Early Horsepower Experiments in Tractors

By: Dave Mowitz

From its humble beginnings as a modified steam traction engine (in which an internal combustion engine was plopped on a simple frame), the tractor has been a never-ending experiment in the making. That experimentation continues today, as engineers finalize plans on one of the most significant changes in tractor design since the Charter tractor (one of the first tractors ever built) was created in 1889.

Soon, the autonomous tractor will be introduced to farmers, ushering in the age of the driverless robotic vehicle, minus a steering wheel, seat, and cab. While the tractor has undergone continual experimental changes, general investigation into its design usually falls into three eras.