Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
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Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and
manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 147,919 pages of
information and 233,587 images on early companies, their products and the
people who designed and built them.
[[Image:Im194503MC-Fordson.jpg|thumb| March 1945. ]]
Henry Ford set up the company Ford and Son in 1917, it later became known as '''Fordson'''. He had previously tried to interest the directors of the [[Ford Motor Co]] in producing agricultural machinery, but when this met with no success he set up the new company to market the tractor he had created.
[[Henry Ford]] set up the company [[Ford and Son]] in 1917; it later became known as '''Fordson'''. Henry had previously tried to interest the directors of the [[Ford|Ford Motor Co]] in producing agricultural machinery, but when this met with no success he set up the new company to market the tractor he had created.
* The [[Model F Fordson]] was supposedly the product of about fifty prototypes.
'''See also -
* [[Fordson: Buses]]
* [[Ford: Commercial Vehicles]]
* [[Fordson: Tractors]]
* The engine and gearbox were those used in the [[Ford Model B]] car and the tractor.
== See Also ==
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* Initially the '''Model F''' was produced on a limited scale, however in 1918 production increased substantially and in Britain the government placed an order for six thousand Model Fs.
== Sources of Information ==
<references/>
* To produce such a quantity of machines the assembly line methods used in the production of the [[Model T]] car were employed. This meant that the production costs were low so that the tractor could be sold at a price that the average farmer could afford.
* The tractor was used widely in Britain and the United States and also in Russia.
* The '''Model F''' tractor was so successful in the United States that many competitors went out of business. The '''Model F''' was not without its disadvantages but it was reliable, cheap to buy and cheap to run.
* In 1928 production was moved to a new factory in Cork, Ireland and it was here that the '''Model F''' became the '''Model N'''.
* The '''Model N''' was more powerful, had stronger front wheels and an improved wheel-grip. It also featured a governor, a water pump and a high-tension magneto.
* The location of the factory meant that all raw materials had to be imported and this increased the production costs, therefore the '''Fordson''' factory relocated to Dagenham in England.
* The '''Model N''' was selling well in the United Kingdom but Fordson's tractor sales in the United States were not as good as competitors designed machines which could outdo the '''Model N'''.
* '''Fordson''' then created the [[All-Around]] which was a general purpose row-crop tractor.
* The '''Fordson''' Dagenham plant continued to produce the '''Model N''' and in '''1945''' produced an updated model called the '''E27N'''. This featured an updated '''Fordson''' engine with a three forward and one reverse gearbox, a conventional clutch and a rear axle drive. It was powered by an in-line, four-cylinder side-valve engine that produced '''30 HP'''.
* In 1948 over fifty thousand '''E27Ns''' were produced with production ceasing with the arrival of the '''New Major''' in 1952.
* The '''New Major''' had six speed transmission and hydraulic three-point hitch and in '''1958''' the power was increased to '''43 HP''' and power steering was an optional extra. It was introduced at the '''1951 Smithfield Show'''.
* Following the '''New Major''' came the '''Super Major''' and '''New Performance Super Major'''. These both featured differential lock, disc brakes and draft control.
* The '''Dexta''' and '''Super Major''' tractors were the last models to manufactured under the '''Fordson''' name and in 1961 the United States and United Kingdom operations were combined.
==Buses==
* In 1911 the British plant for Ford was established in Trafford Park, Manchester.
* [[Ford|Fords]] formed the majority of fleets of the rural operators who ran after ''World War 1''.
* The chassis were cheap, reliable, and widely available.
* [[Ford]] commercials were renamed [[Fordson|Fordsons]] after 1933.
* Redbourn Group bought a number of bodies in 1935. They controlled operations in Thanet Kent.
* East Kent took over the company later in 1935 and disposed of [[Ford|Fords]].
* Two survived after this for a further 20 years by other owners.
* 1963 Ford introduced a 36ft two-axle chassis called the ''Thames 36''.
* 1965 Thames 36 was replaced by the '''R-series'''. It had an increased power output.
* The '''National Bus Company''' was a big customer of the R-series.
* 1973 The ''A'' chassis was launched. It had a short bonnet and was designed for gross vehicle weights.
* 1974 Ford introduced a ''semi-automatic control'' for their ''six-speed synchromesh gearbox''.
* 1977 The engine was modified and was inclined 45 degrees. This helped to reduce the noise of the vehicle.
* 1984 '''Devon General''' put a number of transits into operation in Exeter; the purpose - to replace the larger buses.
* Ford transits were used on nearly every public bus route.
* 1986 '''VE6''' model was introduced.
* The ''Transit'' is still available today. It has front suspension and many electronic engine controls.
==Sources of Information==
* From 1890 to the Present Day Farm Tractors by Michael Williams published in 2005 by Silverdale Books ISBN 978-1-84509-251-1
* From 1890 to the Present Day Farm Tractors by Michael Williams published in 2005 by Silverdale Books ISBN 978-1-84509-251-1
* The Complete Encyclopaedia of Tractors by Mirco de Cet published in 2006 by Rebo International ISBN 978-90-366-1893-9
* The Complete Encyclopaedia of Tractors by Mirco de Cet published in 2006 by Rebo International ISBN 978-90-366-1893-9
Latest revision as of 08:40, 4 June 2022
Grader (leveller) for unsealed roads. Exhibit at Pearns Steam World. March 1945.
Henry Ford set up the company Ford and Son in 1917; it later became known as Fordson. Henry had previously tried to interest the directors of the Ford Motor Co in producing agricultural machinery, but when this met with no success he set up the new company to market the tractor he had created.
