The Fordson model F tractor plays a very important part in British history. In 1917, due to the German U boat blockade of the country, Britain's food reserves were down to only two weeks remaining. Production of food had to be sped up, and fast. However, there were tremendous difficulties in this - many horses had been requisitioned by the Army, and of course there was a shortage of manpower too. Mechanisation of farming was the only way to ensure there was enough food supplies to stop the nation from starving.
Lord Northcliffe inspecting the Fordson model F tractor with Henry Ford
In the USA, Henry Ford, who had already gave the world wheels with the Ford model T, was setting up a factory for the sole purpose of producing tractors, the Fordson model F. Prime Minister of Britain Lloyd George sent his representative, Lord Northcliffe, to the USA to try and persuade Henry Ford to start manufacturing large amounts of the Fordson model F for export. On 8th October 1917, the first one rolled off the production line, becoming the worlds first mass produced tractor. Within six months, the entire order of 7,000 tractors had been delivered to Britain, and the country saved.
Model of a Women's Land Army member driving a Fordson