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3 pt vs Fast Hitch vs Snap Coupler vs Farmer

B

Bill VA

Well-known Member
I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically draw bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
 
I have lived thru the years that some tractor companys developed their own style of hitches.
They didn't want to pay Ford the royalty's to use his three point hitch.
The trouble with the different setups was, you had to use the implements that the tractor was designed for.
With the standard tree point hitch one could use different makes of equipment on different brand of tractor.
 
If you really look at an ac snap coupler it's basically an upside down 3 point. I've wrestled with all three and I like the three point quick coupler on the oliver the best.
 
Never had an implement that you could move buy hand you can back up spare enough to hook up the draft links . Especially on cat 3 stuff without telescoping link ends
 
Was helping my Uncle and he told me to put the mounted JD bar mower on the 35 Ferguson. This was the first time I ever hooked anything up to a 3-point. Fought and fought that thing to get it mounted. Was 17 years old at the time. That kind of burned me on 3-point mounted machinery. I do know its a lot easier today.
Untitled URL Link
 
I try not to own anything that hooks up to a 3 pt hitch.
Have been on the farm for several decades and so far it's worked out.
I will use a fast hitch implement now and then though.
 
Dad bought a WD45 with 3 bottom Snap Coupler plow in 1956, uncle bought a JD with 3 bottom 3ph plow. Uncle said it took a half hour to hook up, lifting, wiggling, straining to get it aligned. OK, likely he exaggerated by a few minutes, but it was difficult. We could hook up without leaving the tractor seat. AC used to advertise the wide angle of approach to the Snap Coupler.
 
(quoted from post at 22:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically draw bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...

The biggest reason for Harry Fergusons development for the 3pt was safety. His first tractor using the 3pt linkage was built in 1933. I don't think that anybody else had anything even remotely close to that at that point in time. Granted the snap couplers are fast hitch are easier to hook up,but do they offer the safety and the weight transfer of Ferguson design? No they didnt. I think that is one of the reasons for his 3pt design winning out and still being utilized today. It had more benefits than the others.
 
When you get too feeble to wrestle machinery around to get it lined up with your three point just go buy yourself a Quick Hitch. Try to remember not to lay it down in a chopper box and then try to run it through the blower like my neighbor did.
 
(quoted from post at 12:57:05 04/15/15)
(quoted from post at 22:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically draw bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...

The biggest reason for Harry Fergusons development for the 3pt was safety. His first tractor using the 3pt linkage was built in 1933. I don't think that anybody else had anything even remotely close to that at that point in time. Granted the snap couplers are fast hitch are easier to hook up,but do they offer the safety and the weight transfer of Ferguson design? No they didnt. I think that is one of the reasons for his 3pt design winning out and still being utilized today. It had more benefits than the others.
Click to expand...

The reason the Ford/Ferguson 3 pt won out over time was price. The 9n/2n/8n were inexpensive tractors with a huge dealership base- every Ford car dealer could sell them- and they had FINANCING! The implements were cheap too. It was a matter of numbers. But remember that when the Ford style 3pt came out it was a much a one company design as any of the others. The Snap Coupler from AC and the Case Eagle Hitch gave the same weight transfer as the Ford/Ferguson. I've never used a IH Fast Hitch but it had to transfer some weight too. I don't think ease of use or safety was an issue as far as the Ford becoming the standard at all. I think it was sheer numbers.
 
(quoted from post at 09:57:05 04/15/15)
(quoted from post at 22:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically draw bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...

The biggest reason for Harry Fergusons development for the 3pt was safety. His first tractor using the 3pt linkage was built in 1933. I don't think that anybody else had anything even remotely close to that at that point in time. Granted the snap couplers are fast hitch are easier to hook up,but do they offer the safety and the weight transfer of Ferguson design? No they didnt. I think that is one of the reasons for his 3pt design winning out and still being utilized today. It had more benefits than the others.
Click to expand...

