Fordson

Fordson refers to a line of agricultural tractors produced by Henry Ford & Son Ltd., a subsidiary formed to manufacture tractors under the Fordson brand. The first model, the Fordson Model F, was introduced in 1917 and quickly became one of the world’s first mass-produced, affordable tractors. It was manufactured primarily in Cork, Ireland, where Fordson Ltd. operated a large plant, with production also occurring at other Ford facilities. The Model F and its successors emphasized simplicity, rugged reliability, and ease of maintenance, helping to popularize mechanized farming on a broad scale.

Over the following decades, the Fordson line expanded with newer generations designed to meet postwar farm needs. In Europe particularly, Ford of Britain produced models such as the Fordson Major, a more powerful tractor that formed the backbone of the brand in that region during the 1950s and early 1960s. As Ford reorganized its tractor business, the Fordson name gradually gave way to broader Ford-branded products, and by the mid-1960s the Fordson designation was largely retired, though surviving examples remain common in museums and among collectors.

Legacy and impact: Fordson tractors played a key role in the global shift from animal- and hand-powered farming to mechanized agriculture. They contributed to increased productivity and helped reshape rural economies in the 20th century. The Fordson name remains associated with early mass-produced tractors and the spread of practical farming power to farmers around the world.