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21 May 2014

Michael Moroney on 21 May 2014

Half a century of tractor making history

Last week New Holland celebrated 50 years to the day, of tractor production at its British factory based at Basildon, in Essex where there were and remain strong Irish connections.

Michael Moroney

21 May 2014

Half a century of tractor making history

This is an early factory line photograph from Basildon with Cork man Jimmy O’Farrell, a supervisor at the plant, driving one of the early models off the line. Jimmy’s brother Frank was later to be a manager at Manchester United football club.

The current line-up of Ford tractors from the 1964 era, on display at the Basildon Visitor Centre includes well restored early edition Ford 3000, 4000 and 5000 models.

There will be a range of vintage displays at the All-Ireland Vintage Festival, being run by the Irish Vintage Society at the Sligo Folk Park in Riverstown on Saturday, May 31.

Last week, New Holland celebrated 50 years of tractor production at its British factory, based in Basildon, Essex. The construction of a purpose-built factory for the fully integrated production of tractors began in 1962 and 15 May 1964 saw the very first tractors go down the production line of what was then a Ford-owned factory and Europe’s most modern tractor manufacturing facility.

Last week, New Holland celebrated 50 years of tractor production at its British factory, based in Basildon, Essex.

The construction of a purpose-built factory for the fully integrated production of tractors began in 1962 and 15 May 1964 saw the very first tractors go down the production line of what was then a Ford-owned factory and Europe’s most modern tractor manufacturing facility.

The factory had a long connection with Ireland, as some of the production workers had started their tractor-making careers in Ford of Ireland, Cork, before moving to Dagenham and then on to Basildon as they followed the blue tractor’s production life cycle.

The first tractors were the Ford 3000 (46hp), Ford 4000 (54hp) and the Ford 5000 (64hp), all hugely modern tractors for their time.

These tractors were built at Basildon from 1964 to 1968 and sold across the world. They replaced the Major, Dexta, Power Major, Super Major and Super Dexta, and were popular in Ireland.

A quarter of a century later, in 1989, over two million engines had been produced and the now iconic Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee model was launched to commemorate this important milestone. Since 1964, over 1.6 million tractors and 3.1 million engines have been produced at Basildon.

Basildon’s tractors have shaped modern agricultural history, dating back to the first Ford 1000 series models of the mid-1960s. They ushered in the era of modern agriculture, and they were completely new from the ground up – new engines and transmissions ensured this range was an instant hit across the globe.

The Ford 40 series were groundbreaking models in the early 1990s. They featured the PowerStar engines, also built at Basildon. These tractors improved farming comfort thanks to the SuperLux cab, which offered a quiet, roomy operating space, advanced closed centre-load sensing hydraulics and the forerunner of the Electro Command semi-powershift transmission, the ElectroShift.

Following the impressive UK and European launch, sales of this 75hp to 120hp range reached the 100,000 unit mark.

The TS series was launched in the late 1990s and was an evolution of the 40 series. This range was the first to feature New Holland’s distinctive styling, characterised by the sloping hood, and was the first range to benefit from Tier 1 emissions technology.

The TM range, developing between 120hp and 190hp, became synonymous with excellent performance and outstanding ease of use thanks to the introduction of Terraglide front axle suspension.

It was also the first range to benefit from productivity enhancing Engine Power Management technology.

Irish Farmers Journal Vintage Diary

Date Event Location Contact

24 May Carnlough Vintage Road Run Down 0044-771-9439734

24 May Tamlagh O’Crilly Parish Road Run Derry 028/048-29541134

24 May Mid-Ulster Vintage Evening, Magherafelt Derry 028/048-79642256

25 May Ballyroan Vintage Rally Laois 087-2857270

25 May Dee Vintage Club Louth 087-6496721

25 May Mid-West Donegal Vintage Club Donegal 087-6315695

25 May Balscadden Tractor Run Dublin 087-9489834

30 May High Nellie Club run Meath 086-8575618

30 May Seaforde Vintage Road Run, Seaforde Antrim 0044-7801-980324

31 May Riverside Vintage Club Donegal 087-7914428

31 May 2014 National Vintage Festival, Riverstown Sligo 087-2575581

31 May Derrygortreavy Vintage Rally, Dungannon Tyrone 0044-7593-915320

31 May N. Ireland Engine Club Rally, Templepatrick Antrim 028/048-90848154

1/2 June Innishannon Steam & Vintage Club Cork 087-2802658

1June Ballyglass Vintage Rally, Claremorris Mayo 086-8200652

1 June South Leitrim/West Cavan Field Day Leitrim 086-8180191

8 June IVETA Vintage Rally Laois 086-8672664

8 June Thurles & District Road Run,Templemore Tipperary 086-2743442

8 June Shrule & District Vintage Rally, Caherlistrane Galway 087-9826003

8 June Pre 1980 Ford Cars Tractors Trucks Gathering Kilcock 086-0658924

8 June Castleisland Vintage Road Run Kerry 087-3301079

8 June Liskennett Vintage Run, Bruree Limerick 087-9514026