Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2 -- Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

Rock Island Knows Tractors Part 2: Steam to Gasoline, the very beginning

   With the waning of the 19^th century and the dawn of the 20^th the American farmer found himself in the middle of a technological revolution. The internal combustion engine had been invented, and progressive science and engineering were determined to find ways to put it to work in one of the oldest workplaces—the family farm.
   There had been heroic efforts to harness the power of steam to pull the plow instead of the traditional method of horse or mule. This program will show the largest steam tractor ever built, the 150 Case, in actual operation.
   With new discoveries of the power and possibilities of the gasoline engine, it was not long before the first petroleum powered tractors made their appearance. Rock Island certainly played an important role in the new technology. 
   This afternoon you will also see some of these early tractors portrayed in video, and enjoy an antique tractor cold start competition.