Hey Gang-
To all concerned, it may appear that I was premature in my evaluation of the situatiion, but let me just say that I have a very respected and reliable source on this topic and if nothing else we but a bee in the bonnet just in case there are future plans to follow thru on this project. I have nothing but respect for Mr. Landis and plan to speak to him personally. Here is his reply to me and I commend him for answering each one who sent him their concerns...
Mr. Daley: I am replying in regard to your post "Save Our N Series Tractors," on the "N Tractor Club" message board. I have received a number of messages based on your post, and would like to let you know the status of our agriculture exhibit and our continued exhibition and demonstration of Ford tractors. It is true that I have reworked the agriculture display as it had been since 1979, and in total I have overseen the movement or removal of machinery three times over the last seven years. We do not have plans to eliminate agricultural machinery from Henry Ford Museum. It may be presented in different ways, but as far as I know we do not plan to remove it. Also, as long as I'm here I will do all I can to keep at least three Ford tractors on exhibit. Currently, we have the 1905 Experimental Ford tractor, Fordson Production model #1, and the 1939 9N Prototype on display in the agriculture exhibit. These are important machines that we are committed to maintaining on exhibit in Henry Ford Museum.
As a bit of background, over the past seven years I have taken three Ford tractors off the floor, two Fordsons and a 1953 8N. We have never really had an "N" series display, and have never had a 2N in our collections. The 8N is the most recent to leave the Museum, and I hope at some point I can get it back out for public display. However, I think you will appreciate that we have taken to using Ford tractors more in Greenfield Village. We have an 850 and an NAA that we can use as service tractors. So the loss is two Fordsons, a cutaway and a Fordson with a Taco mower. Additionally, we plan to install a machinery exhibit in Greenfield Village next summer. It will consist of a number of pieces that we took off exhibit in 1997. Among the items we hope to place on display in the building is the Fordson with the Taco mower. It also happens that the building is the structure where Henry Ford had his researchers experimenting with agricultural crops for industrial purposes. His scientists identified soybeans as the most useful in manufacturing Ford automobiles, and this work led Time magazine to call Henry Ford, "America's #1 soybean man." I hope this is helpful for you. I am committed to emphasizing Henry Ford's contributions to American agriculture from tractors to soybeans. It is unfortunate that you did not try to reach me. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Please understand if I delay in future replies. I am terribly busy planning an international agriculture and living history museum conference we are hosting in June. Thank you for your continued interest in our collections and programs. Sincerely, Leo Landis Leo E. Landis Curator of Agriculture & Rural Life The Henry Ford leol@thehenryford.org 313.982.6085
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