Did all 8N come with headlights?

[S10Vette]

I am rebuilding the engine and hydraulics on a 1951 Ford 8N that my dad bought in 1951 and I have used for many decades, and also attending to other maintenance. I would like to put headlights on it, which is pretty straight forward, but out of curiosity did they normally come standard with headlights and tail lights ? There aren't many old photos of this tractor, but the ones I do have don't show lights, and there are no mounting holes for them.

 

[Royse]

None did as far as I know.
They were dealer/owner installed options.
If you have original sheetmetal without holes I
would leave it that way. If you want headlights,
save the original sheetmetal and buy some with
holes already in it and use that for working purposes.

 

[S10Vette]

Thanks, that makes sense and good suggestion on not putting holes in the original sheetmetal. What made me think they might be standard is that most I see have lights and some aftermarket lights are advertised as "original design" or appearance. Dealer installed option explains it.

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

No N-Series or Hundred Series tractor came from Detroit factories with lights installed. Lighting kits were accessories available as dealer options. Early 9Ns and 2Ns used the big CM HALL headlights and a TAURUS taillight. Ford made their Tract-O-Lite headlights to replace the Hall style. 8N-15500 Implement Lamps (worklight) did not arrive until 1950. The taillight was revamped at this time to the Ford DUOLAMP style replacing the TAURUS brand. I have some original Tract-O-Lite headlights and worklight restored and ready to mount on your tractor -my email is open...

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

 

[Tim PloughNman Daley]

The Ford 8N (Hundred and Thousand Series too) used 'Tract-O-Lite' headlights if supplied by Ford, but not necessarily 'dealer installed'. T-O-L was Ford's trademarked name for their tractor lights made at the Ford Flat Rock, MI light plant. Anything else is aftermarket supplied. The 8N doglegs had punch-outs on the sheet metal to knock out when you wanted to add lights -you did not and do not need to drill any extra holes. On the rear fenders, you simply removed fender bolts to mount the rear light fender brackets. ALL N-SERIES and HUNDRED SERIES FORD TRACTOR lighting kits were available as accessories at the local Ford Tractor dealer, sometimes was tacked on to an existing car/truck dealer. You had the OPTION of buying a kit or any of its components outright and installing them yourself or letting the dealer install them -it was your choice. Hope this helps clarify it...

Tim *PloughNman* Daley(MI)

 

[S10Vette]

Well you are (not surprisingly) correct about the punch outs. Just went out to the garage with a flashlight, checked and sure enough there are punch outs right where you said they would be. Great knowledge base on this forum, you guys know your stuff.