As my Grandpa said about the Ferguson System back in the '60s: 'Everybody laughed at it (Ferguson System aka '3-point hitch') when it came out but they've all come to it now'.

I've thought about the different hitch systems over the years and have come to the conclusion that the 3-point system was a stroke of genius - I don't believe that it can be improved upon - it could be quicker to attach implements sometimes; yes, but once she's on there the versatility of adjustment, etc. has no peer. Might just say that I am NOT a Ford or Ferguson fan in any sense of the word BUT Harry Ferguson was first rate in my book :D
 
I have three tractors with quick hitches, all cat. I, and I have set up all the implements to attach that way. I raise produce, and it is not uncommon to go from the disk to planter to sprayer to cultivator to tiller to bush hog to plastic layer to bed former etc. all throughout the day. I would simply die from frustration without the quick hitches. The way it is, I do not even have to get off the tractor most of the time, except if the third link needs to be adjusted in or out for the particular implement. Some of the implements required a little modification or fabrication to help the quick hitch work better, but I would challenge anyone to a hitching contest because I plant multiple patches of about 20 different produce crops each year, and so I use a lot of different tools repeatedly.
 
(quoted from post at 12:35:28 04/17/15)
(quoted from post at 12:57:05 04/15/15)
(quoted from post at 22:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically drawn bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...

The biggest reason for Harry Fergusons development for the 3pt was safety. His first tractor using the 3pt linkage was built in 1933. I don't think that anybody else had anything even remotely close to that at that point in time. Granted the snap couplers are fast hitch are easier to hook up,but do they offer the safety and the weight transfer of Ferguson design? No they didnt. I think that is one of the reasons for his 3pt design winning out and still being utilized today. It had more benefits than the others.
Click to expand...

The reason the Ford/Ferguson 3 pt won out over time was price. The 9n/2n/8n were inexpensive tractors with a huge dealership base- every Ford car dealer could sell them- and they had FINANCING! The implements were cheap too. It was a matter of numbers. But remember that when the Ford style 3pt came out it was a much a one company design as any of the others. The Snap Coupler from AC and the Case Eagle Hitch gave the same weight transfer as the Ford/Ferguson. I've never used a IH Fast Hitch but it had to transfer some weight too. I don't think ease of use or safety was an issue as far as the Ford becoming the standard at all. I think it was sheer numbers.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that price played a part in it but the Ferguson system as we know came out in 1933. IH didn't come out with the fast hitch until 1953. In 1933 no one else offered a system that offered it's safety advantages,draft control, and weight transfer. Plus Ferguson was one of the first to go global with his brand. While IH was focusing on refridgerators, Ferguson was making the Ferguson System well established world wide. Another good selling point for the Ferguson system was his broad range of implements for every job known to the farmer and the industrial worker. Now if a farmer went and traded his 9N for an IH with the fast hitch he would have to buy their implements also. His implements were useless unless he bought those blank plates and welded to his implements but how many farmers back then owned a welder? I think fast hitch and all the others were good ideas but had limitations...but the biggest killer of them all was they were 20 years too late.
 
CASE Eagle Hitch came with the quick hitch built in and was advertised as hook up from the seat. No getting of to push or pull to align.
 
(quoted from post at 14:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically draw bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...


Bill, actually they used the simple drawbar because they found they could sell a farmer on a tractor with the right sales pitch "you can free up 20 acres for production if you get rid of one horse" was common. But try selling that farmer on a new tractor and all new implements. Nope build a system where the farmer could use his horse drawn implements and once he was hooked (oun intended) on the tractor you could get him to buy implements designed for a tractor.

The problem with prepriortory implement systems was the farmer was stuck with only one source of implements. Really bad if say a guy had AC with all snap coupler implements who wants to try IH. Not only does he have to buy a new tractor but all new mounted implements too.

Rick
 
The handy thing about the Snap Coupler system is the adjustments are on the equipment so if you always hook up to the same tractor there is no adjusting needed like it is with 3pt equipment.
 
