Case was the dominant Steam Traction producer. Starting back in the 1850's Case was producing harvesting equipment, separators and threshing machines. By 1876 it was producing portable steam engines ( moved around with a team of horses) of about 8 to 10 HP. Around 1878 Case made self propelled models, but you still needed horses to steer them. It remained this way until the mid 1880's. The Tractor boom started about 1899 and went until 1915. Case went from producing about 211 engines in 1898 and top out at around 2,300 in 1912, then back down to 132 in 1924 when Case quit the steam engine business. During this time Case produced tractors anywhere from 18 HP up to their 110 HP monster.
Daniel Best took advantage of the "Bonanza Farm" boom in the west. California was the nation's leading wheat producer and Best built monstrous machines to harvest these crops. There was even a functional combine built in 1889 powered by a Best Steamer. Best's use of a vertical boiler design made for some rather tall tractors (some over 17 feet) which limited there use on some terrain's, and barn's !. Best was based in San Leandro, Ca. and did a lot of head to head competition with the near by Holt company. These two companies eventually merged in 1925 to form the Caterpillar Company.
Advance Co.. came together around 1881 but was primarily a Threshing Machine producer. It started to produce Steam Traction Engines at its Battle Creek Mi.. plant around 1888 and lasted till 1911 when the Rumley Co.. brought it out. Advance was most noted for engines maneuverability gained from their side-mount rear end and short wheel base. The Advance-Rumley Co.. produced steamers up till 1928 (latter then most). Advance-Rumley purchased the Aultman-Taylor Steam Manufacturer in 1915, and stayed in business till 1931 when Allis Chalmers acquired them.
