Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company

In 1893, John Froelich, creator of "probably the first gasoline tractor of record that was an operating success," and a group from Waterloo, Iowa formed the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Company. After disappointing sales of four experimental versions of the tractor, the group sold their new line of stationary engines to a new group, who, in 1905, formed the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company.

Waterloo Boy farm tractors first appeared about 1912. Within a short time this line was one of the most popular in the industry, and undoubtedly provided Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company with the opportunity to finally move away from the gas engine business and into farm tractors as their major product line.

By 1918, the company had a manufacturing facility in Waterloo, "filled with up-to-date machinery." The company was building two Waterloo Boy tractors-its model "R" weighing about 5,420 pounds and selling to the farmer for $985, and the model "N," weighing 5,930 pounds and selling for $1,150.

Tractor production in 1917 was 4,007, and in addition, the company continued to make its well-known small gasoline engine, also called the Waterloo Boy. These tractors were kerosene burning, and had a two-cylinder motor. On March 14, 1918, the Deere & Company, by unanimous resolution, decided to purchase the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company for the sum of $2,350,000. From this beginning, Deere began to sell its first commercially successful tractor.
Copyright© 2003 Deere & Company Archives