French Major (Year) + Greetings

John · Post by **John** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:55 pm

Hello everybody. I'm an ex-pat Brit living in France. A friend of mine is local president of his vintage tractor club, and as flying is too expensive for me now, I've... bought a tractor!

French Major registered 1/1/56 which would seem to make it a '55, but the no. is: marque: FORDSON; type: EIADDN; série: 1406075, which tells me it is a '56 (the French reg. date of 1/1/56 may be a French admin thing.)

Until recently it was working in vineyards at Cognac. It's a good runner, needs a good service, and there's a little oily sludge in the rad.

Here's some pics at the viticulteur's home before we get started on the initial hot pressure wash when we get it back on Thursday.

Cheers.

Grani · Post by **Grani** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:35 pm

It is 10/56 so they register perhaps all to 1/1/56 no matter when on that year

John · Post by **John** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:41 pm

Grani wrote:It is 10/56 so they register perhaps all to 1/1/56 no matter when on that year

I can well believe that. Thanks for the information. BTW, the current owner makes a mean bottle of pinot!

Chris Ivin · Post by **Chris Ivin** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:29 pm

That looks a really straight Major, good original condition and the tinwork looks very sound for it's age. I hope the mechanics are equally as good.

Good look with your project.

henk · Post by **henk** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:01 pm

Welcome John,

This is a beauty. Is it the original paint. If so just clean it. There are not many with it's first paint.

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:53 pm

It looks wonderful for its age and if that is original paint, it's a candidate for preservation rather than restoration. So few are left that are in good shape that it is an option to consider and it might be less expensive. Congratulations on a great find.

Dandy Dave · Post by **Dandy Dave** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:57 pm

Welcome aboard Matey! Preservation is something I like.

Any tractor can be restored, but they are only original once. I have had a few examples of original tractors. and they always drew a lot of attention at shows and gatherings. Dandy Dave!

John · Post by **John** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 2:35 pm

Thanks all for the welcomes.

In respect of preservation (paintwork), it's been suggested that as far as possible it's buffed up with something like T-Cut, and then painted with a mixture of linseed and turps. It'll harden off and look like it's been nicely wiped down with an oily rag (rust marks included).

Sounds good to me. What do others do?