If One Is Good, Two Must Be Better: The Tandem Tractor Era

By: C. Robert Haas & Karen Jones

Today’s high horsepower, 4-wheel drive, track units, and front-wheel assist have replaced all but memories of the tandem tractor era. This new wave of power came late in the 1950s and early 1960s. My farm life had been interrupted by a two-year stay in the U.S. Army, one year of which I spent in Korea as a tank mechanic and motor sergeant. I came back to find the girl of my dreams, and after working at a couple mechanic jobs, returned to the farm with my new wife.

Like many other farm boys, I had my first taste of big horsepower as I worked with and learned more about large horsepower in tanks and other military equipment and wondered why tractor makers had not also seen this wave of power increase. Many components needed in these farm tractors were just being developed, like heavy-duty electrical systems and hydraulic power, along with power steering and even larger wheels and tires to go with the power train. Some were trying to make and sell front-wheel assist, and a local company went bankrupt as they proceeded to make and sell an aftermarket version.