Best Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Best Manufacturing Company (sometimes known as the Daniel Best Company) of San Leandro, California
was a manufacturer of farm machinery, now probably most well known for its steam tractor
s.
The company was formed in 1871 by Daniel Best
. The company's initial product was a portable grain cleaner, soon followed by a combine harvester
. In 1890, the company purchased the rights to manufacture the Remington steam engine
and produced a range of steam-driven farm machinery, including steam tractors and combine harvesters.
The company was acquired by the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1908 after a legal battle. C.L. Best, the son of the founder then formed his own rival company, the C. L. Best Gas Traction Company which built gasoline
-powered tractors. This new Best company acquired the rights to manufacture the Lombard Steam Log Hauler
, an early tracked crawler, and began producing "tracklayer" tractors.
Following fierce competition from the Fordson company, C.L. Best merged with the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1925 to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was a manufacturer of farm machinery, now probably most well known for its steam tractor
Steam tractor
A steam tractor is a vehicle powered by a steam engine which is used for pulling.In North America, the term steam tractor usually refers to a type of agricultural tractor powered by a steam engine, used extensively in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.In Great Britain, the term steam tractor...
s.
The company was formed in 1871 by Daniel Best
Daniel Best
Daniel Best was an American adventurer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for pioneering agriculture machinery and heavy machinery.-Early years:...
. The company's initial product was a portable grain cleaner, soon followed by a combine harvester
Combine harvester
The combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops. The name derives from the fact that it combines three separate operations, reaping, threshing, and winnowing, into a single process. Among the crops harvested with a combine are wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn ,...
. In 1890, the company purchased the rights to manufacture the Remington steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
and produced a range of steam-driven farm machinery, including steam tractors and combine harvesters.
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
-powered tractors. This new Best company acquired the rights to manufacture the Lombard Steam Log Hauler
Lombard Steam Log Hauler
The Lombard Steam Log Hauler, patented 29 May 1901, was the first successful commercial application of a continuous track for vehicle propulsion. The concept was later used for military tanks during World War I and for agricultural tractors and construction equipment following the...
, an early tracked crawler, and began producing "tracklayer" tractors.
Following fierce competition from the Fordson company, C.L. Best merged with the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1925 to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
.