1809 to Present
1809
February 15, a son is born to Robert and Mary Anne McCormick in Rockbridge County, Virginia. This son, Cyrus Hall McCormick was the eldest of the eight McCormick children.
1831
At age 22 young Cyrus takes over the design of his father’s unsuccessful reaper. In a six-week period he redesigned, built, tested, and remodeled his design at Walnut Grove.
1834
The reaper was successfully demonstrated on a neighbor’s farm at Steeles Tavern in late July. Cyrus carried out several changes to the design before patenting the machine in 1834.
1842
McCormick offers farmers a “full refund guarantee” if not satisfied, making him one of the most innovative marketers in the industry.
1847
Demand for the McCormick reaper became greater than the Walnut Grove smithy could produce. Cyrus formed a partnership with C.M. Gray to purchase lots on the north bank of the Chicago River. Immediately, a factory was constructed. McCormick employed 33 people and was the talk of the town. They were on track to produce 500 reapers for the 1848 harvest. This site later became the corporate headquarter for International Harvester on Michigan Avenue.
1849
The McCormick brand is first introduced on reapers made at the Chicago plant. McCormick employs 123 in the city of 17,000 residents.
1851
McCormick reaper wins the Grand council Medal at The Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace, London. Over the next several years McCormick's Reaper won first awards at the Hamburg, Vienna and Paris Expositions.
1871
A huge Chicago fire destroys the McCormick Reaper works; however, the company’s safe was retrieved with all records intact. After insurance settlements the fire cost Cyrus a personal loss of $600,000. A new factory which was completed in February 1873.
1881
In the 50th anniversary year of his invention of the reaper, McCormick won first prize from the Prestigious Royal Agricultural society, following a four day trial of his first twine binder at Derby, England.
1884
May 13, Cyrus Hall McCormick dies. Cyrus is survived by his wife, Nettie Fowler and his brother Leander, who joined him in partnership in 1856. In the year of Cyrus McCormick’s death his company, The McCormick Harvesting Machine Company sold 54,841 machines, and introduced the McCormick steel twine binder.
In addition, to being an inventor Cyrus McCormick is also widely regarded as being an innovator of good business practices. Some of his innovations were:
• The first manufacturer to offer a written warranty.
• To provide training/education to customers on how to use his products and how to get
the best from them.
• To set on a sales force to canvass door to door.
• To use advertising to expand his business.
• To use collection agents to collect outstanding payments.
1902
On August 12, International Harvester Company was formed by Cyrus McCormick, Jr. and several leading equipment manufacturers including Champion, Deering, Milwaukee and Plano. The new company had a 95% market share in harvesting implements.
1906
International Harvester enters the tractor manufacturing and shipping market, shipping 14 tractors across the country. Within two years, the company is shipping several hundred 10 Type “A” and “B’ tractors.
1915
International Harvester markets its first combined harvester thresher “combine”. This was a McCormick Deering No 1, which was a pull-type, ground driven with a 35 5/8 inch wide cylinder and a 9 feet cut.
1919
The McCormick Farmall tractor is born. The Farmall is still considered to be the tractor that industrialized the United States, starting in 1922.
1923
International Harvester introduces the McCormick-Deering 15-30 and the smaller McCormick-Deering 10-20.
1926
McCormick tractor manufacturing moves into new plan facilities in Doncaster Yorshire, England.
1936
Farmall tractors are painted red for safety reasons, replacing their familiar gray color. This marks the beginning of “Big Red”.
1940s
Outbreak of war, factory requisitioned by ministry of supply to assist war effort. Despite several setbacks; 1940 complete timber yard was burned and 1942 and allied bomber crashed in the foundry and burned it down. 1945 was the only year in its 60 year history (1937 to 1997) of tractor production that no tractors were produced.
1946
With the end of the war the Doncaster site is returned to IHGB. With the completion of the Doncaster Works production began with implements and service parts. The range of products made consisted of:
• Greencrop loaders
• Pick-up balers
• Mowers
• Ploughs, toolbars and disc harrows
• Manure spreaders
Products were marketed under the McCormick or McCormick International brands. At Neuss, the factory is rebuilt and they manage to produce 50 tractors.
1949
Farmall M s/no 1001 (No 1) was purchased by Mr. Arthur Neale, who as well as being a Cambridgeshire farmer had been the managing director of IHGB for some 25years, retiring in 1948. The first tractors were assembled from components and assemblies shipped from USA. McCormick International Farmall M, serial no 1001 was driven off the line on September 13, by the then Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Tom Edwards, (later Lord Bamborough).
