Popular Post 41chevy Posted November 29, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted November 29, 2014 I've been organizing photos for the big move and came across these interesting conversions based on the Fordson tractor. The Trackson was based on the WWI British conversion into an Artillery tractor. The Dozer and H-P One Man Road Grader are just plain neat to look at. Paul 6 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 how is it that 75 years ago one machine could do damn near any thing but today it would be almost impossible for a manufacturer to design such a versatile machine. love the pics, but your missing one, the fordson snowmobile it has two tank looking attachments with a spiral flighting and was steered with the wheel brakes. i.ve only seen a online vid. of it but it was cool looking- working. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268671 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Dash Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Ingenuity at it's best. It's amazing what could be accomplished back then with with limited technology and materials to work with. Quote Jim Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY-B61 Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 You sure put in a full day's work when operating any one of those! The gears on the front of the dozer look massive for the machine's size. Was Hadfield-Penfield a forerunner of Bucyrus-Erie or was Bucyrus, Ohio just a hotbed for machinery manufacturers? With the weight of the grader's underslung engine over the drive wheels it could probably do some serious grading in its day! 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268676 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gearhead204 Posted November 30, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted November 30, 2014 Paul: I'm not trying to hijack your thread but this is too cool to leave out ! 7 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268677 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 41chevy Posted November 30, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 30, 2014 Paul: I'm not trying to hijack your thread but this is too cool to leave out !Hijack?? I hoped you would post it. Any Fordson conversions are interesting.H-P was a steel company that did forgings and a ton of conversions for Fordson tractors, no relation to B/E other than supplying casting. The dozer was originally owned by the Montana Power Company and was used to lay gas pipe lines in and near Butte. It is a Trackson model D and has a White 2 speed pto,crane and winch. Its now in Worchester England on display.Lost hands saw mill conversion. The "stack" on the roller actually brings cool air down to the radiator. Here are a few moreMANY PHOTOS CREDITED TO DAVID PARFITT Saw MillRollerH-P Half track conversions 4 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268712 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY-B61 Posted November 30, 2014 Share Posted November 30, 2014 Fascinating use of the technology and materials available at the time. If so many scrap metal drives hadn't been necessary during WWII, I wonder how many of these marvels would still be working in some capacity today? You can't build anything easier to work on and it's not like the machines were made using solid-state electronics or a zillion different parts. By contrast, and there are examples near all of us, it's common to see a 10 year old piece of machinery (farm or otherwise - and trucks ) in a field someplace already obsolete, broken and rusting away. Or oozing plastic. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268715 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifth wheel Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 There is a book showing all the aftermarket accessories and modifications for these tractors, very interesting "Fordson accessory guide" Volume1 by Ed Bezanson 360 pages.FW 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-268961 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 and to think most people love john deere's I think the fordson changed history more than the deere's ........... love the other photos some conversions I have never seen. very nice stuff. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-270243 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 and to think most people love john deere's I think the fordson changed history more than the deere's ........... love the other photos some conversions I have never seen. very nice stuff. I have been watching the history on the Russian Revolution in the Military Channel. All sides were using by 1918-1919 the Russian built Fordson Tractors. It's mentioned that the tractors totally changed farming in most of Russian. Russia has memorials to the tractors and Postage stamp issued honoring it in the later 1920's. snow screw in action 1929 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-270248 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 How about Narrow Gage Railway. Two foot Gage in New Zealand, Austrailia, Japan and Russia in the Mid 1920s. Paul 2 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-270284 Share on other sites More sharing options...
E9V8 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Don't see this done very often.The 8Ncredible LSR tractor:CLICKY LINK Quote TerryJulian, PA Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-270542 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 You sure put in a full day's work when operating any one of those! Could you imagine trying to get workers to run this stuff today?? Without power everything and A/C to boot? Nothing would get built!I enjoy going to the spring show at Lakeside Sand and Gravel. You get to play with all this kinda stuff. Not bad for a day, but not sure I'd survive a work week!! Bit outta shape for that right now. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-270545 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post 41chevy Posted December 22, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 22, 2014 Here is a few more conversions. The Shovel used the Fordson engine and drive train. The company was started by one of Henry Fords cousin. The square track job is British and was made in the late 30's for the Military for trench digging. Ended up farming it appears. 3 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271358 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearhead204 Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Paul those square tracks are quite the piece of engineering ! never seen anything like it using the roller chain and idlers to make them "walk", must have been a competition to see who's track system was superior for the price............ Glad I wasn't a parts man when someone said they had a track unit 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271412 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 I'm glad I didn't have to adjust it all 1 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271428 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reuhlz Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 ...Postage stamp issued honoring it in the later 1920's. The postage stamp tractor is a Wallis Cub.But great information and very cool engineering! Thanks Paul,Drew Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271443 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Maikshilo Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Great topic! thanks for all the interesting photos! Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271444 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifth wheel Posted December 26, 2014 Share Posted December 26, 2014 A few conversions I did to the Ertl 1/43 die cast Fordson,industrial,US colors.UK colorsrow crop USFW 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271843 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted December 26, 2014 Author Share Posted December 26, 2014 I have a bunch of H.O. Fordsons and AC MACKS, too small for me to assemble. Paul Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-271897 Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogboy Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I recently saw this old Fordson sitting next to a barn in MA. bulldogboy 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-337011 Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyGunner Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I want a set of tracks for my Ferguson. I bet those square tracks beat you to death on hard ground. In the mud like in the pic might not be so bad. Quote The problems we face today exist because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by the people who vote for a living.The government can only "give" someone what they first take from another. Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-337034 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kscarbel2 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-337037 Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mackMB Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Looking at the ones with the tracks on them. I'm thinking that you would want to keep your elbows in by your side. Might hurt more getting hit by the track than shifting in a concave cab B model. Great pictures and Thank you 41chevy for starting this one. Hippy 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-337052 Share on other sites More sharing options...
41chevy Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share Posted June 19, 2016 (edited) 22 hours ago, 70mackMB said: Looking at the ones with the tracks on them. I'm thinking that you would want to keep your elbows in by your side. Might hurt more getting hit by the track than shifting in a concave cab B model. Great pictures and Thank you 41chevy for starting this one. Hippy Here is the Battle of Briton RAF conversion for towing Wellington and Lancaster bombers early in WWII on dirt fields. It is in the Imperial War Museum and the only survivor as built. http://http://http://http:// Edited June 19, 2016 by 41chevy 2 Quote "OPERTUNITY IS MISSED BY MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE IT IS DRESSED IN OVERALLS AND LOOKS LIKE WORK" Thomas Edison “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely, in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit, what a ride!’” P.T.CHESHIRE Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/37915-fordson-conversions/#findComment-337065 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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