Ferguson vs Ford

[John in Mich]

The BBC aired a video this past September, Tractor Wars, Ferguson versus Ford, produced in Northern Ireland by DoubleBand Studios, and partially filmed here in Michigan. It can be seen on Youtube. There are several scenes that show two of my tractors, my 1940 9N and my 1951 8N. I had agreed NOT to record the production, but I could not stop Youtube from putting it on the internet.
There is also a Ferguson collector with his tractor filmed in the old Ferguson factory in Detroit. Fun to watch. A bit biased for Harry Ferguson, but that is the way it was. Hope you enjoy it if you have not yet seen it.
On a side note, during some preparation for the arrival of the film crew, I discovered a box of my mother's, a photograph of my maternal Great-great grandparents...from Northern Ireland.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Cool, just watched it...

 

[Bruce(OR)]

Hit da link
Untitled URL Link

 

[Smalltowner]

Very interesting, thanks also to Bruce for the click link. I have relatives going back to 17th century in Ireland and merry old England. Its interesting to me that the Ferguson name survives to this day but Ford tractors are long gone.
Walt

 

[Mike OH]

Thanks for sharing the link. A very interesting video and very informative.

 

[Bruce(OR)]

Now to think that if Fords grandson hadn't stopped it, today might be John dear what?

 

[Mad Farmer]

(quoted from post at 16:45:18 01/10/23)

When I saw the title I thought this would be an N vs T0-20 comparison, not Harry vs Henry

Good historical on both though, thanks

 

[Eman85]

When Ford built the 8N with position control it was different than Ferguson's design. Did Ferguson come up with position control and was that in his patent? Do the Fregusons have position control? Did every brand with a 3pt have to pay Ferguson for his design?

 

[tractorguy2]

I'm pretty sure the Ferguson had position control. They did not have the lever to switch from position control to draft control like the 8n did. Most of the
competetion waited for the patents to run out before adding the 3pt to their line of tractors. Some companied came up with a modified design to get around the
patents.
Allis Chalmers had the Snap Coupler hitch which was basically an upside down 3pt. Had to remove the drawbar assembly to use SC implements

Case had the Eagle Hitch. It had fixed lower arms that didn't require the sway bars like the 8n.

International had the single point and two point Fast Hitch. Again the drawbar had to be removed to use the FT implements. Some loved the FH some hated it.
grandpa had a neighbor that farmed with only IH. Had six or seven 560's. He thought the Fast Hitch was better than any 3pt. Don't know how well it would work on
todays large implements.

Oliver and Minneapolis Moline I don't think had a 3pt till early 60's unless the late Super series Olivers had one.

If any manufactuer paid for the 3pt it was most likely John Deere. The 520 and 620 had a regular 3pt hitch setup in 55.

 

[Leroy]

Ferguson with the 20 series and the 30 series DID NOT have any position
contrpl same as the Ford 9N and 2N did not. They used the same design. Ford
brought out there position control with the 8N but Ferguson did NOT get a
position control the 35 series. When Ford came out with the 8N he and Hary
Furguson had seperated and Ford had to come up with a different style 3 point
so they did not use Harry's patent. All other makes of 3 point hitch did not
come on the market untill ther patent had expired. So they did not have to pay
Harry to use his design. Ferguson did not have position control untill 5 years
after Ford developed position controll.