CATERPILLAR HISTORY

The history of Caterpillar began with two men who worked for different companies but had the same goal in mind: to create powerful and useful machines to facilitate agricultural work.

In the late 1890s, rival entrepreneurs Daniel Best and Benjamin Holt experimented with different formulas for powering steam tractors used for agriculture in the central California Valley.

Benjamin Holt wasan inventor and manufacturer who owned a company specializing in the manufacture of combine harvesters and traction engines ( The Holt Manufacturing Company).

These engines used chains and sprockets to transfer power from the steam engine to the moving parts of the harvester.

He drew inspiration from several machines of the time to create his own design, one that would distribute the weight of the machine on soft ground.

By 1906, Benjamin Holt had already manufactured six prototypes of steam and chain tractors. In 1908, he began a legal battle with his rival Best Western, which was led by Daniel Best. Holt won the lawsuit and obtained the trademark.

The new company was stronger and also managed to acquire some patents for Lombard Log Hauler machines.

By1925, the decision was made to completely merge Holt Manufacturing Co. and C.L. Best Gas Tractor Co. to create what we now know as Caterpillar Inc. The headquarters were located in Peoria, Illinois, and C.L. Best served as the company's first Chairman of the Board.

Always seeking innovation, in 1928the company began working and researching the possibilities and advantages of equipping a Caterpillar 60 production with a diesel engine chassis .

With its optimal advantages, this design was completed by 1930, when machines with precombustion chamber engines were successfully tested , leading to the Cat D9900, a machine that revolutionized the industry.

Where does the name Caterpillar come from?

On Thanksgiving Day in 1904, he was able to test his creation, a machine that plowed the land on tracks instead of wheels.

When photographer Carlos Clements mentioned to Holt that his tractor moved like a caterpillar, Holt took advantage of the metaphor and named his brand "Caterpillar." Another version is attributed to British soldiers in 1907.

Today, Caterpillar is one of the best transnational companies in its sector. It has ventured into research and other related sectors, such as work footwear, which has also positioned itself globally, in addition to mining, diesel, natural gas engines, and logistics.

Interesting facts about the history of Caterpillar Inc.

• In 1942, many Caterpillar tractors and accessories were used to help the United States in the wars, including the engine for the M4 tank.
• In 1963, Caterpillar and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries undertook a joint venture in Japan that allowed a U.S. company to become a partial owner.
• The companychanged its name from The Caterpillar Tractor Company to Caterpillar Incorporated in 1986.
• In 2003, Caterpillar became the first engine manufacturer to offer a line of diesel engines that met Environmental Protection Agency standards.
• To develop the tank in World War I, the U.S. Army used the track technology produced by Holt.