Search -
The World Encyclopedia of Tractors and Farm Machinery
The World Encyclopedia of Tractors and Farm Machinery Author:John Carroll The relatively short history of the tractor stretches from the turn of the century, when it was commonly viewed as little more than a slow substitute for a horse, to the sophisticated contemporary machines constructed using highly advanced technologies. The accepted definitions of a tractor's function in the early part of the twentieth century ... more »described a simple engine on wheels, a source of motive power for hauling tools and equipment, and/or a motorized method of powering a threshing machine. Throughout the century the tractor has evolved into complex machine with a wide range of functions; not only do tractors now perform an impressive variety of tasks, but they are often controlled from remote locations via on-board computers and satellite navigational systems. The tractor is particularly interesting for two reasons: firstly, it is a machine that has undergone a process of rapid development and change, thus revolutionizing the farming industry in a very short period of time. Secondly, tracing the history of this machine allows readers to develop an overview of the course that technological research and development had followed and subsequently affected Western society. In The World Encyclopedia of Tractors and Farm Machinery, John Carroll charts this exceptional history and chronicles a comprehensive selection of tractors and their manufacturers, from the early days of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company and the traction-engine of 1892 to the contemporary, state-of-the-art JCB Fastrad. Each piece of machinery that this book focuses on is meticulously detailed and illustrated with fascinating archive material, color photography, specification boxes, and a detailed mechanical profile.« less