Implement dating by serial numbers

Tom H. · Jun 27, 2015

Well, now I have another Ferguson implement for my collection. These include a two gang plow, disc harrows, jack and now a cultivator. All have the Ferguson ID plates with serial numbers and was wondering if there is a source for putting dates on these.

Thanks.

Tony in Mass. · Jun 27, 2015

What I do with old guns is find out how many were made, in how many years, and if production was steady and not in booms and spurts, sometimes you can narrow it down to a couple weeks.
Trouble is with this stuff, until Richard L buys all these inventory records in a box at a tag sale... we don't have much to start with...
There are so many tractors with HF/MH tags well into MF days... I say we got to go by hunches... and be happy we got one!
I bought this? thing? Thought it was a snow plow, seems it is a manure loader- it can raise up several feet to clear a speader's side. The seller' father bought it new in 1951- if he remembers correctly...

Tom H. · Jun 27, 2015

Hey Tony,

That was my thought too, about finding production years. I have to assume that Ferguson named stuff stopped somewhere in1954 with the
Massey merge. Still it would be nice to put a date on these implements that last for decades.

Richard L · Jun 27, 2015

I hate to comment on the difference between a snow plow and a FEL so I will just let it go and keep looking for those boxes at a tag sale.

Tony in Mass. · Jun 27, 2015

(quoted from post at 21:02:23 06/27/15) I hate to comment on the difference between a snow plow and a FEL so I will just let it go and keep looking for those boxes at a tag sale.

Well Richard, I was told they plowed snow with this frame and box bucket, then I saw the HF tag... it's been under a pile of other...stuff.... for decades... then when we gathered up all the buried, scattered pieces... and there were hoses and cylinders instead of a pulley set up... and the pistons looked over 5 feet long... I had to ask... and like the joke about the yellow alligator... before they made it into a snow plow... it used to be a manure loader... and since I consider cow S4!T and snow to be equal, I bought it anyway.... now go off to Detroit and hit some yard sales!!!

Gov35 · Jun 27, 2015

Would anyone agree with what I heard, that if the tag is a Ferguson or Ferguson Sherman with made in Dearborn MI it would have been from the Ford Ferguson era, if the tag says Ferguson, Made in Detroit MI would have been from 48-53 and if later would have MHF?

Tony in Mass. · Jun 27, 2015

The way I see the 'corporate' history for all this, the Sherman label was used till the split with Ford. Dearborn was Ford's brand name for their implements till?? late 60's? early 1970's?
Harry labeled his own manufactured and 'purchases' as I think some sub contractor's build for both companies.
Now, the 'Ferguson' name plates, if not the name itself, seems to have lasted till- I think? as late as nearly the beginning of the 100 series. 10 years after Harry sold out to Massey Harris?
Which we were figuring a few weeks ago that's when all the old tags were used up from inventory?? I hardly ever see anything with a postabe 1954-59 'Massey-Harris-Ferguson' tag...casting marks yes... we all studying this like anthropoligists on the big bang theory, but the company/companies was just interested in keeping costs down and selling a buyer a good machine

Richard L · Jun 28, 2015

Tony Tony don't have a cow. If you keep looking and finding those Ferguson tags someday you are very likely to find a TKO cultivator which I understand no one has seen but it is in the parts book. Then at that time you can advertise it for sale and make a lot of money. Keep Looking as I know you are a good guy and would split the windfall of selling it to the person who told you about it.

Tom H. · Jun 28, 2015

So, has anyone complied production dates for these implements that can stand the test of time and still perform as they did when they were made?

Tony in Mass. · Jun 28, 2015

Well Tom, this is why we have to get Richard a swimming pool ladder, so he can go dumpster diving in safety in the back streets of Detroit... if such a thing is possible???

Don't tell Richard I had 2 of those cultivators... rusty, dumb looking things... so I swapped them for a couple cases of Canadian beer... I might still have one in the back of the fridge... i'll share it with him so he don't get mad....

Seriously, did anyone ever ask Massey Ferguson/ Agco, what old records they might still have on micro-feche or a floppy disc? The Detroit or Toronto libraries? This info might have still been important into the 1990's. If for tax purposes if nothing else??

Tom H. · Jun 28, 2015

Hmmm I may have to find an email for Massey Ferguson and see what they say. Good idea.

miner09 · Jun 28, 2015

I was always told if a tag had Ferguson- Sherman it was pre-war. Also I have tags that are Brass, Steel and Aluminum. Also I have one tag on a cultivator that has 6 rivets and I have never seen another. Anyone have a 6 rivet tag? Tony I think we can make the NKO to look like TKO with no problem. We can sell it to Richard L and split the money. LOL

Jason S. · Jun 29, 2015

(quoted from post at 23:14:51 06/28/15) I was always told if a tag had Ferguson- Sherman it was pre-war. Also I have tags that are Brass, Steel and Aluminum. Also I have one tag on a cultivator that has 6 rivets and I have never seen another. Anyone have a 6 rivet tag? Tony I think we can make the NKO to look like TKO with no problem. We can sell it to Richard L and split the money. LOL

Yes, I have a 9BO tiller that has the 6 rivet Ferguson/Sherman tag. You are correct that Ferguson/Sherman was very early...I think 1942 or back. The comment above about when Massey bought Ferguson out, you have to remember that from 1953 to 1957 the Ferguson and Massey Harris lines were kept seperate but any Ferguson implement built during that time will have the Ferguson name but at the bottom of the tag it will say Massey Harris Ferguson.

wellmax99 · Jun 29, 2015

my latest acquisition was a Ferguson cultivator frame with hillers or bar out disc blades.

works good.

but did not meet mustard to be a rare frame based on the name tags.

Tom H. · Jun 30, 2015

Just bought the same with all of the tines but no shields. The former owner says he has one more part for it when he can find it.

wellmax99 · Jun 30, 2015

I have a hiller (attached picture)this old hiller will sure make a nice row or cover up a lot of grass in a row, have used it for years.

but did not have a bar out tool, traded an old non running lawn mower for this cultivator frame with these disc blades.

so now I can bar out my rows, if I want to or hill up the rows without having to adjust the disc blades.

I saw it as a win, win for me, got rid of some junk, but got a nice cultivator bar out tool for free.

a man cannot have too many tools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ShadetreeRet · Jun 30, 2015

That sounds quite logical to me. The same would apply to the Ford tractors with the emblem on the front. "Ford, with the Ferguson system." (or something like that.)

Implement dating by serial numbers

Tom H.

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Tony in Mass.

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Tom H.

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Richard L

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Gov35

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Tony in Mass.

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