History of Tractors
Ever wondered how tractors came to be? While it's hard to imagine our agricultural industry today without these powerful pieces of equipment, they haven't always been around. Keep reading to discover the history of this important piece of agricultural equipment. If you are wanting to check out various models for sale, visit Rivera's Machinery, Inc. Our expert staff can answer questions and provide advice. We proudly serve those in Harlingen, San Benito, and Donna, Texas.
The Beginning
Tractors owe their legacy to a man named John Froelich, an ambitious inventor who lived in a small Iowa village. At the time, there were only steam-powered plowing engines on the market. They technically worked, but they were riddled with problems. They were incredibly slow. They were difficult to move around any obstacles, which tend to be plentiful out in the fields. But worst of all they could explode!
When gasoline became a more common use of power in the 1880s, Froelich worked to build the first gas-powered tractor. He unveiled it in 1892, which also happened to be the first farm machine that had forward and reverse gears. He was able to hook up his vehicle to a thresher and successfully threshed wheat.
The Origins of the Term Tractor
The term tractor comes from the minds of two mechanical engineering students at the University of Wisconsin: Charles Parr and Charles Hart. They also strove to develop a gasoline-powered engine. In 1897, they created the Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company in Madison, Wisconsin. At the turn of the century, they moved their production to Iowa. They began using the term "tractor", which stemmed from "traction engine". They unveiled their first successful model in 1901.
20th Century Innovations
The first gasoline-powered versions were a huge hit, which generated interest from companies to develop new and improved equipment of their own. The Waterloo company began investing in tractor research in 1911, which resulted in the highly popular kerosene-powered options. The company was later bought out in 1918 by the farm-equipment focused Deere & Company. At the time, Deere & Company was run by William Butterworth, the grandson-in-law of the famous John Deere. Butterworth continued producing the Waterloo Boy line until 1923, which was the year when the first John Deere Model D tractor was released.
As more and more companies entered this new market, prices dropped and the technology improved. This helped make the models more attainable for farmers, who were then able to increase their farm productivity.
Henry Ford created his own tractor, called the Fordson, which gained international popularity in the 1920s. During the mid-20th century, tractors were being made and sold around the world. Lamborghini entered the market in Italy and Mahindra began selling to customers in India. While many companies have thrown their hat in the ring, Mahindra stands tall as the world's highest-selling tractor manufacturer (by volume) as of 2010.
Tractors Today
When you look at options today, you'll see the result of decades of innovation and advancements. You can find models in a range of sizes, horsepowers, turf capabilities, and more. Thanks to attachments, you can even transform your tractor into a versatile piece of equipment able to handle a range of tasks. Whatever the size of your land or your given needs, you can find a specialized option to match!
If you are looking to buy a tractor, head over to Rivera's Machinery, Inc. Our expert staff can walk you through the different options and help you find the ideal fit for your unique needs. We can answer any questions you might have, so stop by today! We proudly serve those in Harlingen, San Benito, and Donna, Texas.