Radio Major

This forum is for the Fordson New Major, including the Super Major and the Power Major.
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Billy26F5
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Radio Major

Post 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
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John b
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
My biggest fear is that when i die my wife will sell my tractors for what i told her they cost

Billy26F5
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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.
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John b
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
My biggest fear is that when i die my wife will sell my tractors for what i told her they cost

shepp
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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.
Last edited by shepp on Thu May 20, 2021 8:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1946 E27N, 1952 Major Diesel, 1959 Power Major, 1962 Dexta, 1962 Super Dexta, 1963 Super Dexta NP, 1964 Super Major NP, 1965 Super Dexta 3000, 1966 Major 4000, 1967 3000 PF, 1994 5640,plus Basildon built NH.

Billy26F5
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
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shepp
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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.
1946 E27N, 1952 Major Diesel, 1959 Power Major, 1962 Dexta, 1962 Super Dexta, 1963 Super Dexta NP, 1964 Super Major NP, 1965 Super Dexta 3000, 1966 Major 4000, 1967 3000 PF, 1994 5640,plus Basildon built NH.

Billy26F5
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
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Hair Bear
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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.
You're supposed to eat greens, not drive 'em!

janus
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Re: Radio Major

Post by janus »


Billy26F5
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
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janus
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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

Billy26F5
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Re: Radio Major

Post by Billy26F5 »

Another superb set of pics Janus. I had never known that there was a Fordson radio for the Major.
Sandy
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janus
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Re: Radio Major

Post by janus »

@ billy 26f5 if you know one, for sale, let me know !!! :D :D :D :D

John b
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
My biggest fear is that when i die my wife will sell my tractors for what i told her they cost

Billy26F5
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Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2020 12:01 am
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Re: Radio Major

Post 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
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