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Farm Tractors The first two decades of the twentieth century have been called "the golden age" of American agriculture, a prolonged period in which the balance between price and production consistently favored the farmer. Incomes increased, living standards improved and farmers were willing and able to invest in the new machinery offered by manufacturers who seemed to have sprung up in every city, town and village in the agricultural heartland. This and other factors give farming tractors a deep rich heritage that cross many fields of history. Farm and Tractor History. Many notable events occurred in farming history that forever changed not only nations but the entire world. We will start with some of the most obvious. The Farm tractor. The early development of the farm tractors followed a pattern similar to that of the steam traction engine. The stationary engine was mounted on skids or wheels to make it portable and then a drive was devised to make it self-propelled. The trend continued for many years but gradually with the help of Henry Fords Fordson tractor the tractor absorbed certain automotive principles features like automobile type steering and transmission, high speed engine, and a much lighter and more efficient tractor unit. Indeed, the trend went further and added such items as belt pulley for belt work, drawbar for pulling machines, power take-off (PTO) for driving mounted or pulled machines and finally hydraulic controls for controlling many drawn and pulled machines furnishing four different methods of applying power. The Steam Engine The steam plow, or traction engine, paved the way for the gasoline tractor and the first step of importance in mechanical power farming. In addition to the demand for steam power for plowing, new farm machines invented in the first half of the 19th century magnified the need for mechanical power. In 1831 McCormick invented his reaper. This was soon to create a demand for belt power with which to thresh the mechanically harvested grain crops. Early steam engine tractors know as traction engines or steam plows at the time tended to be large, extremely heavy, slow, and poorly maneuverable. They became popular in industrialized countries in the mid 1800's. The steam engine not only changed farming it also ushered in the Industrial Revolution. Rubber Tractor Tires The first tires for farm tractors were sold in 1932. They were special, low-pressure pneumatic tires which seemed capable of meeting the varied service requirements demanded of farm tractors. The benefits would prove so great that in a short period of time every tractor tire and nearly every farm implement wheel was on rubber tires. And thus started one of the most rapid and striking changes in farm equipment history. By :Antique Farming org.