Tractors. John Carroll and Gary Stuart. 2000.

In a period of time that spans little more than a century, tractors have gone from being primitive and unreliable to utterly sophisticated and precise machines. The latest innovations include turbo-diesel engines, four-wheel drive transmissions, computer-controlled functions and operator comforts such as vibration-proof, air-conditioned cabs.

The mechanisation of farming goes right back to events such as Jethro Tull’s invention of the seed drill. The need for a mechanical source of power to drive early machines was clearly understood and, after experimentation, steam power proved the most suitable. Gradually the steam traction engine became more refined and a practical proposition for farm use. However, in the main, the steam traction engine was reserved for providing stationary power in driving threshing machines and similar. Progress came in the shape of the internal combustion engine . From this it was but a short step to a practical agricultural tractor.

This book is a comprehensive look at the history of these great machines from their earliest days right up to the most sophisticated models on the market. Looking at all of the major manufacturers from around the world - John Deere, Massey Ferguson, Mercedes, Allis-Chalmers - it is a fascinating insight into the evolution of these powerful behemoths and the people that make and use them.