Ferguson Dealers

Brian-S

Member
I've read a couple of notes suggesting Ferguson ran there own dealerships selling Ford built tractors (pre TE-20)? If true,were they branded as Fergusons or Fords?
 
Hi Brian,

I hadnt read anywhere, though it might be true, that Harry Ferguson had owned any Ford dealerships. The Ford-Ferguson system 9ns and2ns came
out in 1939 and up till the 8n in 1947 which had violated the Harry-Henry handshake agreement

I found this article on another site brief history of the tractor

Tom
Untitled URL Link
 
(quoted from post at 07:46:56 09/22/21) I've read a couple of notes suggesting Ferguson ran there own dealerships selling Ford built tractors (pre TE-20)? If true,were they branded as Fergusons or Fords?
It is my understanding that between 1939 and 1947 the famous handshake agreement allowed Ford to make all the tractors and for Ferguson to do all the distribution. They were called the "Ford tractor with the Ferguson System" or simply Ford/Fergusons. I believe that all the dealers were independent Ford dealers.
 
I think that would be correct, I dont remember reading anywhere that Harry had operated Ford dealerships to sell the 9n and 2n tractors. Not till Henry
The 2nd started the 8n series violating the handshake agreement, then Harry started the US Ferguson dealership
 
The History on Ford & Ferguson is well documented in books so I suggest you get a few and do some research. You have some incorrect info so do your own homework.
Briefly: Harry Ferguson and his team came to Detroit in November, 1938 to demonstrate the new 3-PT Draft Control system to Henry Ford. When Ferguson wouldn't sell out
to Ford, they agreed via a handshake agreement to partner up in business. Ford would engineer and build the tractor and Ferguson would be in charge of tractor and
implement distributorship. Ferguson had a long partnership with the Sherman Bros and thus the company was called the Ferguson-Sherman Mfg. Co. After a few years, The
Shermans got fed up with Ferguson and dissolved their company and thus it just became The Ferguson Mfg Co. Detroit. Ferguson had grown tired of what was then the most
lucrative business setup in the world, and had always felt he deserved more credit for the tractor so began seeking outside suppliers to build his own tractor and
company. Ferguson, as part of the Ford umbrella, had access to original drawings and blueprints. He took a set to shop around but blacked-out the FORD name but
everyone knew he was shopping 9N Drawings. When Henry Ford died, Henry II took over FoMoCo. and first order of business was to fire Ferguson as accountants had
determined Ferguson was making hand over fist profits on the 9N whilst Ford was only getting peanuts. Ferguson was gone by end of 1946. Dearborn Motors was incorporated
on JAN 1 1947 as the new tractor and implement distributor. In July 1947 the new FORD 8N was released. Ferguson would go to Coventry, England and begin manufacturing
his own Tractor, The TE20. He also would file suit against FORD for over $350 million. It lasted a few years, then settled out of court for a fraction of what he was
asking. When design began on the 9N Tractor, Ferguson's role was limited to input. He wanted a 4-SPD Trans, a flip-up hood to better access the engines, an OHV Engine,
and a few other items. His ideas were rejected by Ford and so when he built his TE20, it would have all the things he wanted on the 9N. The FORD 8N would now had a 4-
SPD but the OHV engine didn't get released until SEP 1952 with the NAA. The success of the TE20 led Harry to come back to Detroit and build his own plant there to make
his TO-20 Model and thus compete with Ford. Both men got rich on the deal. Ferguson committed suicide in 1960 from a barbiturate overdose.


Tim Daley(MI)
FORD Historian
 

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