Avery farm tractors were among the earliest and most powerful machines to mechanize American agriculture. Founded by brothers Cyrus and Robert Avery in 1874, the company began building cultivators and planters. By 1891, Avery relocated to Peoria, Illinois, and became known for its powerful steam traction engines. In 1909, it entered the gasoline tractor market with the “Farm & City,” a hybrid vehicle that resembled a truck more than a tractor.
Avery’s machines became popular throughout the Midwest and Great Plains, especially among large-scale grain producers. Despite early success, the company struggled financially during the Great Depression, reorganized multiple times, and finally ceased operations during World War II.
Avery Tractor Model Lineup
Avery produced a broad range of tractors in the early 20th century, from compact field machines to high-horsepower giants. Here’s a selection of their most notable models:
| Model | Horsepower | Production Years |
|---|---|---|
| 5-10 | 11 hp [B] | 1920–1922 |
| 8-16 | 17 hp [B] | 1916–1922 |
| 12-25 | 27 hp [B] | 1912–1922 |
| 14-28 | 31 hp [B] | 1919–1922 |
| 25-50 | 55 hp [B] | 1916–1923 |
| 40-80 | 88 hp [B] | 1913–1920 |
| Farm & City | Unknown | 1909–1919 |
| Ro-Trak | Unknown | 1938–1941 |
| Track Runner | Unknown | 1922–1925 |
The Avery 40-80 was one of the most powerful tractors of its time, designed for deep plowing and pulling massive loads. Meanwhile, the Ro-Trak, introduced in the late 1930s, was an attempt to modernize Avery’s lineup with row-crop capabilities and tighter turning radii.
Innovation, Challenges, and Closure
Avery’s engineering was ahead of its time, but poor economic conditions during the 1930s and increasing competition from companies like John Deere and International Harvester made it difficult for Avery to survive. Despite reorganizing several times, the company closed permanently with the onset of World War II.
Today, Avery farm tractors are collector’s treasures, often restored and showcased at antique tractor shows across the U.S., representing a powerful legacy in early American agricultural innovation.
