General Information

Serial #

PV571

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

METAL BODY, TREADS, PARTS & ENGINE PARTS/ GLASS INDICATOR DIAL COVERS, PARTS/ RUBBER BELTS/ SYNTHETIC PARTS/ SYNTHETIC COVERED PADDED SEAT/ LEATHER STRAP (NOT ORIGINAL) HOLDING CRANK

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

285.0 cm

Width

170.0 cm

Height

175.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Power sources

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Caterpillar

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Peoria

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Saskatchewan

Period

1929 +

Canada

This American-made tractor was used on Canadian prairie farm. Source is Sask. farmer & collector who restored this tractor. He purchased it from estate of local farmer/collector who had acquired it from farm of original owner near Rosetown, Sask. Since it has no earth moving blade, it was probably always used for farm work.

Function

The tractor is a motorized vehicle used to pull and actuate other vehicles or implements that are not power-driven. Tractors are primarily designed for agricultural work: for cultivation, spraying, and harvesting operations. The first tractors, developed in the mid-nineteenth century, were steam-powered and were not very mobile: their main purpose was to power threshers and other equipment. The development of gas-engines in the late 19th century, and their integration into tractors, gave the machines more mobility and flexibility. Robert C. Williams writes in "Fordson, Farmall, and Poppin' Johnny: A history of the farm tractor and its impact on America" (1987) that "Of all the farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life...In one generation between 1920 and 1950, most farms in the United States changed from dependence on draft animals to dependence on mechanical power."

Technical

The Caterpillar 15 treaded tractor was produced between 1929 and 1931. It is an example of smaller tractors that became available in the 1920s. Treaded tractors were marketed as having more drawbar horsepower, and the ability to work fields earlier in spring without causing soil compaction. Caterpillars also had a smaller turning radius, with clutch & brake steering rather than steering wheel. The Holt and Best companies from the United-States were the first to use gasoline tractors equipped with tracks for agriculture and forestry work. In 1925, the two companies joined forces and became the Caterpillar Tractor Co. of San Leandro in California and Peoria in Illinois. The introduction of a diesel model in 1931 revolutionized the design of heavy machinery. Caterpillar still produces tractors, but now specializes in heavy construction machinery. (Trad. lib. exhibit text.)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

PLATE ON BACK READING "TRACTOR NO. PV571/ MANUFACTURED BY/ CATERPILLAR TRACTOR CO./ EXECUTIVE OFFICES: SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA U.S.A./ SALES OFFICES AND FACTORIES:PEORIA, ILLINOIS SAN LEANDRO, CALIFORNIA/ SUCCESSOR TO BEST/ C.L. BEST/ TRACTOR CO./ THE HOLT MANU-/ FACTURING COMPANY/ HOLT" WITH PATENT INFO. & "THE WORD "CATERPILLAR IS REGISTERED AS A TRADE MARK IN THE/ UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD/ CATERPILLAR [LOGO]", WITH FOREIGN REGISTRATION INFO./ PLATE ON BACK WITH OILING & OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS/ PLATE BELOW SEAT WITH OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Missing

APPEARS COMPLETE/ RESTORED BY VENDOR TO ORIGINAL EXCEPT FOR SEAT COVERING & SHEET METAL ENGINE SHROUD The current artefact is composed of the best parts from two examples of this model of tractor that the museum had in the collection circa 2000. The retained artefact is 2000.0022. The example from which parts were claimed was 760479. It has since been deaccessioned. The list of parts that were claimed from it were limited. The details can be found in the treatment propsal and treatment records from that time period. The resulting artefact is fairly complete to my knowledge, although there may be some minor details missing. A study would have to be made to verify how complete and accurate the current specification is. (Dave Elliott 13/07/2011).

Finish

BODY PAINTED GREY/ BLACK PAINTED EXHAUST PIPE, PARTS/ RED SEAT COVERING/ METALLIC PARTS/ COLOURLESS TRANSPARENT GLASS, BLACK FACED INDICATOR DIALS/ BROWN LEATHER

Decoration

RED PAINTED RAISED LETTERING ALONG FRONT READS "CATERPILLAR/ REG. U.S. PAT. OFF"/ RED PAINTED RAISED VERTICAL LETTERING DOWN EACH SIDE AT FRONT READS "FIFTEEN"