Tractor News New Holland going out of business???

[JoeinTX]

The confusing, incestuous, and boggling aspects of the ag industry are hard to follow but they are not new. The auto industry is no different and in so, so many other industries you would be even more gobsmacked. The number of different suppliers and proprietors in any modern cell phone or laptop or TV (foreign or domestic) would blow your mind. I work for a German company contracted with an American company that has to abide by Korean import/export requirements for manufacturers in California and China who have to comply with international safety regulations. Makes you want to drink.

Henry Ford? Ford was the penultimate businessman. Efficiencies of scale. Max productivity. Selling to the greatest bidder. He would be perfectly at home in today's industry. Ford didn't care what color Model T you wanted because they were all black and that's the color you got. That was the extent of customer service in a time and place where they consumer had to take what they could get. He knew the market then, he could get it now.

As for FIAT. They are Europe's Ford. They've produced just about everything from one time to another......tractors, cars, airplanes, radios, home appliances, heavy equipment, engines.......through good times and many bad. And, yet, they've managed to survive while so very many have not. Ford would have no problem with part of his enterprise today with FIAT. None. It's been very good business.

FIAT's not selling out any of it's current ag line. They've spent too much time and money re-building it and marketing it. It's been too much of a success for them.

Besides, look at this scenario.........the "foreign" FIAT now controls: Chrysler/Dodge/RAM, New Holland, Case IH.....lump in the ghosts of International Harvester and Allis-Chalmers industrial. Old Man Ford would jump at that and all of the American workers involved in the varied enterprises would be gracious to be there.

 

[ultrarunner]

Henry Ford? Ford was the penultimate businessman. Efficiencies of scale. Max productivity. Selling to the greatest bidder. He would be perfectly at home in today's industry. Ford didn't care what color Model T you wanted because they were all black and that's the color you got. That was the extent of customer service in a time and place where they consumer had to take what they could get. He knew the market then, he could get it now.

As for FIAT. They are Europe's Ford. They've produced just about everything from one time to another......tractors, cars, airplanes, radios, home appliances, heavy equipment, engines.......through good times and many bad. And, yet, they've managed to survive while so very many have not. Ford would have no problem with part of his enterprise today with FIAT. None. It's been very good business.

Ford was many things, but he did make mistakes and misjudge markets...

Had a few bankruptcies and thought the Model T would live forever... true, 15 million were produced over 18 years...

The Black color is a myth because Model T's came in many colors... as Ford was loosing Market Share due his now antiquated design... the only thing he could do was compete on price.

Eventually, it got the point where all production stopped with no new product ready for production... imagine, laying off everyone except the design team and betting the company on a new product yet to be developed and one that had several big changes as production started... Safety Windshield, Shock Absorbers and Separate Emergency Brake System and Flexible Motor Mounts were all very early running changes after production started.

Some of the methods used to build the new Model A had to be invented along with the car... mostly types of welding processes to make the gas tanks and welded spoke wheels...

If left to old Henry... the company would have not made it... no doubt he provided an excellent foundation on his 3rd or 4th attempt at being a manufacturer...

Part of his genius was to dominate the market vertically... he owned the forests, the rubber plantation, ships, rail cars, mines etc to make the final product and branch out to other industries such as AG, Aviation, Refrigeration, Broadcasting and even Kingsford Charcoal...

He would insist on minute things such as the dimensions for wood shipping creates so they could later be made in things like floor boards for the cars... he admired efficiency and detested waste.

 

[RickB]

That cannot be said with any degree of certainty. Your opinion; fine. Ironclad fact, not so much.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I don't remember the exact date, but I recall the speech as if it were yesterday.....I was at a Ky Farm Bureau yearly awards dinner. The key note speaker was the chief of operations at the Louisville Ky International Harvester plant. It was considered the most advanced and modern foundry in the US, maybe even the world. Harvester was an icon in the AG industry. THey had a rich history and the promise of a great future. The speech we heard that night was all about Harvesters future, and how they were planning on leading the AG world into a new age. No one doubted his word.

