Ninetieth anniversary of the building of the first production Ferguson System tractor
By the end of March, 1936 the assembly of the world’s first production Ferguson System tractor the Ferguson-Brown Type A had been completed.
Initially referred to as the Ferguson System tractor for Ulster or just the Ferguson tractor it was based closely on the Ferguson Belfast Black Prototype Tractor that was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 1931 - 1933. Powered by a British built Coventry Climax engine instead of the American Hercules engine with other small changes including being painted battleship grey. Most importantly it had a perfected Ferguson System three point hydraulic linkage.
Ten years from the granting of the Ferguson Master Patent in June, 1936 which invented the modern tractor with quickly interchangeable implements and it’s perfecting as a Ferguson System of farm modernisation the first production Ferguson System tractor Ferguson-Brown Type A serial number 1 would put a Ferguson System tractor on the market. The first example to be sold was serial number 12 that was sold in June, 1936. Marketed as a complete farming solution under Ferguson Farm Machinery, the tractor would initially be available with four Ferguson System three point hydraulic implements that like the design for the tractor was perfected from 1933 to 1935 in County Tyrone. The first of each implement commenced with serial number 1.
Type “B” two furrow 10″ plough with general purpose bodies.
Type “C” General cultivator with seven spring release tines.
Type “D” Three row potato ridger with steerage fin and markers.
Type “E” Row Crop cultivator with nine rigid tines and steerage fin.
The tractor was priced at £224 Pounds and each implement cost £26 Pounds.
One of the first advertisements for the tractor boldly claimed it was “A dawn of a new prosperity for Britain.”
As part of management structures agreed on the 2nd December, 1935 to build and sell the tractor a team of directors and a company was formed called Ferguson-Brown Tractors Limited Huddersfield.
Frank Edwin Brown was Chairman as it was in his factory at Huddersfield, England the tractor and implements were built.
His son David Brown and Harry Ferguson were Joint Managing Directors
The other Directors were Arthur Sykes a Director at David Brown and Sons, Huddersfield.
Thomas MacGregor Greer, Harry Ferguson’s main business partner in the development of the Ferguson System and on his lands at Tullylagan in County Tyrone the Ferguson System was perfected by late 1935.
The final Director was very interestingly Earnest DE Silly Hamilton Browne from Claudy County Londonderry. He was a famous tennis player who contributed considerably to early lawn tennis in the British Isles.
The first and very historic tractor received serial number 1. It was used for a number of private demonstrations as part of final testing in late March, 1936 including at the Surrey home of Lloyd George, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922.
The first Ferguson-Brown Type A to arrive in Northern Ireland on the 21st April, 1936 was number 1 and after being used for first private and then public demonstrations in Northern Ireland it was given to Thomas MacGregor Greer for his help in financing the Ferguson System. It would spend its working life in County Tyrone and would later be purchased back by Harry Ferguson to put on display at Coventry, England.
Today the Ferguson System is a world standard and the very special first Ferguson System tractor number 1 assembled 90 years ago is currently on display at the Massey Ferguson Agrispace Museum in France.
I have been in contact with Massey Ferguson and they are giving serious consideration to its return to Northern Ireland for a special celebratory display in 2026 to mark its 90th birthday if a venue in County Tyrone can be found.
Occasions like this could make use of the old parade grounds in the St. Lucia Barracks in Omagh as part of a County Tyrone Museum if both Stormont and the MOD had a clear purpose and vision for the unused historic site.
Will keep you informed of the progress on this story as the last time Ferguson-Brown Type A number 1 was in Northern Ireland was back in 2002 for a display when the factory in Coventry was closing.
Stevan Patterson, Castlederg County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.