1840 |
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Development of the first steam–powered traction engine in England for work in the fields, power output from 5 to 20 hp |
1885 |
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Nikolaus August Otto invents the four–stroke petrol engine |
1889 |
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Development of the first tractor using an Otto motor drive propulsion system by John Carter from Illinois, USA – regarded as the prototype of all subsequent tractors |
1902 |
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The Hart–Parr company in Charles City, Iowa, begins to manufacture tractors under industrial conditions |
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Hart–Parr 12/24 E
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1908 |
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The Holt company (USA) begins production of its “Caterpillar” series of caterpillar track tractors |
1914 |
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The first lightweight tractors are ready for marketing: the “Mogul” (8 – 16 hp) and the “Titan” (10 – 20 hp) from International Harvester, USA |
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International Harvester Mogul
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1917 |
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Minneapolis–Moline builds the first “Twin City 16/30” with electric starter motor and headlights |
1918 |
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85,000 tractors are working on the fields of the United States; start of mass tractor production by Ford (Fordson Model F) |
1923 |
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Start of production of the “Waterloo Boy Model D”, which continues to be built successfully for 40 years |
1921 |
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The Lanz company from Mannheim introduces the “Bulldog HL” field tractor with its hot–bulb engine onto the market |
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Lanz Bulldog HL
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The first German caterpillar track tractor, the “Panther”, is sold: made on the assembly line in the Moorburg Tractor Works (MTW) |
1922 |
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Harry Ferguson (Ireland/Canada/USA) develops the three–point linkage for optimum power transmission from the tractor to the plough |
1923 |
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Introduction of the first tractor with a diesel motor: the Benz–Sendling S7 tractor |
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– the first tractor with four–wheel drive: the “Lanz Bulldog HP” |
1924 |
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Invention of the “Farmall” root crop tractor in the USA with its close–positioned front wheels (three–wheeled tractor) |
1925 |
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Start of the full production run of the economically priced WD tractor (28 to 32 hp) at Hanomag |
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Farmall F30
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1932 |
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The Allis–Chambers corporation (USA) manufactures the first production model tractor with air–filled tyres |
1933 |
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23,953 farms in Germany are using tractors to cultivate their fields |
1935 |
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Harry Ferguson (England/Canada/USA) develops the hydraulic lifting system which allows the tractor attachments to be lifted and lowered easily |
1939 |
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1.5 million tractors are in use in the USA |
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– The Minneapolis–Moline UDLX tractor is fitted with an all–steel cab, instrument panel, glazed windows, windscreen wipers, passenger seat, heating and radio |
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– At Porsche the “Junior” is designed and built as the “people’s tractor” with a single cylinder diesel motor |
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Porsche Junior
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The Swiss company Hürlimann produces the first tractors with 4–cylinder diesel direct injection |
1940 |
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The tractive unit which transmits electrical power from the tractor to the implements is standardised and installed on production lines around the world |
1947 |
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310,000 tractors are registered in Germany |
1950 |
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27 firms in Germany produce 52,000 tractors with many new technical features: air cooling for diesel motors, direct injection, front loaders and implement carriers |
1953 |
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Allis–Chalmers builds the innovative WD–45 tractor with powershift transmission, a second transmission system for a constant power supply, hydraulic system, automatic tractive resistance control |
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Allis Chalmers WD 45
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1955 |
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Development of the Ampli–Torc transmission system with 2 switching ranges (10 gears) without clutch operation (manufactured by Minneapolis–Moline, USA) |
1959 |
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Maurice and Douglas Steiger develop their first supertractor: four–wheel drive, equal–sized wheels, two–part chassis and huge turbo diesel engine – the archetype of all future developments |
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Steiger Panther |
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1961 |
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The Allis–Chalmers D19 – the world’s first turbo diesel tractor |
1966 |
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John Deere builds rollover protection into mass–produced tractors |
1967 |
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International Harvester introduces a hydrostatic drive for tractors |
1972 |
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The first soundproofed cab (Sound–Gard) is introduced by John Deere |
1973 |
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Daimler–Benz develops the successful MB–Trac system tractor with a centrally positioned cab (able to transport 2 loads or perform 2 passes on the field) |
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Valmet (Finland) introduces the first tractor with 6 tyres (Valmet 1502) onto the market, for better distribution of soil pressure |
1985 |
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Manufacturers Massey–Ferguson introduce an electronic management system to control add–on implements |
1986 |
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The “Challenger”, made by Caterpillar, is the first caterpillar track vehicle with reinforced rubber tracks for better ground adhesion when used in the field |
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Caterpillar Challenger
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1987 |
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Renault introduces the TZ Hydrostable cab on its tractors – with powerful vibration insulation for a significant improvement to driving comfort |
1996 |
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Manufacturers SAME (Italy) introduce an innovative automatic load–changeable transmission for tractors |