Ferguson

The story of Harry Ferguson's involvement with tractors began during World War I, initially with the distribution of Waterloo Boy tractors – later rebranded as Overtime – across Ireland and England. As he collaborated with farmers, seeking to optimize their newly acquired tractors, Ferguson's attention turned to innovating a superior method for implement attachment. This pursuit culminated in his groundbreaking "Ferguson System," which ultimately evolved into the universally recognized three-point hitch – a definitive standard for connecting implements to agricultural machinery. To showcase the capabilities of this novel hitch mechanism, Ferguson crafted the Ferguson Black tractor. This endeavor subsequently led to a collaborative agreement with David Brown, resulting in the production of the Ferguson-Brown tractor. However, this partnership proved to be fleeting, prompting Ferguson to forge a new alliance with Henry Ford, focusing on the development of tractors incorporating his innovative hitch. This collaboration with Ford continued until 1947, when it concluded amidst contentious legal proceedings. Afterwards, Ferguson established a manufacturing arrangement with the Standard Motor Company, enabling him to introduce his own dedicated line of tractors. In 1953, Ferguson was acquired by Massey-Harris. The enduring Massey-Ferguson name continues to be employed today by AGCO.