History of the Ford 2N
The 2N is the neglected middle child of the N Series family. There at the dinner table but frequently overlooked in the conversation, squashed as it is between the ever changing 9N and the bold and dramatic 8N. Worse yet, upon seeing an early 2N with a hand-crank people generally assume that the 2N is a much older tractor than its siblings. While we can blame the scarcity of raw materials for the early 2N’s antiquated appearance it’s hard to determine why so many more people tend to gravitate towards the other N Series tractors.
More than just the eventual evolution of the 9N or a precursor to the 8N the 2N presents interesting challenges for the collector or hobbyist in its own right and is an example of American ingenuity, perseverance and friends in high places.
America may not have officially entered the war until December 1941 but by 1942 shortages were already being felt. Raw materials had become so restricted that Ford was forced to revert to building tractors without batteries, generators or even rubber tires. Not only were resources restricted there was a freeze on price increases for existing models. Ever the entrepreneurs, Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson decided they could simply go back to the basics and still turn a profit. Enter the 2N, the 9N after three years of virtually nonstop changes with just a few slight modifications made necessary by the war.
The 2N still possessed the “L” head engine, frame and other major components of the 9N but the battery and generator were replaced by a hand-crank and magneto and the rubber tires were swapped for solid steel wheels. Since the 2N was technically a “new” model the price freeze didn’t apply and Ford and Ferguson could raise prices while selling a tractor that was now a throw back to earlier models, relying on old fashioned manpower to start. Late in 1942 - and opinions vary on this - either Henry Ford or Harry Ferguson made a trip to Washington to impress upon the government the importance of tractors to the American economy and the war effort. Within weeks of the visit Ford was once again able to begin producing the 2N with standard tires, batteries and generators. Having artfully avoided the freeze and restrictions on materials Ford and Ferguson continued to produce the 2N until 1947; modifying the steering wheel and grill in 1942, adding a pressurized radiator in 1943 and changing the radius rods in 1944. From 1944 to 1947 the engineers at Ford pretty much left the 2N alone apparently having decided that there were simply no more improvements to be made.
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