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Radio Major

Posted: Sat May 15, 2021 10:35 am
by Billy26F5
Hi all,
Anyone know what happened to the Radio Major? It appears in films in the Ford and Fordson on film series and in books like Stuart Gibbard's Ford Tractor Story and looks like a 1955 Major but I'm not too sure. I would also like to know what happened to it after Ford finished with it, as it would be good to see it work again if that were an option. (I hope Ford didn't mess this up before hand)
Sandy

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 9:26 am
by John b
Hi Sandy
Found this, don't know if you have already seen it but there is a download link on the page that gives the report on the radio major. Also seems Silsoe Research Facility did an unmanned major using a prototype hydrostatic transmission
John
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... k4Rv1H3Rro

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 11:17 am
by Billy26F5
Thanks John. What Silsoe made was not unmanned (at least that's what I've seen in the films that both the NIAE and Ford made), and I had already seen that page (not the pdf). I was actually more interested to know if it has survived and if it could be used as a radio controlled tractor again.
Sandy

PS I just tried to look at the pdf and it asked me to sign in.

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Mon May 17, 2021 12:21 pm
by John b
Thats a shame, It opened for me, maybe my ancient tablet confused it! I have no idea how to send it to you, tried copying it to photobucket but it wont work. It basically just describes how it works and says Ford does not intend to put it into production, just use it for field demonstrations
John

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 6:54 pm
by shepp
The Fordson Radio Major might have had the same idea as the FE35 that the NIAE had and escaped into the sunset! They had an FE35 fitted with a roll over safety frame to test the design needed to provide a comprehensive protection from tractors turning over in various situations. It was actually controlled by 2 operators following behind with control boxes connected to the tractor by long trailing leads. On one test filmed when they expected it to roll over it didn't, instead it shed it's leads and set off at a pace towards a wood, the 2 operators are seen legging off after it in their wellies but it seems to be faster than they are! It's a pity that film cuts off before the result of the escape bid is shown.

Many machines were not only tested but also designed and developed by the NIAE, some were subsequently taken up by front line manufacturers. For example the David Brown 2D is developed from a design and machine the NIAE produced when they were based at Askham Bryan in Yorkshire just outside York, the MF 711 potato harvester was produced from a machine developed when the NIAE had moved to Silsoe. There is a 3 disc DVD series that shows some of the work done at York and Silsoe.

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Thu May 20, 2021 8:14 pm
by Billy26F5
I know the NIAE discs, and remember a particularly hairy reversible plough on an E27N that was mounted on chains hanging from the lift arms, or the hydrostatic Major being jerked back and forth before it became radio controlled.
My main aim with the Radio Major is to see what happened after Ford stopped playing with it, as it would be great to see it out in the field again if that were a possibility.
Sandy

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 1:41 pm
by shepp
Ford also produced a radio controlled Dexta, a radio controlled NP Super Dexta, and a radio controlled Super Dexta 3000 which are featured on various promotional films. It would be interesting to know what happened to them also.

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Fri May 21, 2021 2:06 pm
by Billy26F5
I agree. I also saw a radio controlled Super Dexta in a film of a demonstration in Spain in 1962 with Super Ebro's nearby.
Sandy

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 10:19 pm
by Hair Bear
Reading Uni had a driverless B250, I think that ended up at Silsoe. I seem to remember the hydro Major had a set back front axle - or a nosecone that stuck out beyond the front wheels.

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 10:09 pm
by janus

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 11:00 pm
by Billy26F5
Excellent stuff Janus, I really liked the shots of the Radio controlled Dexta and the hydrostatic Major; the Major seems to have acquired power steering at some point as it started without it.
Sandy

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:25 pm
by janus
nothing to do with the radio controlled fordson, but maybe also interesting , the fordson radio

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqz7UL-t4bk8kQXxiWINklArVjIn

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqz7UL-t4bk8kQRnLFJ02MTMd-9J

https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aqz7UL-t4bk8kQNkoP0u5qY9G9Xh

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:50 pm
by Billy26F5
Another superb set of pics Janus. I had never known that there was a Fordson radio for the Major.
Sandy

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:15 pm
by janus
@ billy 26f5 if you know one, for sale, let me know !!! :D :D :D :D

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2021 11:47 pm
by John b
Hi all, just been surfing around and it seems fordson radios were around in the 30s, every day is a schoolday!
John
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... edGIhG8VC1

Re: Radio Major

Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 12:04 pm
by Billy26F5
I was already surprised by the radio for the Major, I knew even less of there being one in the N era. Janus, I think the Major radio will be even rarer here.
Sandy