The Ford Ferguson Myth
You’ve heard rumors that it exists. Your neighbor swears that his grandfather had one when he was a boy, and there’s a guy two counties over who’s got one in his barn. You might even think you have a Ford Ferguson, but the truth is… it doesn’t exist. So why do so many people believe it does?
The confusion surrounding the existence of the Ford Ferguson as a distinct model stems from the history and development of Ford’s N Series tractors. In 1917 Henry Ford created Ford & Son a company dedicated to inexpensive mass produced tractors designed to make farming more efficient. The first tractor Ford brought to market was the Fordson Model F which was in production in the U.S. from 1917 to 1928 when Ford ceased domestic production due to the war. However, the Model F was still being produced in Ireland with a few slight variations as the Model N.
In the late 30’s Ford resumed production in the U.S and began development on a new N Series tractor. Enter Irishman Harry Ferguson. Harry Ferguson approached Ford with a revolutionary new three point hitch system with draft control for mounted plows utilizing hydraulics rather than springs. The patented new system was already being used in Ireland on the Ferguson-Brown “Ferguson A”. Henry and Harry entered into what later became known as the famous “handshake agreement” and in 1939 ford unveiled the first Ford tractor with the Ferguson System. After Henry Ford’s death Ford continued to produce the N Series tractors – now the 8N- complete with the Ferguson System but without Harry Ferguson’s involvement. This blatant infringement of Fergusons’ patents led to a $240,000,000 lawsuit and the introduction in 1953 of the NAA also known as the Golden Jubilee.
What it really boils down to is semantics. Although Ford did produce the 9N and the 2N using the Ferguson Hitch System and the tractors were often referred to as the Ford-Ferguson 9N/2N. The Ford tractor remained distinct from the Ferguson tractors and “Ferguson” was never an actual Ford model.
