Early Prototype
George and Francis Strombeck working on breaking the prairie sod.
This week鈥檚 Throwback Thursday recognizes the work it took to break the prairie sod. According to the donor, grandson Paul Strombeck, this 1904 photo is of a prototype four-cylinder traction tractor. The two men are Strombeck鈥檚 grandfather George W. Strombeck and his great uncle (brother to George), Francis P. Strombeck.
Made by D. M. Hartsough, the engine used gas to run. This is four years before the commercially manufactured gas traction engines were produced by the Gas Traction Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The photo depicts the Strombeck brothers turning the prairie sod for grain production.
2009:043:001 SDAHM Collection.
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