TRACTOR TRIVIA and other interesting stuff 5/24/2024

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Today’s letter is “V”               Vast varying vistas made versatility vital

 

Versatile

 

 

There are thirty-two million acres of fertile agricultural land in the high plains of Canada and the great plains of the United States. Massive farming operations like this require BIG tractors and Versatile developed tractors to meet the challenge of operating these megafarms. At one point in its history Versatile captured 70% of the four-wheel drive tractor market.

As is the case with many successful tractor manufacturers the company came into being as a result of one invention leading to another. Versatile tractor traces its roots back to 1945 when Peter Pakosh designed and built a grain auger in his farm shop. That invention launched Pakosh and his brother-in-law, Roy Robinson, into the machinery manufacturing business.

Their Versatile grain mover led to expansion into sprayers, harrows, and swathers. By 1952, Pakosh and Robinson would move their operation to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Building on the sales success of its Versatile equipment line the company ventured into the tractor market in a big way.

Versatile came to market in 1966 with the first mass-produced articulated four-wheel-drive tractors. Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower but at the time they were well received. Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel-drive development and production. By the late 1970s, the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower.

Versatile truly lived up to its name in 1977 with the introduction of the Bi-Directional tractor. No longer did the operator have to manipulate a loader at the front of their articulated tractor. By swiveling the operator’s platform and placing the loader on the rear of the tractor you were up close and personal with the task at hand. The Model 150 Bi-Directional tractor caught on immediately. It was a bit smaller tractor which was well suited for loader work as well as pulling field implements.

 

With the 1980s came an expanded line of four-wheel-drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150. They entered the race to build the largest tractor in the world with the 600 horse power "Big Roy", named for company co-founder, Roy Robinson.

In 1987, Ford-New Holland bought Versatile. Ford New Holland quickly started assimilating the Versatile tractors, the decals were replaced with the Ford name and Versatile name was reduced in size and placed below the model number. Additionally, the iconic Versatile colors were replaced with the blue and white of the Ford tractors. Throughout Versatile's time under Ford-New Holland, various changes and updates were made to the line. Two of the most notable changes were the transition from the flat square sheet metal, to a more rounded and modernized design, and the addition of a powershift transmission.

In 2016 Versatile reinvented its tractor by adding the Delta-Track system of four tracks replacing the wheels on their Articulated tractors.

From 1987 to 2024 ownership of Versatile has changed several times and the paint schemes changed but quality remained a top priority. In 2017 Versatile returned to its iconic color scheme of red, yellow, and black.

Fror nearly eighty yeas Versatile has lived up to its name. From their very first grain auger in 1945 to plans for the development of a hydrogen powered tractor, using a 15L Cummins engine, Versatile has been setting a very high standard for others to attempt to meet.

 

[Handy Don 12,216]

During a consulting gig at Case Corp., I learned a LOT about how tracked tractors lessened ground compaction and the need for additional sub-soil plowing. I also learned how much more complicated and expensive those drive systems are. Also, a wheeled tractor can be road-driven without a lot of tire wear but tracked tractors are often trailered if moving any distance from field to field.