Holt

During the final decades of the nineteenth century, Benjamin Holt pioneered the creation of self-balancing combine harvesters designed for the challenging terrain of the American West. Holt’s inventive spirit led him to develop steam-powered tractors and to investigate the potential of continuous tracks. The groundbreaking first Holt vehicle employing this track system was assessed in 1904, and an observer famously likened its movement to that of a caterpillar—a comparison that ultimately provided the basis for the company’s enduring trademark. In 1925, Holt joined forces with the Best company, resulting in the formation of the Caterpillar Tractor Company.