A little more history of the N series of Ford tractors:
Harry Ferguson, an Irishman, invented the 3 point hitch. He approached Henry Ford about building tractors with his hitch and marketing the assessories-plows, rakes, etc-through the Ford dealerships. Harry and Henry shook hands on it. The 9Ns and 2Ns had tags on the grill that said "Ferguson (System?)" on them.
The 2N, introduced in 1942, eliminated the electric starter and went to a magneto. They had to be handcranked. Starters came back later in the war. These two series were painted a dark grey. 9Ns and 2Ns had three speed tranmissions.
About the time Henry Ford died in 1947, Henry Ford II, the grandson, who had been running the company, decided to eliminate the royalties that were paid to Ferguson. The new 8Ns, which had four speed trannies and a few other updates, were introduced in 1947. These used a lighter shade of grey, in response to farmers would commented about barn swallow droppings.
Ferguson sued Ford and won. He built tractors under his own name and then went on join with Massey-Harris. M-H-F dropped Harris and became M-F.
Mine, which is also a '49 model, ain't as pretty.
