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History of the tractor
The first farm tractor was engine-powered by steam and was launched in 1868. The engines, if weighed not more than 5 tons, were handled by one man. Their usage was particularly for timber trade and generally for road haulage. Garrett 4CD was the most popular of these steam tractors.
Gasoline Powered Tractors
As per Ralph W. Sanders’ Vintage Farm Tractors (ISBN1-55192-031-X), the credit for the use of gasoline as fuel for the first time goes to Sterling’s Charter Gasoline Engine Company, Illinois. In 1887, the gasoline fueled engine by Charter led to gasoline traction engines even before the use of term tractor was made. Its engine was adapted to steam-traction-engine chassis of Rumley. 6 machines were manufactured in 1889 and they became first gasoline traction engines.
John Froelich
John Froelich from Iowa was a custom thresherman who planned to test the power of gasoline for threshing purposes. He used a Robinson chassis and mounted a gasoline engine (Van Duzen) on it and for propulsion, he rigged his very own gearing. This machine was successful in powering his threshing machine for the harvest season of 52 days in South Dakota (1892). Many consider this to be first known successful gasoline tractor. It must be pointed out that this machine became the basis of many stationery gasoline engines and finally the 2 cylinder tractor-famous John Deere
William Paterson
The pioneer effort of J.I. Case for manufacturing gas traction engine is said to e in 1894 or before maybe. At this time, William Paterson came to Racine from Stockton, California for making experimental engine. In 1940s, Case ads, stating firm’s history in field of gas tractor to be the year 1892. But the date of patent is 1894. The machines worked but not so good that they could be manufactured.
Charles Hart and Charles Parr
While at University of Wisconsin, Madison, Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr started working on gas engines during their course of mechanical engineering in late 1800s. The Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company came into existence in 1897. The operation was moved to Charles City, Iowa in 1900. Their ideas were financed here for making gas traction engine. They established first factory for manufacturing gas traction engine in US. They coined term ‘tractor’ for gas traction engines, as the machines were known then, and for this, they are credited. In 1901 was launched Hart-Parr No 1, their first tractor.
Ford tractors
In 1907, first tractor powered by gasoline was produced by Henry Ford. This was done under Joseph Galamb’s direction, the chief engineer. Term tractor was not used and instead it was called “automobile plow”. These gasoline powered tractors got used in farming extensively after 1901.
Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company
Otis Briggs and J.L. Record founded this company (MS&M Co) on 24th April, 1902. It used to manufacture components of steel for bridges, buildings and other structures.
Twin City “40” Farm Tractor
Until 1910, the MS&M Co. was only engaged in steel fabrication business. At that time, for designing a tractor for this company, Joy-Wilson Company was hired. This company was also at Minneapolis. At that time, the tractor which was designed became the basis for Twin City “40” tractor later. From there, the venture of company into tractor business began successfully. After sometime, the role of MS&M Co. began to expand in tractor business when subcontract was made for building heavy tractors. This was for manufacturers like Bull Tractor Company and Case Threshing Machine Company.
Lightweight Farm Tractors.
Sometime later, the MS&M Co. became aware of the change in rend of tractors shifting from their specialties of massive behemoths to compact, cheap and smaller designs of tractor. This resulted in a completely new line of tractors that were lightweight. This was well engineered and supplemented by a range of threshing machines as well as farm trucks. “Twin City” was a range of well engineered and quality tractors which later on resulted in the ultimate Minneapolis-Moline line of tractors.
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