International Harvester had exhibits displaying a variety of products at A Century of Progress Exposition held in Chicago in 1933 and 1934. The postcard above shows Miss Lillian Anderson, Queen of A Century of Progress Exposition on an International Harvester tractor. The picture on this postcard is one of many photos of International Harvester products that are shown on the Wisconsin Historical Society website here, where this tractor is identified as a W-30. The photos on that website include tractors in exhibits, in parades, and at work.
International Harvester published a booklet describing their exhibits and products. The 1934 booklet is available for viewing online at The University of Chicago Library Digital Activities & Collections website here.
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The 1934 International Harvester postcard below shows some radio show performers posing with the radio-controlled tractor.
Page 34 of the booklet shows a 1906 model International Harvester tractor next to a modern I-30 model and speculates about the future possibilities of radio-controlled tractors.
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Fascinating. And now we have the Google car and personal drones. Boggles the mind to think of how many robotic machines we use now in everyday life - the ATM machine never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen, fascinating. I’m in awe of robotic lawnmowers never mind radio controlled tractors!
ReplyDeleteRe the first image: I wonder why they propped up the front wheels. They couldn't have been concerned about the floor surface because the back wheels would have also caused a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how far we have come in a relatively short time. Tractors can now be GPS operated. A local farmer was telling me that his (air conditioned) tractor went into the dam as when programming the GPS, he did not take into consideration that there was a dam in the middle of the paddock!!!
ReplyDeleteFascinating, and my son-in-law is probably absorbed in learning the very latest in computerised farm machinery this very minute at the ag fair he is attending.
ReplyDeleteIt is enlightening to learn someone was already thinking of "radio-controlled" things that long ago. However, wouldn't that just take the fun out of having a tractor?
ReplyDeleteLove that first photograph of the "Queen" - is that the early equivalent of a model perched on a car bonnet?
ReplyDeleteGreat collection of tractors from IH. I find it funny that your "live traffic feed" continues to place me in Saint Peters Missouri, while I'm in Black Mountain, NC. ???
ReplyDeleteThat is strange! I wonder whether it has something to do with your internet provider.
DeleteSo interesting, you have some great ephemera. I had no idea real tractors had ever been remote controlled.
ReplyDeleteI suppose if I can't have my flying car, a radio controlled tractor will do. The aerial photos of the many International Harvester factories was interesting. Those communities all had active bands that were surely made up from the workers.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. Isn't it wonderful that so many old pamphlets, programs, and brochures are now available online. I think it's too bad that they didn't have the queen of the Exhibition dressed in work clothes. I wonder how the radio-controlled tractor worked, and if they're still available. That seems like fairly early technology.
ReplyDeleteThe guys can have their GPS programmed robot tractors & such. I'll take a Roomba to vacuum my carpets, thank you!
ReplyDeleteRadio controlled tractor? Amazing but I bet it was still hot, dirty, hard work Now we have equipment that works off GPS and comes with aircon, a nice comfy padded seat with suspension, quadrophonic speakers and a fridge for your drinks... :-D
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