(quoted from post at 23:16:40 04/17/15)
(quoted from post at 12:35:28 04/17/15)
(quoted from post at 12:57:05 04/15/15)
(quoted from post at 22:50:33 04/14/15) I've been looking at some youtube videos of various fast hitch and snap coupler hitch set-ups and of course, everything I've got is a 3 point hitch - so it's been an interesting/eye opening look-see at what other manufacturing companies were doing in the day for a mounted implement.

As I get older, I can see there will come a time when wrestling with a 3 point hitch implement to get it mounted is going to be somewhat more difficult - even with a bigger hammer - LOL!

It made me think back in the day when when a man farmed by himself, small farm - no hired hands (maybe his kids) and wrestling with plows, disks and other tractor pulled equipment - AND how they managed.

It makes me wonder if folks like IH, JD (pre 3-point hitch), AC, etc., purposely made implements that were basically drawn bar pulled vs mounted for ease of attachment. And then as time went by and hydraulics came-in - a fast hitch or snap coupler hitch (at least from what I can see on some videos) could enable the feeblest of farmer to mount an implement by themselves and get-on with the day's work.

I grew up around 3 point hitch tractors - but I can see the advantage/ease of a fast hitch or snap coupler arrangement. I suppose newer 3 point hitches with flexible ends on the lift arms help eliminate the kicking and pulling that I'm use to and maybe ease attaching something to a tractor.

But...

I wonder if the tractor mfg's were trying to give the small farmer a one man/easy attachment system from the get-go or fast hitches and quick couplers were just the way around a 3 point hitch patent. They just happened to be easier (or maybe not).
Click to expand...

The biggest reason for Harry Fergusons development for the 3pt was safety. His first tractor using the 3pt linkage was built in 1933. I don't think that anybody else had anything even remotely close to that at that point in time. Granted the snap couplers are fast hitch are easier to hook up,but do they offer the safety and the weight transfer of Ferguson design? No they didnt. I think that is one of the reasons for his 3pt design winning out and still being utilized today. It had more benefits than the others.
Click to expand...

The reason the Ford/Ferguson 3 pt won out over time was price. The 9n/2n/8n were inexpensive tractors with a huge dealership base- every Ford car dealer could sell them- and they had FINANCING! The implements were cheap too. It was a matter of numbers. But remember that when the Ford style 3pt came out it was a much a one company design as any of the others. The Snap Coupler from AC and the Case Eagle Hitch gave the same weight transfer as the Ford/Ferguson. I've never used a IH Fast Hitch but it had to transfer some weight too. I don't think ease of use or safety was an issue as far as the Ford becoming the standard at all. I think it was sheer numbers.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that price played a part in it but the Ferguson system as we know came out in 1933. IH didn't come out with the fast hitch until 1953. In 1933 no one else offered a system that offered it's safety advantages,draft control, and weight transfer. Plus Ferguson was one of the first to go global with his brand. While IH was focusing on refridgerators, Ferguson was making the Ferguson System well established world wide. Another good selling point for the Ferguson system was his broad range of implements for every job known to the farmer and the industrial worker. Now if a farmer went and traded his 9N for an IH with the fast hitch he would have to buy their implements also. His implements were useless unless he bought those blank plates and welded to his implements but how many farmers back then owned a welder? I think fast hitch and all the others were good ideas but had limitations...but the biggest killer of them all was they were 20 years too late.
Click to expand...

The Ferguson system was around in 33, yes, in Europe. But the Ferguson didn't hit the US market until either 39 or 40, in the midst of the largest depression the world had seen. Then WW2 got in the way of production. It wasn't until well after WW2 that the sales really took off. Until that period a Ferguson 3pt was a completely proprietary system as far as implements went. But go back through the old farm magazines of the era and you'll see many companies produced kits to attach their implements to Ford, JD, Case, IHC, MM, Ollie, Cat, Cletrac, etc. Go back and look at pricing and more importantly FINANCING and see why people bought the Fords. You couldn't afford help during and just after the war, banks weren't like they are now with "easy credit" back then. But you could walk into a Ford dealership and leave with a tractor and full range of implements, all financed by Henry at low interest. That made an enormous difference. The old papers and magazines of the day advertised just that. Some places even took horses in on trade, which of course went to the kill. What a system!
 
