Ford Tractor Division, Eng Dept.

[Brian in MI]

I posted these photos on the Ford board yesterday, and I thought other people may enjoy them that may not venture over there very often.

These photos are from Ford Tractor Division"s eng. dept. These were givin to me by one of my Dad"s co-workers who came to Ford Powertrain after the closing of FTID (Ford Tractor & Implement Division).

These were taken around 1957 and show model 860"s using a mounted 1 row picker/sheller and a forage harvester. Both implements are Ford.

I hope everyone enjoys looking at these as much as I do.
Enjoy

 

[Brian in MI]

1 row mounted picker / sheller. Not sure how long it survived into production, but I have this photo and a brochure dated 1961 showing it. It is a model 601.

 

[Brian in MI]

This a Ford forage harvester, this was under development when this photo was taken.

 

[Brian in MI]

another view of the harvester.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Thanks for the photos, would have never thought there was a enough power for that.

 

[bradley martin]

Was the tractor plant located ar Romeo, Mi.??

 

[bradk]

Jeez,didn"t they have a bigger tractor for the forage harvestor? Check out the weights!

Thanks for pics!!!!!!!!

 

[Brian in MI]

Yes, and No. untill 1974 Tractor production was in Highland Park, then it was transfered to Romeo, where it stayed till 1991-1992 when all production was transfered to Antwerp Belgium and Basildon Eangland.

Troy was where the Engineering and test building was. 2500 Maple Rd. to be exact. It is now a condo farm.

More insignifiant trivia, the origional adress of the Eng. Bldg. was Birmingham MI, but in the late 1950's there was a zip code change and it became Troy, MI.

 

[Luke S]

Really neat pictures! Thanks for posting. It appears that the forage harvester has it's own mounted engine so all the tractor has to do is move the weight, still a lot of weight for a little ford though!

 

[John730D]

Look closer. It appears to have a power unit on the harvester.

 

[Jeff-oh]

Great pictures. Love them

 

[Anonymous-0]

Great pictures...Thank you for sharing. In one of my new parts catalogs for 2008 they offer some reproduction pictures of Ford pics especially in the plant -assemlylines ect. some historical Deere, early Fordsons being assemled ect, early Ferguson and Henry Ford 35 differnt photos. really neat Detroit history.

 

[papafoutz]

If you look at the truck,it is on something so the tractor is also pulling the truck. That would have to be some load to pull.
Wouldnt want to use that set up on hilly ground.

papafoutz

 

[Brian in MI]

Which catalog woulod that be? I'am always looking for ford Tractor items.

 

[Fordfarmer]

Nope, the 800/900's (later 801/901)were the biggest tractors Ford had until the 6000 came out in '61.

 

[Texasmark]

Pretty obvious that the farm where that thing goes is going to need more than one tractor.....at least if it were my farm. No way would I unhook that sucker to go out and mow the lot or plow the garden or scrape the driveway.

Mark

 

[Old Timer in Ohio]

Hey there Brian;
Harvester must be self powered ,I
don't see a P.T.O.shaft back to it.
Bob
God Bless

 

[KIP in MX]

Neat photos. I´m suprised that they used a Wisconsin V-4 engine on the forage harvester instead of a Ford 4 cyl industrial. Weight maybe?

 

[Anonymous-0]

Do you know if the pictures were taken at The Ford Tractor Photo Farm off Gotfredson road north of Ypsilanti, MI?

 

[Brian in MI]

I don"t know where they were taken. They have a stamp on the back for the Engineering Dept in Birmingham, with a id number. My guess is they were taken at Ford"s test farm, wherever that was I"am not sure. By the way it sounds from other posts Ford had test farms all over the SE MI area.

 

[Anonymous-0]

My grandfather was an engineer for Ford tractor. I'm not sure of the years, but I know he worked at the Romeo plant until it switched over. He also attended Henry Ford Trade school when he was in High School. Unfortunately, he wasn't in my life a lot growing up, especially before I got into tractors so much. Just when he started coming around more, he passed away. I'm sure there are many things I could have learned about the development of these tractors.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Simpler, I would think. More compact and no radiator. Wisconson's aren't light. Dave

 

[Anonymous-0]

My uncle has a corn picker just like the one in the picture. He used it one season did not like it too top heavy with a load of corn. might go see if he will sell it

 

[Spook]

Neat pics!

 

[Anonymous-0]

Did they make a two row picker for that tractor also? Had a neighbor that had a jubilee and he had what looked like what you posted other than the grain tank. Of course by the time I seen the picker on his sale he was pushing daisies so couldn't ask him.

 

[Brian in MI]

They did make a 2 row model # 602, but it was for the narrow front models 700 & 900 series. I have a picker / husker 1 row nodel#601 that I got last fall. Looks very similar to the picker/shell in the photo.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I sell Sparex Tractor Parts, call me and I tell you or try to fax you what they have. But Im near Marine City, Mi. 810-434-0108