1951
January was the start of tractor production at St Dizier with the assembly of the Farmall model FC. Mid-summer was the start of production of McCormick International “BM” tractors now made from 100% British produced components.
Brooks McCormick (great grand nephew of Cyrus Hall McCormick) is named as managing director of IHGB on August 1. Brooks returned to the USA in 1954, and was appointed as CEO of International Harvester from 1971 to 1978. He was the last of the McCormick family to hold a senior position within Harvester.
1952
Decisions were made that IHGB should enter the construction equipment market. They started by building the BTD-6 crawler. When production ceased in 1975 22,300 0f these units had been built.
1954
As the mechanization of world agriculture expands, there was a need to produce a new small tractor. IHGB acquired the old Jowett car works at Idle, Bradford and began production of the McCormick International B 250 tractor, rated at 30hp. This was Britain’s first tractor incorporating disc brakes and differential locking.
1957
The new parts depot built on vacant ground at Neale Road. The parts depot further expanded in 1966. Eventually, the stocks at City Road were run down and transferred to the then state of the art warehouse at Doncaster. The last of the parts administration staff transferred in the early 70’s.
1968
IHGB launches the McCormick International B-634 tractor. This was Britain’s first tractor incorporating lower link torsion bar hydraulics. It was also the last tractor produced in Britain to use McCormick as part of its brand name. Production ceased in 1972. A decision was made to close the Liverpool facility and transfer its work to the remaining GB plants. The last tractor off the Neuss line to carry the McCormick name was a 624 in 1972.
1970
IHGB began building a new tractor series. In October the first of the world wide range rolls off the line. The range initially comprised the 454 and the 574, but soon also contained 474,475 and 674 agricultural tractors and 2400 and 2500 industrial machines. As well as syncromesh transmissions these tractors were Europe’s first tractors offering the option of hydrostatic transmissions.
1978
IHGB launch 84 series tractor range, features included flat deck cab and 4wd.
1982
IHGB launches the 85 series, available with the new XL Cab or low profile L cab.
1985
In 1985 International harvester farm Equipment Division is purchased by J.I. Case Company. All products from Case’s agricultural division were rebranded “Case International”.
1990
Case International introduced the 95 Series tractors built at Doncaster.
1994
New Doncaster built tractors range was introduced; the 3200/4200 series. These comprised of models with low profile (LP) or deluxe cab versions in 2 and 4 wheel drive (WD).
1997
The new CX tractor series are introduced and built at Doncaster and are available with low profile or standard cabs as well as platform versions with or without ROPS.
1999
Case Corporation was purchased by an Italian automaker Fiat and merged with New Holland. The European Commission approved of the merger and required several divestitures, including the sale of the Doncaster plant.
2000
After negotiations with various interested parties, the plant is purchased by “ARGO S.p.a” of Italy and it is announced that the Doncaster plant will become the global headquarters for McCormick Tractors International LTD. Products from Doncaster were to be sold world wide under the McCormick brand name. Other sister companies under the ARGO name are:
• Landini
• Laverda
• Valpadana
• Pegoraro
2001
In December McCormick international USA is created and the first U.S. McCormick tractors are introduced at a presentation in Pella, Iowa.
The acquisition of St. Dizier gives McCormick an operating base in France as well as control over the transmission build. With the acquisition the McCormick family grows to a total of 1,100 people.
2006
ARGO S.p.A merges Landini USA, a well-respected, family owned manufacturer of agricultural equipment worldwide with McCormick International USA becoming one company with two brands. With the expansion McCormick moved into a facility to in Norcross, Georgia. McCormick’s products ranging from 23 to 280 hp are distributed to over 55 countries.
2007
After investing several million dollars in new and upgraded production facilities, the ARGO Group began to transfer production of McCormick tractors to factories in Italy, including a brand new plant built to produce the Vineyard and Orchard models. By the end of the year the Doncaster plant will have produced its last tractor; a McCormick XTX215.
2008
With the integration of the Doncaster product line into ARGO’s Fabbrico plant completion, full-scale productions of the new McCormick XTX and TTX tractors get underway along with the latest versions of the CX, MC, and MC Power6 models. The first telescopic handler to carry the McCormick name is introduced as the Tele-Trac with multi-purpose capability.
2009
McCormick relocates three miles north to Duluth, GA to make room for assembly. The new 120,000 square foot facility is over 2.5 times larger than the previous Norcross, GA building. As part of the expansion, the company will consolidate the Kiel, Wisconsin and Baltimore, Maryland operations into the new facility to handle light assembly of tractors.
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