Last updated: Thu 29 Jul 2021, 3:05 AM 1005a. Edward Grace of Messrs Ford's Tractor Works sits on the first Fordson tractor to roll off the assembly line, 3 July 1919. (source: Cork City Library). The first Fordson tractor made in Cork Published: Last updated: Thu 29 Jul 2021, 3:05 AM In late June 1919, citizens of Cork welcomed the announcement that Edward Grace, managing director had arrived in Cork with a party of engineers from Messrs Ford’s Tractor Works to expedite the completion of the Marina factory. There were visible signs of big developments at the works. The glass roof on the newly erected iron work was making rapid progress as well as the installation of the large amounts of glass work in the main buildings.