GD's
GD's
Local Triumph Connections (3)
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Harry Ferguson was born in Growell, close to the town of Dromore, Co. Down. (just a few field lengths away from my home!) He started his engineering career as an automobile apprentice working for his brother Joe. He attended evening classes in Belfast Technical College while working for his brother during the day. J.B. Ferguson & Co. Ltd manufactured motor vehicles and in 1907 produced the highest production figures in Europe of 1,200 vehicles!
Harry established the Ferguson Company in 1911 and started to move away from manufacturing cars and towards producing a lightweight fully integrated agricultural tractor, the type of which we know today. The design was so good that a "handshake agreement" was reached with Henry Ford ( the son of an Irish emigrant ) on the manufacture of his farm system in 1939. Later, Ford pulled out and set up a rival plant in Detriot. Harry successfully sued and after a superb performance on the witness stand, won the largest patent compensation ever awarded ! Throughout the company's history, he continually formed alliances such as with Ford (Ferguson Ford), Massey (Massey Ferguson) and The Standard Motor Company for the licensed production of his tractors.
Today, Northern Bank £20 notes carry a
portrait of Harry (1884-1960) to commemorate his great achievements. |
