The Little-Known Genius Behind Parrett Tractor Company

Engineers rarely receive recognition for their contributions to the advancement of agricultural machinery, on the whole, and tractors, in particular. Yet, their efforts contributed directly to the U.S. becoming the breadbasket of the world.

Among the pantheon of engineering greats stands an extraordinary talent whose influence on early tractor development is legendary.

Little-Known Genius

Yet few collectors would be able to recognize Dent Parrett if asked about him. But, the advances he introduced had a huge influence on tractor design for four decades starting in the early 1920s. Parrett, who had but one year of college education, would earn enough patents to wallpaper a room.

His designs gave birth to tractors sold across the globe under such names as Massey-Harris, Sears, Roebuck and Co., Graham Bradley, Custom, and Co-Op. His innovations would be widely copied in the industry.

At the age of 27, Parrett would build what was then the largest factory devoted to tractor manufacturing in the world.

Young Entrepreneur

Parrett's incredible story begins in 1913 when, at 27, he founded the Parrett Tractor Company of Ottawa, Illinois. A year earlier, Parrett built his first tractor, the Parrett All Purpose, which would later be renamed the model E 12-25.

This lithe machine stood out among the hulking behemoths of the time. The Parrett was one half the size of most tractors, yet it matched them in power. In addition to offering superior ground clearance, the tractor was highly maneuverable, due to a Parrett-designed and patented automotive-type steering system (a first in tractor design) whose basic approach is still in use on tractors today.

The 12-25 was a hit with farmers looking to replace horses or massive steam-traction engines with a reasonably priced (originally set at $1,075) tractor.

The Parrett Tractor

Parrett, who proved to be as innovative a marketer as he was an engineer, promoted the 12-25 as the "One Man" tractor that could serve all the power needs of a farm. Parrett recommended the tractor be utilized for row-crop work like cultivating – a concept unheard of at the time.

Success with the 12-25 prompted Parrett to move his operation to Chicago in 1915, where he set about erecting the factory mentioned previously.

That same year, Parrett Tractor Company introduced the model 15-30, which, true to Parrett fashion, was replete with a host of advances, including an enclosed final drive (another tractor first), 11-foot turning radius (unrivaled at the time), a belt pulley that was driven directly off the transmission (another rarity), and a force-fed engine lubrication system (a feature little used at the time).

It was around this time that Parrett innovated a water filter cleaner to remove dust from engine intake air. This basic design would later become standard equipment on all tractors and combines.