designing implements to accompany the tractor, which were marketed first by the Sherman-Ferguson Mfg. Co. and, after 1941, by Harry Ferguson Inc. In 1947 the Ford-Ferguson connection was sundered and in 1947 Harry Ferguson Inc. began production of tractors in Detroit. The "Ferguson system" involved a tractor with an automatic hydraulic draft control and three-point hitch and a wheel-less implement, integrating tractor and implement. The design allowed attached implements (such as 1985.0046) to be raised and lowered by a lever. The system prevented lateral swing of the implement and prevented rearing when an implement encountered an obstruction because the weight of the implement was carried by the tractor, fixing its wheels to the ground [See C. Fraser, “Harry Ferguson inventor & pioneer,” London: John Murray, 1972. Pp. 90-98, 181-183].

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

CAST LETTERING ON FRONT ABOVE GRILLE 'FORD'/ CAST LETTERING ON FRONT GRILLE READS 'FERGUSON SYSTEM'

Missing

From CA of 02/07/2000 by Kevin Machan: Undetermined - Unknown.

Finish

CHASSIS & TOOL BOX PAINTED RED/ GREYPAINTED HOOD, SEAT, PARTS/ BLACK SYNTHETIC WHEEL

Decoration

N/A