Story: Farm mechanisation

Fordson tractor (2nd of 4)

Fordson tractor

This Fordson tractor is pulling a reaper-binder machine on Banks Peninsula in the 1920s. The Fordson was developed by American Henry Ford, more famous for inventing the Model T automobile. The Fordson tractor was planned as the equivalent of the Model T Ford – a simple, practical vehicle that would sell for an affordable price. It had no chassis or frame – the transmission was bolted onto the engine, and the single unit was suspended over the wheels at each end of the back axle, and the centre of the front axle. The machine was robust and could travel over rough ground easily.

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Canterbury Museum
Reference: 19XX.2.147

Permission of Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

James Watson, 'Farm mechanisation - Vehicles', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18397/fordson-tractor (accessed 18 May 2024)

Story by James Watson, published 24 Nov 2008