Benchmarks in Tractor Development

Norm Swinford discussed the evolution of tractor technology at the 2000 SAE International Off-Highway & Powerplant Congress & Exposition in September.

“Over the years, I have observed one truth,” said Norm Swinford, retired Product Manager-Tractors for Allis-Chalmers and author of four books including The Proud Heritage of AGCO Tractors and Allis-Chalmers Farm Equipment, 1914-1985. “No one company had or has all the engineering brains. Every tractor maker seems to have had their share of benchmarks - along with a blooper now and then.”

Swinford, who grew up on a farm, knows about farming firsthand. “My father and grandfather worked together to plow their 130 acres with two horses,” he said. “After the tractor was invented, my dad could do the plowing alone.” He presented a slide show entitled “Benchmarks in Tractor Development” at the 2000 SAE International Off-Highway & Powerplant Congress & Exposition in September, defining benchmarks as “those inventions and innovations that have contributed to the progress of tractors.”