For Better, Easier, Low Cost Farming... Ford Tractors (New Select-O-Speed)

Birmingham, MI: Ford Motor Company. Very Good+. 1959. Ephemera. B&W Illustrations; This is an oversized booklet with a stapled spine. The booklet is in Very Good+ condition and was issued without a dust jacket. The booklet and its contents are in clean, bright condition. The text pages are clean and bright. "Fifty-one years ago in February 1959, the Tractor and Implement Division of the Ford Motor Company introduced the Select-O-Speed transmission for the Ford 601, 701, 801 and 901 series of tractors. It was a full powershift transmission which enabled the operator to shift on-the-go between ten forward and two reverse speeds by moving a single selector lever located under the dash. There was no traditional clutch or clutch pedal, although an “inching pedal” was provided to assist in hitching the tractor to implements. The concept of the full powershift transmission originated with Howard Simpson. Simpson was a Ford tractor engineer during the 1920s and developed the fenders which prevented the Fordson tractor from tipping over backwards. During the 1930s, he developed a series of experimental tractors for Henry Ford and was slated to be the lead engineer for the Ford-Ferguson tractor before he resigned. He then developed many transmissions designs for cars and trucks and during the 1950s all three major auto companies paid royalties to Simpson for the concepts they were using in their automatic transmissions." (Farm Journal) .