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Why was the future of the tractor anything but secure at the start of the 20th Century? Why were tractors in the early 1900s so dangerous? How did one man transform farm mechanisation forever?
With over half a million tractors sold, the TE 20 or “Little Grey Fergie” is an iconic piece of classic machinery but the real innovation was the patented “Ferguson System” that it sported.
With the Patent for the 3-point linkage issued to Harry Ferguson 100 years ago in 1926, Kit and Ray dig deep into his history as an engineer, innovator, motor racer, pioneering aviator and business person.
How did his farming background and talent as an engineer lead him to revolutionise implement and tractor design, make farming safer, easier and create a design that is still being used on modern tractors?
How does Ferguson's story intertwine with the fortunes of some old but not forgotten brands such as; David Brown, Ford and Massey Harris and the modern business that live on with Agco, Massey Ferguson, TAFE and CNH.
The co-hosts also take some time to appreciate Harry Ferguson the man, with a keen attention to detail in all aspects of life be it dress code or building machinery and his uncanny knack for showmanship and a relentless drive for smaller lighter machinery that could help turn the tide of price inflation.
Can it be argued that Harry Ferguson is up there with the likes of John Deere and the steel mouldboard plough, Jethro Tull and the seed drill or Charles “Turnip” Townsend and the 4 crop rotation?
Resources:
Harry Ferguson: Inventor and Pioneer-Colin Fraser - ISBN 9780953365128 https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/isbn/9780953365128/
Ulster Transport Museum: https://www.ulstertransportmuseum.org/stories/harry-ferguson
Ferguson Club: https://www.fergusonclub.com/development-of-the-ferguson-system/
With over half a million tractors sold, the TE 20 or “Little Grey Fergie” is an iconic piece of classic machinery but the real innovation was the patented “Ferguson System” that it sported.
With the Patent for the 3-point linkage issued to Harry Ferguson 100 years ago in 1926, Kit and Ray dig deep into his history as an engineer, innovator, motor racer, pioneering aviator and business person.
How did his farming background and talent as an engineer lead him to revolutionise implement and tractor design, make farming safer, easier and create a design that is still being used on modern tractors?
How does Ferguson's story intertwine with the fortunes of some old but not forgotten brands such as; David Brown, Ford and Massey Harris and the modern business that live on with Agco, Massey Ferguson, TAFE and CNH.
The co-hosts also take some time to appreciate Harry Ferguson the man, with a keen attention to detail in all aspects of life be it dress code or building machinery and his uncanny knack for showmanship and a relentless drive for smaller lighter machinery that could help turn the tide of price inflation.
Can it be argued that Harry Ferguson is up there with the likes of John Deere and the steel mouldboard plough, Jethro Tull and the seed drill or Charles “Turnip” Townsend and the 4 crop rotation?
Resources:
Harry Ferguson: Inventor and Pioneer-Colin Fraser - ISBN 9780953365128 https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/isbn/9780953365128/
Ulster Transport Museum: https://www.ulstertransportmuseum.org/stories/harry-ferguson
Ferguson Club: https://www.fergusonclub.com/development-of-the-ferguson-system/