history

As early as 1913, Moline Plow Company began designing a self-propelled motor plow and had International Harvester Company build five samples. These didn’t prove out, so Moline turned its attention to purchasing the Universal Tractor Company. Universal had been organized in 1914 and was building a $385 cultivating rig with a two-cylinder, 10 HP engine. On November 13, 1915, the Universal Tractor people accepted Moline’s $150,000 offer to buy out the company. From the Universal, Motor Cultivator emerged the well-known Moline Universal tractor.