Hey, the discussion below triggered some long last memeory cells, and I was thinking that there was more to the famous and elusive 7N. So, I dug into Leffingwell's book "Ford Farm Tractors" on pages 163-165 and here's a brief on the subject from that book:Caption page 163: First production 8N tractors used radiator grilles drilled with holes for mounting the Ferguson System ID plates. Originally, intended as a 7N Ford Tractor with Ferguson System, the names and numbers were changed at the last minute when Ford and Ferguson parted bitterly. (Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Viillage). Engineers and designers completed the first 7NX prototypes in late 1945..."that was to be the next Ford-Ferguson, with improvements, corrections, and updates they had wished to make make during the wars years....First 7NX tractor was assembled sometime in the fall of 1945 (page 163)." Caption page 164: On April 19, 1946, a Ford film crew shot an instructional film on operating the new 7N tractor, set for introduction toward the end of the summer...(Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.) During the winter, some of those prototypes were shipped to Georgia, and some were tested with the new 4 speed tranny. "At the same time, management was in the midst of testing Herry Ferguson's resolve. In the end, Breech, Youngren, Roeder, and Brock concluded the 7N should become an 8N, a Ford tractor with no mention of a Ferguson System, postponed until late 1947. So in January, five new experimental tractor, 8N's, were begun." Henry Ford dies on April 7, 1947. Page 165: "Roeder asked Brock to supervise 8N development on the prototypes complete between April 15 and May 5, 1947." Then the color contest began. Rust and dirt was a consideration, and Ford engineers did not want rust or dirt to show through the paint. And, they wanted something flashier than the IH red tractors that didn't show rust too. Page 165: "I said we ought to have a light color on the hood so it doesn't show dirt. We don't want red like IH. Chickens roost on the tractor. The top get's white, dirty. So use a light color on top." (Brock) "...My wife had a pretty dress. Red and silver grey. I thought it was really attractive. I told them the vote came out that the tractor was going to be red and gray. Spruced up the look of the tractor. And the rust wouldn't show throough the red..." (Brock) page 165. (Apparently Brock collected the votes from the designers, and the book eludes that Brock made an independent decision on the color because he was the vote collector...)...sounds like the Florida elections processs.) well, i'm running late...off to work fellas. Have a great day. 9N'er
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