The Ultimate Guide to Tractors (Our Ultimate Encyclopedias) [Hardcover]

Jim Glastonbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 11, 2003 | Series: Our Ultimate Encyclopedias

During the rapid growth of the U.S. in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a new form of power was needed to keep up with the expansion into previously uncultivated lands. The emergence of steam-traction engines revolutionized American agriculture, and over the next century the farm tractor had a tremendous impact on the development of the nation. Details all the great models.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

Tractors, unique in their uses, have undergone thousands of changes over the years to become one of the most handy machines one can have, in any form. There have been so many amazing discoveries and inventions in the history of mankind that it would be difficult to place them in order of importance. Many have revolutionized the way society works, and this could also be said of the humble tractor. Without it, it would be impossible to produce the vast amounts of food required by society today, and for this reason alone it must qualify as a small but essential cog in the vast machine that is the modern world. The earliest pioneer machines used steam traction rather than the new-fangled internal combustion engines, but technological break-throughs came thick and fast: diesel engines, Harry Ferguson's revolutionary three-point-hitch, sophisticated hydraulics, and the wonders of electronics in our own time. Henry Ford made tractors that small farmers could afford, International Harvester pioneered the 1920s Farmall - the first tractor able to cope with row crops - while allis-Chalmers introduced pneumatic rubber tires in the 1930s. Nearly 30 years later the Steiger brothers invented an entirely new breed, the giant four-wheel-drive articulated super-tractor. This book covers more than a century of tractor-making and features tractors that are regarded with something like affection - Case, Fordson, Massey-Ferguson, Minneapolis-Moline, Versatile - they are all here and many others. Tractors of all shapes, sizes, ages, colors and types - they are here in all their resplendent glory.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jim Glastonbury lives in the agricultural south west of England where tractors are as commonplace as cars, so it is not surprising that he has been keenly interested in them from an early age.  In fact he could hardly wait until he was old enough to drive a tractor himself.  Not satisfied with this, the next step was to write about them.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Book Sales, Inc. (December 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785816879
• ISBN-13: 978-0785816874
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,454,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tractor bargain., April 5, 2003

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tractors (The 500) (Paperback)

Look through the five hundred photos in this book and be amazed at how such a simple vehicle has developed over the last hundred years. Early gasoline tractors were cumbersome and heavy, the makers assumed that they would replace the cumbersome and heavy steam tractors, they should have done some market research (probably unheard of at the turn of the last century) because farmers wanted small vehicles and it took until 1912 before they got what they wanted. The machines slowly evolved to suit agricultural needs, getting more and more powerful (and once again heavier) until today when the agri business uses huge diesel units with twelve tires (to spread the weight) strangely it was not until the 70s that the makers thought the driver might like a cab to protect him from the elements.

This paperback (at amazing value for the price) covers the history of the American tractor with excellent color pictures of the various makes. The photos are mostly three-quarter or side views of the complete unit, with many close-ups of a logo or engine, they all have technically detailed captions. I thought the quality of the photos was very impressive which was the main reason I bought the book. The older models are covered by contemporary photos rather than illustrations from period ads, these machines have all been carefully restored to 'like new' by collectors.

Between the pages showing historical development there are plenty of spreads called 'Classic Profile' where famous models are covered in more photographic and spec detail. My favorite is the Raymond Lowey designed 1947 Farmall H from International Harvester. Was it the world's first streamlined tractor? It must have got something right because IH shifted 390,317 units at $962 each. If you want some good historical visual reference to tractors get this well designed and printed paperback, at a bargain price too.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Pictures, December 4, 2008

By 

cak822 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ultimate Guide to Tractors (Paperback)

I was very impressed with this book. The pictures are great and so is the information. I actually bought two of these books, one for each of my grandfathers. When I gave it to my dad to look over, he didn't want to give it back. I'll have to remember it for him next year. I know my grandfathers will love it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate Guide to Tractors, January 7, 2011

By 

Ralph Veldboom - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ultimate Guide to Tractors (Paperback)

I like the contents of the book. The variety of tractors is excellent. The photos are beautiful. My book was published in 2006 and I am disappointed with the readibility of the font used for the text. It seems that larger font with less space between the lines would be easier for older eyes to read.