Roots of Motive Power
The Roots Collection
Fordson Tractor

In December Morton Friedman of Sacramento donated a Fordson industrial tractor "Lumber Jimmy" to Roots of Motive Power. The tractor differed from the standard farm tractor in that it utilized hard rubber tires, weighted wheels and had a PTO winch on the front. During the 1920s, the inexpensive and generally reliable Fordson tractor was the power of choice for a wide variety of logging and sawmill equipment. Fordsons powered locomotives, both pole road and standard flanged wheels, logging donkeys such as the Skagit Little Tugger, road graders, straddle trucks and lumber jimmies. Before the era of the forklift, lumber was usually placed on carts in the sawmill and pulled from sawmill to dry yard to planermill by these tractors.



1914 Willits News Advertisement



HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE FORDSON FARMER?

The FORDSON FARMER is a progressive, up-to-date farmer. He is putting in a larger acreage this year than last, by the use of the Fordson Tractor, together with implements especially fitted to his tractor. He finds himself in better condition than ever before; he plows his land quickly and economically when it is just right; he plows deeper and leaves his land in the best of condition, which conserves the moisture and allows the plant roots to penetrate the soil to a greater depth. This means larger and better crops.

The labor problem does not bother the Fordson farmer. His Fordson tractor enables him to do his own work with ease and quicker than he did it with hired help before.

His wife is also a Fordson enthusiast because the Fordson has made life more pleasant for her. It gives the Fordson farmer more time to spend at home.

You will find the Fordson farmer a regular good fellow. He has a very optimistic view of life - he wears a smile that won't come off. He would not return to the old system because he has found the Fordson way more profitable.

Let us introduce you to this fellow. Phone or write us for appointment. We will call for you, at your convenience, and take you out to his place where you can see the Fordson Tractor in actual use; where you can talk with the Fordson farmer and he can tell you of his success. Learn from him the merits of the Fordson Tractor and the advantage of farming the Fordson way.

WILMING & WILMING

From the Roots of Motive Power Newsletter, April 1998


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