The Ferguson Black Tractor 1933
Probably the most famous tractor in the world This tractor, built by Harry Ferguson himself has been brought to life with stunning imagery giving the opportunity to see it from all angles and great detail. |
After Harry Ferguson had invented the 3 point linkage he needed a lightweight tractor to demonstrate its advantages. It became clear to him that the only way forward lay in building a prototype tractor incorporating his own inventions which could ultimately be built cheaply and be useful on the smallest farms as well as the largest.
As the design progressed Ferguson insisted that it should be painted black, probably because of his own liking for functional simplicity. The Black Tractor was completed in 1933 and immediately put to test and became the fore-runner of all modern day tractors with its 3 point linkage and hydraulics, weight transference and automatic depth control.
More than any other single development, this invention revolutionised the use of the farm tractor, and nearly all subsequent designs have incorporated its design principles. In particular the Black Tractor was the fore-runner of the TE20, lovingly known as the “Fergie”, a descendant that became a common sight on farms all over Britain and the world in the 1940s and early 1950s.
The Black Tractor has recently been moved from the Science Museum in London to the Ulster Transport Museum in Belfast. It is on display in the Museum of Innovation Gallery at the Ulster Transport Museum. The gallery showcases stories of local pioneers who have made a global impact, thus preserving the legacy of Northern Ireland’s innovators. The tractor is on loan to the museum by Harry Ferguson’s family who recently travelled to Belfast for the unveiling of the exhibit.
The above text is copied from the Ferguson Family Museum website.
Black Tractor arrives at Ulster Transport Museum
Harry Ferguson famous “Black Tractor” has arrived at the Ulster Transport Museum. (22nd August 2024)
The tractor that revolutionised farming is now on display at the Ulster Transport Museum. This iconic prototype, engineered in Belfast, truly expresses the genius of Harry Ferguson. It brought together Ferguson’s unique innovations for the first time and is arguably the most important tractor ever built.
On loan to the museum by Harry Ferguson’s family. You can now see the Ferguson Black Tractor on display in the Museum of Innovation at Ulster Transport Museum. Please click on the “YouTube” link below to see it arriving :-
Ferguson Black Tractor | Behind-the-scenes at the Ulster Transport Museum (youtube.com)
Ferguson enthusiast and Club member – Colin Taylor and his fabulous son, Aaron, were the first to visit the new display. Colin has sent us these photos so we can all celebrate this historic event……
Please find a further link below to the museum for visiting information….
Museum of Innovation | Ulster Transport Museum
I’m Mad Into Massey-Fergusons | Liveline – RTÉ Radio 1 (rte.ie)
