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Re: Tractors and Brit cards (was New Subject ( wasn't anything)

To: lotus.tony@airmail.net, msloane@att.net
Subject: Re: Tractors and Brit cards (was New Subject ( wasn't anything)
From: jmark.vanscoter@amd.com
Date: Wed, 17 Oct 2001 13:55:20 -0500
Well, please don't forget all the Ford Fergusens (actually, Fords using the 
Fergusen system) that were built. The Ford 9N (1939), 2N (1942) and 8N (1948) 
were all based on designs and patents owned by Harry F. Henry Ford II "stiffed" 
Harry F when it came time to make the 8N and a lawsuit (won by Harry F) ensued.

The post-war Fergusen tractor was (essentially) a dramatically improved version 
of his older 9N design. In fact, technically it was far better than the Ford 8N 
from all I have ever read or heard.

Mark V.S. in Austin, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: Elton Clark [mailto:lotus.tony@airmail.net]

Mark wrote:

> Well, let the nitpicking begin...
>
> As I understand it, initially there was the TE20 models.

Well act-chew-ly  (Gawd, I love this list)  if we're speaking of Fergusons
tractors,  "initially" there was the 1933 Ferguson prototype, a black
tractor, built in Belfast and equipped with a Hercules motor and a David
Brown gearbox.  Next, there was the Ferguson model "A" of which 1250 were
built between 1936 and 1938.  Notable to auto enthusiasts is the fact that
the first 550 model "A"s were powered by Coventry Climax motors and all 1250
were built by David Brown who later on, became the maker of Aston-Martin.
Later connections between Ferguson and automobiles include the Ferguson
developed 4WD system on a Lotus Formula One car.

The Standard Motors connection:

Harry Ferguson approached Sir John Black of Standard Motors in 1945 about
building the Ferguson tractor at a time when Standard needed a new motor for
it's Vanguard series of cars.
With the appeal of getting some exports flowing, Sir Stafford Cripps,
Chancellor of the Exchequer, arranged sanctions to allow the purchase of
material and machines for Standard to build the new engine.  Standard Motors
production of the Ferguson TE tractor started with the "Z120" Continental
motor until the Standard motor was available but let the "permanent record"
show the the first or the new Standard engines produced went into "Standard
Vanguard" automobiles, the TEA 20 tractor received the engine slightly
later.

Reference credit:  "The Ferguson Album" by Allan T. Condie ISBN 0 907742

Tony_______________________@Sherman.Texas
(two-generation Massey-Harris, Ferguson & Massey-Ferguson dealers 1943-1990)

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