Date |
Event |
1905-1907 |
Henry Ford builds his first gasoline-powered experimental tractor, called the "automobile plow." The tractor uses parts from Ford Model B and Model K cars. The tractor project is undertaken by Henry Ford, personally, not Ford Motor Company. |
circa 1913-1917
|
Henry Ford builds several experimental tractors based on the Model T. |
1916 |
First experimental Fordson built at Highland Park Plant. |
July 27, 1917 |
Henry Ford and Son incorporated. |
1917 |
The British Government request assistance from Mr. Ford in building a large number of tractors to help raise urgently-needed food to counteract the effect of enemy blockade during World War I.
|
Oct. 8, 1917 |
First production Fordson assembled at a new tractor plant in Dearborn, at Michigan Ave. and Brady St. |
1918 |
Fordson offered for sale in the U.S. for the first time. |
July 3, 1919 |
First Fordson built at the new Cork, Ireland plant. |
1921 |
Tractor production moved from Dearborn Tractor Plant to the Rouge. |
Dec. 29, 1922 |
Fordson production ceases at Cork plant |
1929 |
Ford tractor manufacturing transferred from the Rouge back to Cork, Ireland plant. |
April 1, 1929 |
The first new Model N tractor produced at Cork Plant. |
1932 |
Tractor manufacturing transferred from Cork to Dagenham, England plant.
|
June 19, 1939 |
Ford announces a new Ford tractor with the Ferguson system. Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson agree that Ford will produce the tractors while Ferguson will market the tractors, along with implements sourced from other manufacturers. Their agreement is purely verbal.
|
1939 |
Production of the 9N tractor begins at the Rouge. It is one of the world's first production tractors with a three-point hitch and a hydraulic system that allows the operator to raise or lower attached implements by hydraulic controls. This is the first tractor produced in the U.S. since 1929.
|
Nov.10, 1943 |
The 100,000th tractor produced at Dagenham since the outbreak of World War II comes off the line. |
1947 |
Ford announces its new 8N tractor. The company terminates its agreement with Harry Ferguson. |
1948 |
Harry Ferguson files suit against Ford for patent infringement. After a long and complex trial, Ferguson receives a $9.25 million settlement in 1952.
|
Sept. 29, 1951 |
The first New Fordson Major, the E1A, is produced at Dagenham. This British tractor is an international success, exported to over 100 countries. |
1953 |
Ford markets a 50th-anniversary tractor, the Golden Jubilee NAA. |
Aug. 1, 1953 |
Ford Tractor Division is established to market tractors and equipment in the U.S. This is the first time that Ford has marketed a full line of agricultural equipment. |
Jan. 15, 1954 |
Ford Tractor Division renamed Ford Tractor and Implement Division. |
Jan. 6, 1955 |
Five new Ford tractor models in two power series are introduced, the first time the company has produced multiple models at the same time. |
June 8, 1955 |
The Ford Tractor and Implement Division opens a Farm Machinery Research and Engineering Center in Birmingham, Michigan. |
1959 |
Ford introduces the Select-O-Speed transmission planetary, which has ten forward and two reverse speeds and allows for shifting "on-the-go" without a clutch. |
March 21, 1961 |
Ford Tractor Operations organized to coordinate U.S. and European tractor operations.
|
1962 |
Blue and white selected as standardized colors for Ford farm tractors. |
1964 |
Manufacturing and assembly operations begin at new plants in Basildon, England and Antwerp, Belgium.
|
Oct.10, 1964 |
Ford introduces a single series of tractor models for worldwide markets. Tractors for the U.S. market are built at the newly-revamped Highland Park plant. Tractors for Europe are built at Antwerp, while those for the U.K. and the rest of the world are built at Basildon. Known as the 6X range, the first models are the 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000. |
1968 |
New model 8000 tractor is introduced. It's the largest and most-powerful Ford farm tractor to date.
|
May 18, 1972 |
The four-millionth Ford Motor Company tractor comes off the line at Highland Park.
|
1975 |
The 7A line, also called the 600 series, debuts. It consists of 24 new agricultural tractors ranging from 30- to 86-hp.
|
Sept. 14-16, 1981 |
The new series 10 tractors are introduced in Geneva, Switzerland. |
February 14, 1985 |
Ford announces a plan to move production of all four-cylinder agricultural tractors to Basildon. Antwerp will build TW tractors. Romeo will continue to build three-cylinder agricultural tractors, as well as industrial and utility models for North America.
|
Oct. 10, 1985 |
Ford announces its acquisition of Sperry New Holland, manufacturers of a wide range of agricultural equipment.
|
Nov. 11, 1986 |
Ford announces that it will close its Romeo plant. |
Jan. 1, 1987 |
Ford New Holland, Inc. is formed as the agricultural and industrial equipment subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. |
1987 |
Ford New Holland acquires Versatile Farm Equipment Company, a Canadian manufacturer of tractors and harvesting machinery
|
May 23, 1988 |
The Basildon Plant celebrates 25 years of production with a visit from HRH Princess Anne.
|
1991 |
Ford New Holland merges with Fiat Geotech. Ford receives a 20 percent share of the company, while Fiat receives 80 percent. |