Salesman's Fordson Tractor Photograph Album, circa 1918

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Summary

Creators:
Tractor Sales Co. (Cleveland, Ohio)
Abstract:
Salesman's promotional photograph album showcasing Fordson tractors.
Extent:
1 volume
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Salesman's Fordson Tractor Photograph Album, MC309, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.

Background

Scope and content:

Salesman's promotional photograph album showcasing Fordson tractors. The images show Fordson tractors in use by different Cleveland companies and were presumably used by salesmen as a marketing tool. Manufactured by Henry Ford & Son from 1917-1920 and later by the Ford Motor Company, "the Fordson was for tractors somewhat like the Ford Model T was for automobiles - it captured the public's imagination and widely popularized the machine, with a reliable design, a low price affordable for workers and farmers, a widespread dealership network, and a production capacity for large numbers. Just as the Model T helped the public to appreciate how soon cars and trucks might replace most horses in transport, the Fordson helped people to appreciate how soon tractors might replace most horses in farming" (Wikipedia). And, in fact, two of the captions in this album specifically note that the Fordson used by Eberhard Manufacturing is "replacing teams" (of horses). Ironically, Eberhard was a manufacturer of carriage and wagon hardware. Other images show Fordsons with various attachments being used for in the leveling and grading of Cleveland's U.S. Air Mail Field, in sewer construction, handling ore for a chemical Company, hauling a tank car, pulling a trailer for a lumber company, and even being used by the service department of Tractor Sales Company itself -- to move other tractors, of course.

[Description provided by Walkabout Books]

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Walkabout Books, 2020.
Processing information:

Liz Phillips created this finding aid with information supplied by Walkabout Books.

Physical location:
Researchers should contact Archives and Special Collections to request collections, as many are stored offsite.
Physical facet:
Black cloth album with "Tractor Sales Co. 6510 Euclid Ave." stamped on the cover. Twelve captioned original photographs. Eleven are 7.5 x 9.25 inches and linen-backed; the first image measures 4 x 8.5 inches and was evidently added after the rest of the album was assembled.
Dimensions:
7 x 11 inches
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Salesman's Fordson Tractor Photograph Album, MC309, Archives and Special Collections, UC Davis Library, University of California, Davis.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Davis, Special Collections, UC Davis Library
100 NW Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292, US
Contact:
(530) 752-1621
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
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