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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

When did Traction Engine become Tractor ?

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RZ(Wa)

02-02-2004 12:23:52




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Just curious, but around when did the label of "Traction Engine" turn to "Tractor". I've searched many areas both on the Web and in the library and am unable to find anything although it appears to be about the time that internal combustion engines prevailed. Or have I got it completely wrong.




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vnv

02-02-2004 14:49:37




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 Re: When did Traction Engine become Tractor ? in reply to RZ(Wa), 02-02-2004 12:23:52  
Joe, History books say early 1900's and it was "traction motors" thus trac-tors, not engines.



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Joe Evans

02-02-2004 12:43:23




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 Re: When did Traction Engine become Tractor ? in reply to RZ(Wa), 02-02-2004 12:23:52  
Don't have my reference book with me, but I want to say it happened in the 1910s, and for sure the term was coined by the folks (I believe a field sales rep)at Hart-Parr.

Will check out and confirm.



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UK Row Crop

02-02-2004 14:55:26




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 Re: Re: When did Traction Engine become Tractor ? in reply to Joe Evans, 02-02-2004 12:43:23  
Hart-Parr first used the word TRACTOR in about 1906.



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RZ(Wa)

02-02-2004 14:32:13




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 Re: Re: When did Traction Engine become Tractor ? in reply to Joe Evans, 02-02-2004 12:43:23  
Thank you Joe, I appreciate it. It's a question I've had for quite some time, but please, don't bust yourself trying to find the reference, it's more for my own future reference and "coffeetable knowledge" than anything else.
Zane



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Joe Evans

02-02-2004 14:50:17




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 Re: Re: Re: When did Traction Engine become Tracto in reply to RZ(Wa), 02-02-2004 14:32:13  
Well...what are books for other than looking at a fact again and seeing you had it screwed up!

The Hart-Parr part is correct. The time frame is not. According to The Proud History of Agco Tractors by Norm Swinford, this book quotes from another source, The Agricultural Tractor: 1855-1950 by R. B. Gray. A Hart-Parr sales manager is credited with the word tractor as he didn't like traction engine for the advertising copy. The time frame is 1906. Another reference in the Agco book is that that term tractor appeared in patent no.425,600 in 1890, but it is unlikely the term tractor was publicized.

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Slowpoke

02-05-2004 01:02:21




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: When did Traction Engine become Tr in reply to Joe Evans, 02-02-2004 14:50:17  
Anybody know how to look up patents on the web?



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Neil Powell

02-06-2004 23:23:43




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: When did Traction Engine becom in reply to Slowpoke, 02-05-2004 01:02:21  
www.uspto.gov

It's pretty self-explantory, but I think you click on search and then on patents database or something like that. Depending on your browser I think you have to download some kind of special software to view the pictures.



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RZ(Wa)

02-02-2004 15:03:26




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: When did Traction Engine become Tr in reply to Joe Evans, 02-02-2004 14:50:17  
Hart-Parr around 1906 - Works for me. Joe, thank you again.



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