The formation of this modern-day household name is a tale of two giants of agricultural innovation, making their slogan ‘Rethink Productivity’ very apt. For over a century, the forebears of Case IH invented industry-changing machines, which has continued to the present day.
A Complex History
The history of Case tractors can be traced back to 1842, when Jerome Case founded Racine Threshing Machine Works in Wisconsin, followed by David Brown setting up business as a general pattern maker in the north of England, eighteen years later. In 1869, Case began manufacturing steam engines, becoming the world’s largest manufacturer by 1886, during which time, David Brown specialised making gears. Just before the turn of the century, Case built a gasoline-powered tractor, but the market was not ready for the transition from steam so it was not released until 1911.
1903 sadly saw the death of David Brown, so the company was taken over by his sons, Percy and Frank, who continued to produce gears, such as self-contained worm gear units complete bearing and shafts. A decade later, the company ventured across the Atlantic to form Timken-David Brown in the USA. The next year, with the beginning of World War One, David Case stepped up production to contribute to the war effort. After Percy Brown’s death, his brother Frank became Chairman, while his son David took the position of Managing Director. David Brown’s first tractor was built in 1936 in collaboration with Ferguson. The beginning of the Second World War saw David Brown building tank transmissions, and for a while was the sole supplier of gears for the famous Spitfire planes.
Not content with tractors, tanks and planes, David Brown took over Aston Martin in 1947 and Lagonda the following year. The company continued to diversify and develop until 1972 when Aston Martin-Lagonda was sold to Company Developments Ltd, now owned by Ford, while the tractor interests were sold to Tenneco International. Tenneco had previously purchased Case in 1967, and traded under the name J. I. Case.
In 1985, Case also bought International Harvester, a conglomeration of McCormick, Deering and three other small suppliers. This created Case IH and made it the second largest farm equipment manufacturer and allowed the company to broaden their range and network of dealers. Case IH continues to innovate to this day, including shipping the first tractor to meet EU Stage III emissions requirements for agricultural equipment in 2010.
A Great Range
Case IH has several series of compact tractors:
- The Farmall A Series comes in both 55-75HP and 90-100HP models which are ideal for smallholdings, as they are easily manoeuvrable and powerful while being wallet-friendly!
- With 55-75HP and 90-120HP models, the Farmall C Series is just as versatile as the A Series but with more technology and creature comforts for greater ease of use.
- Somewhat larger, but still highly manoeuvrable, the Vestrum Series comes with a powerful 100-130HP, perfect for diverse small to medium-size farms.
- The Luxxum Series is a fantastic utility tractor, and with its 100-120HP it can be employed for just about any task a smallholder, estate owner or equestrian needs done.
- Specifically designed for vineyards and orchards, the Quantum Series boasts a nifty 80-100HP with a narrow frame but still offers a comfortable driving experience.
For more info: https://www.caseih.com/en-gb/unitedkingdom
