Dave Mowitz

Des Moines

Contributor at Successful Farming

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agriculture.com

Articles

A.H. McDonald and the Horsepower From Down Under

1 week ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

In 1924, little-known McDonald & Company began selling a tractor equipped with a simple, low-engine-speed diesel. That was six years before Caterpillar would make history by offering a production-line made diesel crawler. Very likely the reason you’ve never heard of the McDonald, which can lay claim to being the first diesel-powered wheeled tractor in the world, is that the machine toiled far from U.S. farmers’ eyes in Australia. Such is the rich history of the Australian-built tractor.
The Little-Known Genius Behind Parrett Tractor Company

2 weeks ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

Engineers rarely receive recognition for their contributions to the advancement of agricultural machinery, on the whole, and tractors, in particular. Yet, their efforts contributed directly to the U.S. becoming the breadbasket of the world. Among the pantheon of engineering greats stands an extraordinary talent whose influence on early tractor development is legendary. Yet few collectors would be able to recognize Dent Parrett if asked about him.
The Prolific Tractor Company that Put John Deere on the Map in Europe

3 weeks ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

In 1955, William Hewitt had a new job as president of Deere & Company. His passion for farm machinery and his desire to grow the green line internationally had him casting an eye to the rich European market. Deere would have to play catch-up to the likes of Ford, International Harvester, and Massey-Ferguson, who had all established solid reputations in Europe. What the company needed, Hewitt believed, was an established manufacturer in Europe with a well- known name.
Porsche’s Ponies: The Sports Car Legend’s Ag Roots

4 weeks ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

The sexy Porsche race cars steal all the limelight around Professor Ferdinand Porsche’s accomplishments. Yet, the German engineer, much like inventive counterpart in the U.S. Henry Ford, had a deep appreciation for agriculture. Much of Porsche’s early design work focused on the creation of the Volk-Schlepper, or the people’s tractor.
Germany’s Agricultural Gem: Deutz’s Innovations In Tractor Design

1 month ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

Manufacturers come to mind when talking of the pantheon of tractor pioneers include J.I. Case, Hart-Parr, Huber, Holt, International Harvester, John Deere, and Massey Harris. Yet deserving the same status – if not primary standing among these American giants of industry – is a European manufacturer that not only advanced the concept of mobile horsepower on that continent but also deserves credit for:• Manufacturing the first diesel engine in the world.
The History of England’s Field Marshalls

1 month ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

By the 1930s, horsepower was sweeping across the English countryside, mostly being imported from continental Europe (particularly Germany) and the U.S. This assault did not miss the attention of the leading manufacturer of steam traction engines in England, Marshall, Sons & Company of Gainsborough. That firm, which had been in operation since 1849, enjoyed enormous success with steam machines. Leadership at Marshall, however, realized the days of steam were fast dwindling.
Tillage Inspection Checklist: Follow These Tips to Prepare for Spring

1 month ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

How well your implements perform this spring is determined by your devotion to remedial maintenance. The following is an inspection repair tip list created by Kevin Kimberley, a farm operations consultant in Iowa, based on his field experience. Beginning with the hitch and walking your way to the rear, examine the frame by scrutinizing welds — particularly at hinges — for cracks, as well as for twisted or bent steel, and worn or loose fasteners and their bushings.
How a Swiss Farm Kid Birthed a Technological Giant, One Hand-Built Tractor at a Time

1 month ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

The story of the Hürlimann tractor sounds more like a classic all-American inventor’s tale. Rather, it involves a Swiss farm boy who saw the need for a tractor that could readily work the rugged land of his native Switzerland. What is astounding about Hürlimann is that this rather small manufacturer became such a giant when it came to introducing technological advances to tractors.
The Quiet Genius Who Designed Deere’s Most Popular Tractors

2 months ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

In 1911, a quiet and thoughtful man left Massachusetts, bound for East Moline, Illinois, to take on the job as superintendent of Deere & Co.’s Marseilles Manufacturing Company. Management at Deere quickly took note of Theophilus (better known as Theo) Brown’s ability to conjure innovative solutions to engineering challenges. Brown was one of those rare talents who could recognize a problem and then visualize its solution.
Beefy, Bellowing Oliver Diesels

2 months ago | agriculture.com | Dave Mowitz

By the mid-1950s, the writing was on the wall. Farmers, particularly those living in the West and Midwest, wanted more horsepower from their tractors. Looking to expand its market share, Oliver responded to the call with a new generation of machines that set horsepower standards the industry would follow for the next decade. Oliver already had a respectable line of mid-sized gas tractors. Company leaders wanted to build on that success growing into an entirely new high-horsepower segment.