All the stuff that everyone has mentioned certainly helped in regards to financing, marketing etc. but it was NOT the biggest reason for the success of Ferguson's 3 point hitch....

In 1939 which is when the Ford 9N with the Ferguson system debuted in America; the US was on the verg of getting into "lend-lease" where the US was sending steel and other raw materials to Britain as they were already in WWII fighting German aggression basically alone. At that point we were trying to help yet stay out of the war. The US would not enter officially enter WWII until 1942when Pearl harbor was attacked.

During "lend lease" and all during WWII steel, rubber, copper and all other raw materials were rationed to the general public so there would be enough for the war effort and to send to our allies.

The brilliance of the Ferguson system is that it let a tractor that weighed 2500 lbs pull a 2 bottom plow where all other tractors of that time that were pulling a 2 bottom tow type plow had to weigh 5000-6000 lbs or more to do it.

At a time when steel was rationed heavily 2 tractors could be made in the Ford design compared to only 1 tractor in other mfg's traditional design - even the US government loved this as the US farmers still had to feed the homeland as well as other parts of the world too.

Add in all the other perks of great financing, dealers everywhere, and it being significantly cheaper and without a doubt had a proven track record behind it out of necessity it cont'd to succeed well after the war too. No other system ever got the proven track record behind it that the 3 point system did out of necessity and it was obvious that the system was universal where any other copycat system was not going to be universal at all. Regardless, Many farmers took what they could get during WWII in the way of a tractor. Often it was not necessarily the brand the farmer wanted and a big credit to them all is that got er done anyway. (Reason why I believe that this was and will forever be our greatest generation of Americans and no I was not around back then but I admire and respect those who were).
 
(quoted from post at 16:12:02 04/18/15) All the stuff that everyone has mentioned certainly helped in regards to financing, marketing etc. but it was NOT the biggest reason for the success of Ferguson's 3 point hitch....

In 1939 which is when the Ford 9N with the Ferguson system debuted in America; the US was on the verg of getting into "lend-lease" where the US was sending steel and other raw materials to Britain as they were already in WWII fighting German aggression basically alone. At that point we were trying to help yet stay out of the war. The US would not enter officially enter WWII until 1942when Pearl harbor was attacked.

During "lend lease" and all during WWII steel, rubber, copper and all other raw materials were rationed to the general public so there would be enough for the war effort and to send to our allies.

The brilliance of the Ferguson system is that it let a tractor that weighed 2500 lbs pull a 2 bottom plow where all other tractors of that time that were pulling a 2 bottom tow type plow had to weigh 5000-6000 lbs or more to do it.

At a time when steel was rationed heavily 2 tractors could be made in the Ford design compared to only 1 tractor in other mfg's traditional design - even the US government loved this as the US farmers still had to feed the homeland as well as other parts of the world too.

Add in all the other perks of great financing, dealers everywhere, and it being significantly cheaper and without a doubt had a proven track record behind it out of necessity it cont'd to succeed well after the war too. No other system ever got the proven track record behind it that the 3 point system did out of necessity and it was obvious that the system was universal where any other copycat system was not going to be universal at all. Regardless, Many farmers took what they could get during WWII in the way of a tractor. Often it was not necessarily the brand the farmer wanted and a big credit to them all is that got er done anyway. (Reason why I believe that this was and will forever be our greatest generation of Americans and no I was not around back then but I admire and respect those who were).
Click to expand...

