Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2012/January 2013 | Page 54

FEATURE

'So basically the Model T was a
tractor that you could take your
family to church in'
mechanic, and his aircraft was
built in his brother’s garage
in Belfast. He combined that
skill with expertly tuning cars,
and became heavily involved
in motor and motor cycle
racing, as well as carrying
out consultancy work for the
Irish Government on food
production, and particularly
ploughs.
Jamie said: “My grandfather
was involved in many activities,
so he was obviously very good
at selling himself to people.”
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Ferguson built his first
agricultural plough in 1916,
and converted an iconic Ford
Model T car to pull it. “So
basically the Model T was a
tractor that you could take your
family to church in,” smiled
Jamie.
Recognising that most tractors
of that era were big, slow,
heavy and dangerous, Ferguson
embarked on a mission to
design a light, flexible and
versatile tractor. In 1925 he
invented the prototype of

the three-point linkage that
ultimately enabled ploughs
to become part of the tractor,
rather than just be towed
precariously behind.
The three-point linkage
subsequently became an integral
part of every tractor in the
world, and Jamie describes the
prototype that is on show as
the most exciting single item
in the museum. But despite
trying to market the innovative
plough in the United States,
few were convinced of its true
value. So by 1933 Ferguson had
built his own fully functional
Black Tractor to integrate
the three-point linkage and
hydraulics –a massive step
forward in agriculture history.
Over the years scores of

Clockwise from
top left:
Harry Ferguson
and Henry Ford on
Henry Fords farm
in Georgia 1938.
Harry Ferguson
with his model
3 point linkage
Fergie.
Harry Ferguson
drives his tractor
down the staircase
at Claridges 1948.
The first Ferguson
production line in
Detroit after the
split with Ford.