Ferguson-Brown Company facts for kids
The Ferguson-Brown Company was a British company that made farm machines. It was started by Harry Ferguson and David Brown.
Ferguson-Brown made a special tractor called the Model A. This tractor had a cool new feature. It used a hydraulic system called the three-point linkage. This system was designed by Harry Ferguson himself.
They made 1,356 of these tractors. About 400 of them were sold in countries like Sweden and Norway. The first tractors used an engine from Coventry Climax. Later, David Brown's company started making the engines. They made them even better, like adding a deeper oil tank. This helped stop problems when tractors worked on hills. Harry Ferguson believed that a better hitch (the part that connects tools to the tractor) was key to better farming.
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Working with Ford
In 1938, Harry Ferguson made a deal with Henry Ford. They agreed to make tractors together. These tractors would use Ferguson's special three-point hitch system.
The first tractor from this partnership was the Ford-Ferguson 9N. You can spot it by the blue Ford sign on the front. The three-point hitch quickly became very popular. Farmers all over the world loved it. This tractor also had a special shaft at the back. It was called a Power Take Off (PTO). This PTO could power tools like mowers. This design became the standard for future tractors.
Working with Standard Motor Company
In December 1945, Ferguson made another agreement. This time, it was with the Standard Motor Company in the UK. They decided to make Ferguson's tractors at a factory in Coventry.
These tractors were meant for countries in the Eastern part of the world. Ford would still make tractors for the Western part. Production was planned to start in 1946. The factory used to make airplanes during World War II. Ferguson would sell the farming tools separately.
Split with Ford
In 1946, the Ford Motor Company and Ferguson went their separate ways. They had many disagreements. A long lawsuit followed because Ford kept using Ferguson's patents.
Ford changed the design of its tractors to avoid Ferguson's patent. But they still used the basic three-point hitch. The Ford 8N tractor, made after the war, became super popular. It was the best-selling tractor ever in North America.
The Ferguson TE20 Tractor
After the split with Ford, Ferguson worked with the Standard Motor Company. They made a brand new tractor called the Model TE20. The "TE" stood for Tractor, England. The "20" meant it had about 20 horsepower. People lovingly called it the Little Grey Fergie.
There were different versions of the TE20:
- The first ones used an imported Continental Z120 engine.
- In 1948, the TEA20 came out with a Standard brand petrol engine.
- Then came the TED20, which ran on TVO (tractor vaporising oil). This fuel is like paraffin.
- Later, a diesel model, the TEF20, was introduced.
- Some versions had narrow wheels for working in vineyards and orchards. These were the TEB20 and TEC20.
More than 500,000 Little Grey Fergies were built. This happened between 1946 and 1956. Many of them are still working today! The TE20 was so successful that Ford called it the "Grey Menace." Its sales spread all over the world. Some were even used on an expedition to the South Pole in 1958. Sir Edmund Hillary used them, showing how tough these machines were. Ford eventually paid Ferguson a lot of money to settle the lawsuit. This money helped Ferguson grow his own manufacturing business.
There is a monument in Wentworth, Australia. It's at the meeting point of the Darling and Murray Rivers. The monument remembers 1956, when both rivers flooded. A fleet of Little Grey Fergies helped build walls to save the town.
Ferguson Park Factory
Ferguson built a factory in Detroit, USA. Tractors like the TO20, TO30, and F40 were put together there. He named it Ferguson Park. Massey Ferguson stopped making tractors at this factory in 1984. Today, part of the factory is used by a company that makes car parts.
The Three-Point Linkage System
The most important part of the Ferguson System was the three-point linkage. This system allowed tools to be lifted and held by the tractor's hydraulic system. Two lower arms connected under the back axle. A single upper arm connected to the top of the transmission case. This system automatically controlled how high the tools were lifted.
This meant farmers could use lighter tools. These tools didn't need their own wheels or separate controls. The system also helped the tractor keep its grip on the ground. It made sure the back driving wheels stayed down. This also helped the front steering wheels stay in contact with the ground. Because of this, tractors were much safer. They were less likely to tip or "buck" when pulling heavy loads.
- Ferguson-designed tools
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Banana loader
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Banana Loader with Muck Fork attachment
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Posthole borer
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Plough
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Potato spinner
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Lifting trailer
Other Cool Ideas
Ferguson's tractors had other smart features. They were the first with brakes on each wheel. This let the driver turn very sharply by braking only the inside wheel. The TE20 was also one of the first tractors to have a four-speed gearbox. It also had an integrated differential and a hydraulic system.
Joining with Massey-Harris
In 1953, Ferguson's company joined with Massey-Harris. The new company was called Massey-Harris-Ferguson. Later, its name was shortened to Massey Ferguson. This new company became a major maker of tractors and other farm equipment. By then, many other companies had also developed their own three-point linkages. The system had become a worldwide standard.
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A Massey-Harris 744D tractor.
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See also
- Ford N Series Tractors
- Massey Ferguson
- LEGO, who made a plastic toy of a Ferguson-Brown tractor in 1951