I agree with all that and I do know that Harry Ferguson was the one who went and got the steel and rubber restrictions lifted so they could resume the 2N production with rubber tires and battery ignition. Another over looked fact that helped the Ferguson system was because it was a 3pt and you could plow every inch of your land verses the pull type plows. For people that owned oddly shaped fields with lots of corners this was a huge plus. Another big plus was by the time Ferguson had went on his own he had the greatest team of engineers there was to be had. That was one of the biggest reasons Massey Harris wanted Fergusons company. Ferguson held the patents on a lot of machinery...for example Ferguson was the one who came up with the modern side delivery rake. If you was a farmer looking to buy a new rake would you buy one of those old pull type crazy wheel rakes or the new lighter 3pt side delivery rake that was gentler on the hay and could get into every corner of the field?
 
(quoted from post at 12:12:02 04/18/15) All the stuff that everyone has mentioned certainly helped in regards to financing, marketing etc. but it was NOT the biggest reason for the success of Ferguson's 3 point hitch....

In 1939 which is when the Ford 9N with the Ferguson system debuted in America; the US was on the verg of getting into "lend-lease" where the US was sending steel and other raw materials to Britain as they were already in WWII fighting German aggression basically alone. At that point we were trying to help yet stay out of the war. The US would not enter officially enter WWII until 1942when Pearl harbor was attacked.

During "lend lease" and all during WWII steel, rubber, copper and all other raw materials were rationed to the general public so there would be enough for the war effort and to send to our allies.

The brilliance of the Ferguson system is that it let a tractor that weighed 2500 lbs pull a 2 bottom plow where all other tractors of that time that were pulling a 2 bottom tow type plow had to weigh 5000-6000 lbs or more to do it.

At a time when steel was rationed heavily 2 tractors could be made in the Ford design compared to only 1 tractor in other mfg's traditional design - even the US government loved this as the US farmers still had to feed the homeland as well as other parts of the world too.

Add in all the other perks of great financing, dealers everywhere, and it being significantly cheaper and without a doubt had a proven track record behind it out of necessity it cont'd to succeed well after the war too. No other system ever got the proven track record behind it that the 3 point system did out of necessity and it was obvious that the system was universal where any other copycat system was not going to be universal at all. Regardless, Many farmers took what they could get during WWII in the way of a tractor. Often it was not necessarily the brand the farmer wanted and a big credit to them all is that got er done anyway. (Reason why I believe that this was and will forever be our greatest generation of Americans and no I was not around back then but I admire and respect those who were).
Click to expand...

I dunno guy. A 9n weighed in at 2500-3000 lbs and was a marginal 2 plow tractor. A Farmall H weighed about 3300 and was a decent 2 plow tractor. Maybe there's some difference but not a huge amount. I will give you that a mounted plow could get into corners, but that was true with other brand mounted plows. Maybe it's Ford/Ferguson love, something I don't share. The crude 3 pt of a Ford developed into something very useful, but there are a lot of other manufacturers idea in the modern 3 pt that Harry, God bless him, never even dreamed of. The 9n of 1939 cost $535.00 according to one source. A Farmall H, the leading tractor of the day, was almost twice as much at around $1000.00. I think that was a big, big deal at that time.
 
A farmall h is closer to 4400 lbs. Lots of guys back then were bolting on lots of cast iron weights to pull the 2 tow type plows so most that pulled 2 tow type plows had a tractor that weighed well over 5000 lbs when all said and done and in use.

I do not know when the the practice of adding fluid to the tires first started, but it would not surprise me that also it happened during WWII again out of necessity due to not being able to readily get steel to bolt on. Many farmers at that time were moving from horses to their very first tractor so it was not even an option to remove the bolt on weights from their previous tractor to use.

At a time when steel was heavily rationed any steel savings was significant and a darn near 2 to 1 albeit a little less than that in practicality was certainly significant. Obviously it meant the price was less too due to 1/2 as much steel. Low cost was a huge factor during a time of a depression economy.
 
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