The History of Tractors

The history of tractors dates back to the invention of the first tractor in 1868. These first tractors were powered with a steam engine. These original tractors were not the more compact models we see today at all. The first tractors were the size of small trains and were used primarily in the construction of roads and in the timber industry. The engines in the tractors of the late 1860s weighed in the neighborhood of 5 tons, making them a heavy duty hauler that could move much more weight that previously possible with horses.

The first gasoline powered tractor engine was introduced in 1887 by the Charter Gasoline Engine Company of Sterling Illinois. This revolutionary gasoline engine was a natural fit for tractors and the first gasoline powered tractors rolled  off the production line in 1889. The history of tractors would not be complete without mentioning what is thought to be the first tractor to aid a farmer in his harvest. John Froelich of South Dakota successfully used a gasoline powered tractor to power his threshing machine during his 1892 harvest.

The first factory for the making of gasoline powered tractor engines came into being in the opening days of the twentieth century. This led to the historical Hart-Parr Number 1 tractor rolling off the assembly line in 1901. Henry Ford also plays a part in the history of tractors. Ford was working on a gasoline powered tractor engine as early as 1907. Ford did not call his tractor a tractor, however. In inimitable Ford style, his was an automobile plow. Largely due to the advancements made by Ford and others working in this field in the first decade of the twentieth century, by 1910 gasoline powered tractors were widely used in farming for the first time.

By the end of the second decade of the twentieth century, lightweight tractors were being developed by many major firms in the tractor industry. The history of tractors tells us that by the early 1920's; the massive tractors that were formerly technological innovations were being phased out in favor of the newer lighter weight models. The change from horses to tractors on farms began in earnest in the 1940s. Tractors could work harder and didn't need to rest. They could move greater weights and didn't need to be fed. It took tractors 1/4 of the time of horses to harvest the same amount of crops.

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gasoline engine, the first factory, for the first time, advancement, the change, weight model.

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1.   without mentioning

2. in the opening days of the twentieth century

3. inimitable Ford style

4. the second decade

5. the massive tractors

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1. The history of tractors ______back to the invention of the first tractor in 1868.

2. These original tractors were not the more compact models we _______today at all.

3. John Froehlich of South Dakota successfully ________a gasoline powered tractor to power his threshing machine during his 1892 harvest.

4. Ford did not ________his tractor a tractor, however. In inimitable Ford style, his was an automobile plow.

5. Tractors could _________harder and didn't need to rest.