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Fifty years ago this week, Ford launched what it called “the newest and biggest range of tractors ever presented to the Irish farmer”. The tractors were a big change from the Fordson Major and Dexta and were designated the 6X range within Ford. For Irish farmers, they became known as the Ford 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 tractors.
Ford advertised them as the Ford Dexta 2000 (37hp), Ford Super Dexta 3000 (46hp), Ford Major 4000 (55hp) and Ford Major 5000 (65hp) in the pages of the Irish Farmers Journal issue of 21 November 1964.
The tractors boasted new advanced transmissions, power economy with what were called over-square engines, live-drive hydraulics and fully independent PTO.
An engine is described as over-square or short-stroke if its cylinders have a greater bore diameter than its stroke length, giving a bore/stroke ratio greater than 1:1. The Ford 2000, 3000 and 4000 were three-cylinder engine tractors, while the Ford 5000 was a four-cylinder tractor.
Our machinery reporter at the time, the late Noel O’Reilly, described the tractors as having “a strong American influence, rugged, pleasing and functional”. The big news at the time was the option of using the new Ford Select-O-Speed system, a type of automatic gearbox as an option to the eight-speed gearbox, which itself was rated to give a maximum speed of 17.5mph.
Select-O-Speed was a revolution in its time, but it failed to be successful on the market. The system gave 10 forward speeds and one reverse without the need for the clutch. The clutch was replaced by a feathering pedal to allow the driver to inch forward when hitching up implements.
Our reporter at the time noted that “the Select-O-Speed is not yet known, this system of hydraulic gear changing on the move has considerable appeal for those doing loader work and other such jobs that demand frequent gear changing”.
The hydraulic output of the biggest tractor was rated at six gallons per minute (22 litres), which was a significant boost over the Fordson Majors that they replaced. The independent PTO was standard on the Ford Major 5000 and optional on the smaller models.
Routine servicing was claimed to be simplified with a swing-out battery housing. The tractors had fewer grease nipples and extended air and fuel filter change intervals.
The new Ford tractors were well received by farmers and dealers, but they were not without their problems. This was not helped by the fact that they were produced at a brand-new factory built in Basildon, which was a move from Dagenham.
Most of the problems that appeared in the tractors when working on farms in 1965 were related to production problems at the factory.
There were problems with the Select-O-Speed, but probably due to a lack of knowledge of the system more than anything else. Most of these problems were ironed out by the time the tractors were replaced in 1968.
US launch followed by Irish event
The tractors were first launched to Irish dealers in October at a huge event in Radio City, New York. Irish manager for Ford Tractors, Leitrim man Gerry McGovern lead the group. This New York event was lavish and was attended by 6,000 Ford dealers from around the world.
The Irish launch of the tractors, one month later on 26 November 1964, was a major affair held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge, later to become Jury’s Hotel and now known as the Ballsbridge Hotel.
After the tractors were officially launched to huge fanfare in the presence of the then Minister for Agriculture Charlie Haughey and Minister for Lands Micheal O’Morán, the dealers and guests were then invited to see the tractors in action in typical wet and windy November conditions at the UCD ag faculty farm at Lyons Estate, Newcastle, Co Dublin later that day.
The tractors were launched weeks ahead of the Smithfield Show in London and prices were withheld until then.
What was in the Journal in November 1964
As I looked through the Irish Farmers Journal of 25 November 1964 some notes struck me. The headlines over those November weeks included some of the following:
So what’s changed you might ask? One interesting note of change was that Lough Egish Co-op was pioneering a move to bulk milk collection. The co-op was preparing to invest in a 3,500-gallon (15,750-litre) capacity bulk milk tanker costing £5,000 in order to reduce the cost of milk collection. In time, the tankers heralded the demise of the 78-strong fleet of tractors and trailers used for milk collection by the co-op.
Other Journal snippets included comments from the then Minister for Agriculture, one Charles J Haughey, who told the Dáil in a debate about the Land Bill that he had “passion for home-made bread”.
Two weeks later, he was at the dinner following the National Ploughing Championships, which were held on Edward Walsh’s farm at Danesfort, Kilkenny.
He is reported in the Journal as having danced with the Queen of the Plough, a young Eileen Brennan, and told her that he “hoped to handle her as well as she handled the plough”.
In the small ads pages of the Journal in November 1964, Atkins of Cork was advertising French-made Buisard cabs for tractors for £33, while a Lambourn tractor cab cost £23. A secondhand TVO Fordson Major was being offered for £100, while a Ferguson 20 TVO tractor, in running order, was offered for £50.
Other interesting adverts included four Friesan heifer calves for £30 each and 13 shares in the Roscrea Bacon factory, about which the advertiser, with the then popular advertising box number, was open to offers.
Date Event Location Contact
22 November Suncroft Vintage Club night threshing Kildare 087-2511665
23 November Kilmeedy Road Run Limerick 087 9001608
23 November Cork Model Die-Cast, Diorama & Toy Show Cork 087-2355379
26 November TECU club meeting, Dunsilly Hotel Antrim 0044-7866-55436
30 November IVETA Christmas social, Adare Limerick 086-3746944
10 December Over the Water Vintage Club road run Wexford 085-1740984
13/14 December Durrow Diecast Model and Toy Show Laois 086-8860598
27 December Sixmilebridge Christmas road run Clare 086-3746944
27 December Anglesboro Community Council tractor run Cork 086-2549014
27 December Ballynahinch vintage ploughing event Down 028/048-90813225
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