Hey all you Ferguson experts.  I need some help on this one.  I'm trying to help a lady identify a tractor she wound up with as part of a small parcel purchase.  It is painted red and gray, and has MF 35 decals.  However, it has the Ferguson badge on the front of the hood, and the serial number plate reads

TO-35 
SGF 183517
From my understanding, S = Utility, G = Gasoline engine, F = Single stage clutch

The only listing I have for Ferguson serial numbers has me confused.  It tells me this tractor is a 1958.  I had always been under the impression that starting in 1958 the two separate lines were dropped and everything was branded Massey Ferguson?? 

My listing shows Gas Deluxe 1958 s/n 178216 through 188850 and Gas Special s/n 183348 through 185503.  How do you tell if it is a Special or a Deluxe?  Either way, per the serial number and this listing, it is a 1958...  The listing I have also still shows the TO-35 being built in 1959.  Really?

What colors would this tractor have been painted at the factory?  Would it have had MF 35 decals since it was 1958 even though it has the Ferguson badge on front of hood and TO-35 on the serial number plate?  What else can you tell me about this tractor, and what I can tell her about it??

Thanks for your input.

JB

John
Here in the UK we had the Grey/Gold  Ferguson FE 35. It had Ferguson decals on the side of the bonnet (hood) and a metal badge with Ferguson on it on the front of the hood.
The colour was changed in about 1957 to red and grey (the grey at this time I think was called Flint Grey). It would have had Massey-Ferguson decals on the side of the hood but would have retained the metal badge on the front of the hood with Ferguson on it. The engine was a four cylinder Standard engine. 
I imagine about 1958 after Massey-Ferguson had bought Perkins Engines the three cylinder AD 152 engine was fitted. The decals on the side of the hood would have said Massey-Ferguson 35 and the badge on the front would have been changed to the triple triangle. The grey paint would have changed to Stoneleigh Grey which was a darker grey.
I am told that if some Dealers had unsold Grey/Golds in their yards they painted them red and grey.
On the standard or deluxe versions. I think the deluxe versions had a better seat and a dual clutch instead of a single one. 

Hope this helps but I am sure there are people out there with a lot more knowledge of Ferguson than me who could chip in.
Alan

I thought Massey Harris ended production the end of 1957 with the end of the 333, 444, & 555 -- but the Colt ended in 1954, the Pony and Mustang ended in 56 and the Pacer ended in 57.  Ferguson brought out the New F-40 in late 55 and ended production the end of 1957.  Ferguson built the TO-20, 1948 through 51,  TO-30, 51 through 54 -- these were all Gray Tractors.  The TO-35 came out in 1955 and the sheet metal was Gray and the Engine & Chassis was Dark Green.  In 1956 and 57 the F-40 and TO-35 were Cream colored sheet metal and the Engine & Chassis were Gray.  In 1955 Massey Harris introduced the Massey Harris 50 -- which was the F-40 Ferguson Tractor and it was Painted Red wheels & sheet metal with Bronze Engine & Chassis.  (I  think i was a darker Bronze than the 333, 444, & 555, or maybe many of the Triples have been repainted a lighter Bronze or gold.)  In 1958 most of the Dealers that were left to sell Massey Ferguson and Ferguson  35 Tractors.  The 1958 TO-35 was painted Red sheet metal and Gray Engine & Chassis, in three models, Special, De-luxe & Diesel (De-luxe).Because the Pony, Pacer, Colt & Mustang were no longer being built the TO-35 was the smallest Tractor the Dealers had.  In order to compete with other manufacatures they built the Special (Special low Price) Tractor.  The Special had 10 x 28 rear tires, the De-luxe had 11 x 28.  Many of the following items could be orderod on the Special but were standard on the De-luxe as:  Lights, belt pulley, power spaced rear wheels, foam padded seat, 2 stage clutch with live PTO and live hydraulics and 6 speed transmission. tractormeter & fuel gauge.  The Ferguson TO-35 was built for Massey in 1958 through the 1st half of 1960.  It would have a Ferguson badge on the front of the hood and a TO-35 Ferguson Serial Plate.  The 55 through 57 had a small Ferguson name plate on each side, toward the rear of the hood (1" x 8").  The 1958 - 1960 TO-35 had a decal on each side,a little toward the rear) of the hood (only a 1" or 1.5" tall) Ferguson 35 Special, Ferguson 35 De-luxe or Ferguson 35 Diesel (about 20" long)  and a Ferguson badge on the front of the hood.  In the middle of 1960 this Tractor become the MF 35.  Massey Ferguson badge on the front of the hood, MF 35 serial plate, a Massey Ferguson 35 Decal on each side of the hood with a small Ferguson 3 point Decal toward the rear of the hood and a small Special, De-luxe, or Diesel decal under the Massey Ferguson 35 Decal.  Some of this was relayed from a Ferguson Collector so I hope I got it right. Also TO-35  SGF 183517, I could not find a key for the letters- I did note on the Nebraska Tractor Test of a Ferguson TO-35 the letters SGM, this Tractor had a dual stage clutch ????    All of the MF Tractors had Red sheet metal & wheels and Metallic Gray Engines and Chassis.    1958 MF 50, MF 65 - late 1958 MF 85, MF 88 - 1961 MF 90 Super.  1959-62 MF 95 (MM - 425 cu in - 78 HP).  1959-62 MF 98 (Oliver  3-71 GM 2 cycle Diesel - 85 HP).  1962-65 MF 97 (MM - 504 cu in - 101 HP).      Jerry  

Jerry,

Thanks for sharing that detailed information with everyone.  It matches the information I have gotten from some other Ferguson collectors.  I had not realized before (or else I had forgotten..  very possible with my CRS condition...) that production of the Ferguson TO-35 continued through mid 1960.  Never too old to learn something new!

Take care,

John