6 months later, Harvester was sold for pennies on the dollar.... International Harvester as we knew it ceased to exist.

NEVER say never.......

A key indicator of financial stability of large multinational corporations in todays economic environment is asset to debt ratio. Fiat is loaded down with debt. Same was the case with IH in the early 1980's. They started selling off "profitable" lines to help prop up their UNprofitable mainstay, the AG division.....Turns out that was yet another blunder in a chain of management mistakes that ended up with a fire sale.

 

[sweep]

The Black color is a myth because Model T's came in many colors... as Ford was loosing Market Share due his now antiquated design... the only thing he could do was compete on price.

Uumm no. All Model T's from 1914 to 1927 were black. Model A's that came out in 1928 came in customer ordered colors.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Uumm no. All Model T's from 1914 to 1927 were black. Model A's that came out in 1928 came in customer ordered colors.

Model T paint options.....



http://www.texastparts.com/mm5/manuals/ModelTFordPaintColors.pdf

 

[greasemonkeyok]

If I can read the chart correctly, the only color from 1915 to 1926 was Black.

 

[ultrarunner]

Model T production started in 1908 and ended in 1927... although Ford continued production of components such as new engines into 1941 due to contractual requirements with organizations such as the United States Post Office.

Black was the only standard color available for the years of 1915 through 1925... so for 10 out of 19 years... black was the color.

Eleven colors in addition to black were offered in 1926 through 1927.

I am a Senior Concourse judge going back 35 years and have restored numerous Model T's and Model A's during this time.

Fleet Buyers always had the option to select color... Ford had major contracts with the War Department and the U.S. Post Office in addition to others.

It is interesting to note that Ford Motor Company produced 6 Model T to celebrate it's Centennial...

 

[WilliamBos]

Yeah, just that Deere's "regional resale value" is a lot more "world wide" than the rest.....If there's ANY truth to what you say, Lexicons "regional resale value" doesn't extend beyond the parking lot of their dealers.....The rest of the known world, Deere has 'em covered by a wide margin.

Since Lexicon dealers don't have ANYTHING that would interest me, there's no reason for me to take my Deere combine to them....And the fact (your "fact/repeated rumor" anyway) shows further proof of their inability to offer trade values in line with market values, you just pointed out ANOTHER reason to bypass Lexicon dealers...And ANOTHER reason why they'll continue to be a back marker.....

And for the record, highest resale on a green combine will come from a PRIVATE SALE to someone who wants a good combine with great product support beyond a couple or 3 years. Trades on an off brand dealers lot is no indication of value except for those who're hunting for excuses.....Own a Deere (or CASE IH) combine and you don't need excuses....

I'd expect comments like yours from someone who's never owned, sold, bought or traded a combine..... Speak of what you actually know from first hand experience on the subject (ie very little...) , NOT of what selected rumors you hear in a brand bashing thread from brand bashing proned internet websites......

Apparently Deere's industry leading product resale value and strong product demand is STILL a touchy subject with those "green" with jelousy!!!!!

Keep drinking that green Kool aid. You grossly over pay for that resale value, that is a fact!!

 

[Elkins45]

I don't remember the exact date, but I recall the speech as if it were yesterday.....I was at a Ky Farm Bureau yearly awards dinner. The key note speaker was the chief of operations at the Louisville Ky International Harvester plant. It was considered the most advanced and modern foundry in the US, maybe even the world. Harvester was an icon in the AG industry. THey had a rich history and the promise of a great future. The speech we heard that night was all about Harvesters future, and how they were planning on leading the AG world into a new age. No one doubted his word.

6 months later, Harvester was sold for pennies on the dollar.... International Harvester as we knew it ceased to exist.

Where was/is that plant located in Louisville? What's it being used for today? Did Ford take it over for their truck operation?

I ask because I don't ever remember driving by it or hearing my Dad or uncles ever mention it and they were all big IH fans.