standard n and E27N queries.

Hi all, new to the forum and could do with some help for a friend.
He has bought two fordsons off of the net on the strength of photos.
1:- Fordson N Registered 1942
2:- Fordson E27N ser number 985179 Registered Nov 1945

Now after a bit of research I believe the E27N serial number to be around August/September 1945 which would tie in with the registration Doc. This tractor however has no independent rear drum brakes.
There is no sign of pedals, cables or drums ever having been fitted. My question is was there ever one produced with a clutch and brake combined like the Standard n? It does have a ratchet type handbrake that can't be applied until the clutch is depressed.


The Standard N was registered in 1942 but however it is a water wash model making it produced pre 1937. The registration doc. Gives the serial number as 22F which is a number cast on the block and the transmission.
There are two numbers stamped on the block 1:- r/h side above the front of manifold SG 42105??000 and 2:- l/h centre block N 6015A. does anyone know if any of these numbers would be relevant to the production year as it would be nice to have for future reference.

Many thanks in advance for your time.

I would suppose you could buy an E27N without brakes. Are there cover plates where they could be installed? 1945 was early in the austerity period, so cost control was very tight. Farm tractors produced under war-time restrictions may have had steel or iron wheels, no rubber, and they may not have had starters or batteries. England may have had a requirement for lighting, but not in N. America.

Your Model N seems to have a replacement engine. The company sold service engines on a
replacement basis. That engine could have been used in an industrial application. Unless someone stamped the serial number somewhere else, such as clutch housing flange, I don't think it can be traced unless you have access to original dealer documentation.

The 6015 number is Ford's basic category number for its tractor engine blocks. Not related to production date.

Hello cdmn thank you for the reply, I thought that may have been the case with the standard N. As far as the E27N goes there is no signs of brakes from new.
Both tractors were bought by the same farmer from new and were owned by the same farm until two years ago when a dealer bought them.

regarding the E27N there is a guy in the local vintage club who also has a similar model and he told me sometime ago that stocks of final N production transmissions were used in early E27N transmission

The E27N will be a Standard Agricultural model, Non adjustable front axle too?. Steering brakes on bull pinion shafts only on Land Utility
and Rowcrop tractors. Rear axle brakes on Industrials. Tractor most probably on steels when new, but could have had rubbers put on at any
time in the last 70 odd years. Brake will be as Standard Fordson, but with lever operation..

The N would have probably been re-powered during it's life, water washer would indicate pre-war along with wide mudguards, many tractors were
not road registered when new and a change of ownership/use may have needed it, also not too sure about obtaining petrol for starting without
the log book, my tractor's log book has a 'Ministry of Fuel & Power" rubber stamp every time petrol was brought for it. I don't think V.O.
was rationed.

Hi Derwen 1959 and Richardinnz,

Thanks for your replies, a great help as these were the scenarios that I came up with when my friend told me what he had. Nice to have them confirmed .j

If you can find them around there are a couple of books written years ago by Alan T. Condie, 'Fordson Model N 1929-45' (ISBN 0 907742 35 1)
and 'Fordson Major Model E27N 1945-52' (ISBN 0 907742 36X) both published in 1991.
The author has researched parts books etc in fine detail and you can just about date these tractors using this information even without a
serial number, also very good if you plan to buy one of these tractors you can tell if your intended purchase is a 'bitza'!
BTW, the E27N gearbox is identical to the N apart from a different input shaft spline to suit the E27N clutch, and a cam operated brake,
identical ratios available too, the 7.7 green spot then carried on with the addition of a 2 speed primary gearbox into the E1A Major.