The tractors I am referring to are of course the Oliver 500 and 600 machines sold in America from 1960. They are essentially David Brown 850 and 950 tractors painted in the white and green Oliver livery.

The Oliver Company needed modern, versatile tractors to add to their ageing line-up, and having viewed the David Brown machines in action, senior executives identified a business opportunity that was beneficial for both parties.

David Brown's American sales figures received a welcome boost, while Oliver now had two machines to rival the offerings of their domestic competitors.

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However, the Oliver tractor story began long before the company had its short-lived relationship with David Brown.

The company was founded in 1929 when four American machinery manufacturers merged to form the Oliver Farm Equipment Company.

The companies involved were Hart-Parr, a manufacturer widely credited with coining the word 'tractor' with their early petrol powered machines, Oliver Chilled Plow Works, responsible for manufacturing 'chilled' or hardened steel ploughs, the American Seeding Machine Company and the Nichols and Shepard Company, famous for developing a vibrating grain threshing machine.

The first Oliver tractors unveiled after the merger were the Model 18-28 and 28-44 machines.

These petrol powered tractors were simple machines with a green and red colour-scheme.

The company launched a new range of attractive streamlined tractors between 1935 and 1940. The new line-up consisted of the Model 60, 70, 80 and 90.

The Model 70 was fitted with a six-cylinder petrol engine and standard, row-crop, orchard and high-clearance versions were sold.

The tractors were fitted with the company's 'tip-toe' steel wheels, designed to cause the least amount of soil compaction possible.

The reality was that at the time, pneumatic tractor tyres were becoming more popular with every passing day, and their obvious benefits far outweighed those of any steel lug wheels, regardless of their low soil compaction levels. As a result, the company soon began to offer their tractors with pneumatic wheels instead.

However, the Oliver Company were pioneering in certain areas.

The company was one of the first American tractor manufacturers to recognise and publicise the advantages of diesel engines, and fitted a diesel power-plant to their Model 80 machine. The Oliver 60, 70, 80 tractors were superseded by the 66, 77 and 88 'Fleetline' models in 1948/49.

The new machines had more purposeful styling than their predecessors, and both petrol and diesel powered versions of the Oliver 77 and 88 were available.

The company's 'Super Series' models were launched in 1954, and the Oliver 44, 55 and 99 tractors were added to the range.

The Oliver Farm Equipment Company was acquired by the White Motor Corporation in 1960 following the launch of the Oliver 440, 550, 660, 770, 880 and 990 tractors.

E: robertkierans@hotmail.com