The Avery Company could trace its roots to back before the Civil War. Robert H. Avery, the founder of the company, was a POW during the Civil War in the infamous Confederate Andersonville Prison. In Andersonville, he sketched ideas for an improved seed drill. After the war, Robert joined with his brother, Cyrus, to form the R.H. and C.M. Avery Company, which, frankly, didn鈥檛 do very well. In 1891, having restarted the company, their product line grew to include many inventions, notably the steam locomotive style tractor. In 1899, it was reincorporated as the Avery Manufacturing Company. By 1909, Avery had created a gasoline tractor with a whopping 60-horsepower engine. At that time, this was a huge machine.
This week鈥檚 What鈥檚 New Wednesday looks at the Avery Ro-Trak Combine and Threshers line, with this sign from Watertown Avery Co, Watertown, South Dakota. The sign is yellow with black and red writing on it, with the company鈥檚 signature bulldog in the middle. The track type tractors and combine threshers became a very popular alternative to the large steel wheels of other types of tractors. After the Depression in 1936, the company restarted once again, as the Avery Farm Co. In 1938, the Ro-Trak tractor was introduced. It was unique in that the front axle could be adjusted to a narrow or wide-front tractor. Unfortunately, this would be the last piece of farm equipment Avery Farm Co would ever produce. WWII broke out and the company folded permanently. This sign of the time would have been from around 1938-1940, reminding us of the innovation that propelled agriculture further along.
SDAHM 2001:092:002 Donated by Orrin Korth