I dared to leave my 12yr old son alone for 10 minutes while I ran in the house to make sandwiches. Upon return, I saw him across the street at the estate sale. I could see him watching me as I approached, and he was talking fast, and just as I got there, he quickly reached in for "the handshake", the seal of the deal, his word, something he knew I would not, could not, break. He had successfully haggled for the xxxx year Ford 9N(?)/2N(?) before I could stop him, he had been waiting for the opportunity and he did not waste that sandwich making time. For the past week, he has been giving it a health service check, running it, figuring out what needs attention. I have been trying to figure out the year so he can get the best information for maintenance, and of course, just for the knowledge / history of the tractor. The estate owner's kids weren't able to tell us. I found a number on the block, but it's a little odd because it has a capital letter "I" in it, at a tilt, and I'm not sure if it is considered a "1" or not, but it is off-kilter from the rest of the numbers, it doesn't appear to be a part of the serial number. The number reads *9NI0696* (in place of the asterisks, there is an actual little star on both sides of the number). which would make it a 1939 9N without the potential "1" or a 1943 2N if the I is a 1. Neither makes sense to me when I read the years of changes, but perhaps someone here can help?? Here are my other observations: There are freeze plugs on the engine block & a hinged battery lid, both these attribute I read started in 1940. From 1941, we have the 3 covered-spokes steering wheel, the vertical spokes in the grill, the 2pc riveted axle hub, and 10x28 tire/wheel, and the ignition switch on the steering column (left side). The starter switch is left side, solenoid location (not in front of gear lever as stated for 1941, not sure what year that is from). From 1942, we have the slotted central bar in the grill, an opening between the upper/lower holes in the rear axle for bolting on mudguards (no mudguard, the front-end loader bolts are in there now), and plate steel front axle/radiator supports. There is NO 2N engraved on the Ford badge and the bonnet/hood side panels do NOT have outside exposure mounting bolts. The 1943 pressurized radiator is also NOT there. The tractor is generator/battery, has rubber, and has I-beam radius arms. Any ideas??

Serial number reads *9NI06896* (not *9NI0696*, which was a typo in my original post).

Your serial number is 9N10696. This is the information I have.There are some redundencies.

1939=9N1-9N10275
1940=9N10276-9N46017
1941=9N46018-9N88933
1942=9N88934-9N99046
1942(2N)9N99047-105411 (2N'S have no headlights)
1943(2N)9N105412-9N126574

Yours like mine could be a hybrid.Meaning someone could have changed parts using a donor from another year.

Thank you, Farmer Brown. I also just realized I have a MAJOR typo in my original post, as *9NI0696* should have been *9NI06896* ... I don't know how I missed typing the 8. "Officially, that would make this tractor a 1943 2N, but perhaps as you put it, a hybrid of changed parts using a donor from another year as well, and who knows what was swapped and what wasn't. There are no headlights, so I find that interesting as well, I wasn't aware that the 2Ns were the model without, super interesting. Thank you for all your input! So sorry for my original typo, but I am thankful for your reply, as I recognized the error as soon as I saw it, and sure enough, the error is from my original post. Thank you again!

Hi Dawn. Your serial number is for a '43 2n engine. That engine may have been swapped into another N tractor. My email is open above and you are welcome to email me photos from all four sides and the dash and I'll post them for you if you need assistance with that. You can also click on the Image Hosting link in the red menu bar at the top of the screen to learn how to do this.

Headlights were a dealer installed accessory. Fords did not come from the factory with them installed. The link below will display a 1940 accessories catalog that shows the kit that cost a whopping $14.50 back in the day.

• Click here to view a 1940 accessories catalog

Thank you, Ed Gooding! I have wondered if perhaps the engine itself may have been swapped as well. Oh how it would be wonderful to buy accessories at 1940 prices, how fun to see the catalog, thank you! And thank you for your offer of posting pictures and introduction to image hosting, I work behind a very old PC, not quite as old as the tractor, but ... it makes doing some things rather challenging if not impossible.

Watch out, this is just the beginning. Before you know it there may be a couple of more N's making their way into your home/garage, guess he caught the fever. Good to see a young man interested in these pieces of history. Too many of them going to junk yards or just sitting in fence lines. You will find alot of knowledge and help here and the other sites as mentioned. Good luck...

Thank you. Tom! We're from WI too, northern, almost in the U.P.. My son caught the fever several years ago when he took on an old Power King / Economy tractor that was otherwise going to be junked (thank you, local cranberry marsh!). He has used it to tow trailers and haul smaller trees out of the woods (after he cut them down with an ax first, he's quite the woodsman too, he keeps me on my toes). He had the idea to make the Power King like a "yarder" like they use logging in the northwest. It's quite the setup, and it has served him well over the years. He has been learning to weld from his dad, and it has been nothing but double-trouble since then, I am outnumbered. Thank you for welcoming us, we have learned a lot from the boards / blogs already, much great information here!

Attempt to add picture.

• Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=447295994577857&set=a.148409914466468

Thats a good trouble to be into for sure. We are Southern Wi. between Madison and Milwaukee. Careful when logging larger logs though... Pretty soon he will be able look at all the info these experts have been putting on this sight for years, and really good info at that... Pics in the future as we may be able to help you pinpoint the year of the N, not that it matters much, as the 9N's and 2N's are pretty similar except for a few minor things.... Good luck....

The I is a 1, the 6 and 9 are lower case b. Official Ford font. These old tractors have had many parts swapped over the years, so exact year and model don't mean much.

I am sure you know about:
https://fordtractorcollectors.com/identify-my-tractor/tractor-id-history/

There is another forum at:
https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/forums/ford-9n-2n-8n.16/
where you can upload pictures directly.

Thank you so much Deanostoybox! Very helpful indeed, and both sites you provided are new to me, so thank you again!