N Series History and the 9N
Over 884,000 N series tractors were sold between 1939 and 1952 and an astonishing number of them are still in use today; but to truly appreciate the first of the N Series tractors and its revolutionary impact on tractor development and farming you need to know a little about the early history of ford tractors.
When Henry Ford decided to enter the tractor business, he did so despite far from enthusiastic support from the board of directors at Ford Motor Company. Never one to let bureaucracy stand in his way in 1917 Ford formed a separate company named Ford & Son, retaining complete ownership, and pursued tractor manufacturing with the same passion and perseverance he displayed in auto making. Ford’s early tractors brought affordable mass produced farm mechanization to the rural farmer increasing production and profits during a time when the majority of America’s male workforce was engaged in the war overseas. Unfortunately, early tractors – most notably the early Fordson N and F models - were infamous for rearing up and flipping over, often killing or severely maiming the driver. This dangerous turn of events would occur when implements attached to the rear of the tractor caught on something or became stuck - pulling the tractor up short and yanking it backward. One of the most popular stories regarding the Fordson's notoriety for toppling maintains that one farm magazine only half-jokingly claimed that Ford should paint “prepare to meet thy god” on the tractors fenders instead of his name as a warning to potential buyers*. Ford ignored the problem as long as he could – as he did most problems – before swinging into action. Once he discovered a solution however he implemented it with alacrity. Henry’s solution and some would say the farmers salvation appeared in the guise of Irishman Harry Ferguson.
Inventor and entrepreneur Harry Ferguson had successfully built a Three-Point Hitch mechanism utilizing hydraulics rather than springs. The new system allowed for depth control while plowing and provided better traction, placing the weight and work of plowing on the tractor itself rather than the implements and virtually eliminated the implement hang-ups that caused tipping. Henry and Harry entered into a gentleman’s agreement to produce a new line of Ford tractors using Ferguson’s hitch and the 9N was born.
The 9N debuted on the American market in 1939 as a general-purpose row crop at an affordable $585. It came equipped with a 4 cylinder "L" head engine with 6:1 compression ratio and three-speed transmission.
Ford's first production run turned out somewhere between six and eight hundred (some estimates place the number as high as 3,000) of the earliest 9N’s with cast aluminum hoods, side panels and chrome plated grills. Ford’s plant manager Charles Sorensen hadn’t wasted any time in implementing his orders to get production started immediately and began producing the machines before the plant was even completely ready setting the stage for the 9N’s future as it continued to undergo a dizzying array of running production changes over the next four years. Although the aluminum hoods, side panels and grills were a short-lived and unplanned adaptation the 9N’s original four-spoke steering wheel with chrome center cap survived until late 1940. Other oddities that appear on some of the earliest models are the placement of the crankcase breather and oil filter both of which are considerably closer to the rear of the block than on later models. Everyone’s favorite mystery however and the topic of much speculation was the left hand stabilizer bar that was threaded on both ends. The initial 9N’s differences didn’t stop there as change after change was implemented by Fords’ engineers in an effort to improve the 9N and boost sales. The ammeter, start switch, key and ignition light – done away with in 1941 - were all originally on the left-hand side of the steering wheel, both brake pedals were initially the same and remained interchangeable with each other until 1941. By the end of 1942 the 9N had undergone no fewer than twenty-two running changes and had almost completely morphed into what would become known as the 2N. Despite the numerous changes, the venerable 9N remains a popular, hard working, affordable tractor and eventually became an interesting and complex puzzle for restorers and collectors alike.
(A complete list of the 9N’s changes can be found on the "Model Identification” page.)
