Video Parts (2)
This clip is Part 1 of a 2-part film.
KEEP THE BOY ON THE FARM. [ADVERTISEMENT FOR FORDSON TRACTORS] Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Farming is the oldest business in the world, and my ideas were just that old. My farm showed it.” Farmhouse with hand pump outside - man walking behind horse-drawn plow. “But with my neighbor it was different. He was a ‘business man’ farmer and his farm showed it.” Tractor-drawn plow. “My wife worked harder and harder each day and I seemed powerless to do anything about a change.” Woman does laundry by hand. “One day she came to me and said, ‘John, it isn’t the sweat of the brow caused by labor that is making our neighbors’ progress so smooth, but the sweat of the brow caused by thought. They run their farms with brains.” Man and woman talking - tractor-drawn gang plow. “I was naturally a timid man and consequently always afraid to take the long chance. Yet all the time I realized that something must be done or my daughter would soon tire of the farm.” Girl milking. “But when my boy --.” Boy chopping wood. “Came to me one morning and told me I either had to wake up or he would leave the farm for the city, I was ready to do anything.” “‘Dad,’ he said, ‘They used to keep time with an hourglass, but you know a watch has it beaten fifty ways. Buy a tractor and better times will follow.’” “‘Look at Jones! He didn’t have a cent. Bought all up-to-date farm equipment and prospered. Why don’t you do the same thing?’” Tractor-drawn plow. “Therefore I went to town --” Horse-drawn wagon on dirt road. “And bought a Fordson tractor, the same as my neighbors had.” Farmer looks at tractor. “The new tractor arrived in due time and my boy was satisfied once more. Farming’s fun with a Fordson.” Boy drives tractor hauling leveling floats. “Our work became easier each day and we soon realized we could work more land. This would mean greater profits.” Farmer and boy looking at sign, ‘This 13 Acres for Sale.’ “I had the money.” Farmer at the bank. “So I bought more land.” Farmer at real estate broker’s office. “Next day we broke the new ground.” Plowing. “Things are different with me now. I feed independent. My family is happy and contented. I give all credit to the Fordson.” Family sits in parlor. “See how it plowed under those weeds. You couldn’t have done it with a four horse team. We plowed, fitted, and drilled that field in one day.” “With 7-foot cutter bars on the mowers the field was soon cut. We then ran a tedder over it and side-raked it.” Several tractors work field at same time. “And when it came to loading the hay, well, the tractor and hay loader won the friendship of everyone.” Hay is loaded onto wagon and hauled to barn. “I baled 100 tons of hay last fall.” Hay baler in operation. “The tractor pulls an 8-foot cut binder with perfect ease.” Several tractors haul machinery in wheat field. “We run our separator by tractor power. Simply put a drive pulley on the tractor, loop a belt over it and connect it to the separator.” Grain separator in operation. “Plow the stubble as soon as the grain is off the field, for you can get 11 bushels more to the acre if you do so.” Plowing - haystacks in background. “No doubt there are hundreds just like I was -- afraid to tackle the modern farming methods -- afraid to make a big business of farming. Today farming is my business and, my partner is --” Boy on tractor. “My son.” “The End.” [1919]
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