The history of the tractor is one of short rapid development, from the turn of the century when it was seen as little more than a substitute for the horse, to today's sophisticated machines that boast a host of technologically-advanced equipment. John Carroll charts the tractor's exceptional history from the early days of The J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company and their traction-engine of 1892, to the JCB Fastrak, one of the numerous state-of-the-art machines now on the market. Each piece of machinery is illustrated with archival material or colour photographs, and the text includes specification boxes and a detailed mechanical profile.