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Fitch Four Drive
The Four Drive Tractor Company - also known as Fitch Four Drive Tractor Company - was an agricultural equipment manufacturer which was based in Big Rapids, Michigan. The company was formed in 1915 in Ludington, Michigan and produced tractors until 1930.
== History ==
The Fitch tractor was invented by John H. Fitch of Mason County, Michigan in 1914.〔"Ludington Farmer is Inventor", Ludington Daily News, 31 October 1915〕 Mr. Fitch had been a millwright in the lumber industry in West Michigan and then turned his attention to the manufacture of mechanical inventions and to fruit farming. He saw the new horseless vehicles getting stuck along the roads bordering his farm and began to think about a machine that would use all four wheels as drivers instead of just two while the others were helpless.〔"Story of Four Drive Tractor and Inventor Fitch Reads Like Romance With Happy Ending", Pioneer Herald - Progress Edition (Big Rapids, MI), 1916〕 Although there had been a few four-wheel drive tractors invented prior to his, "The Fitch" as he named the tractor, was the first to use gears instead of chains to transfer the power from the engine to the axles and wheels.
The Four Drive Tractor Company was formed in November 1915 in Ludington, Michigan.〔"Incorporate Co. to Manufacture Fitch Tractor", Ludington Daily News, 30 November 1915〕 John H. Fitch was the President of the company. In December 1915,〔"Four-Wheel Drive Tractor Co. will go to Big Rapids", Ludington Daily News, 6 December 1915.〕 the Big Rapids, Michigan board of trade made an offer to move the company to that city. The board financed construction of a 45'x200' brick building on Maple Street east of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad tracks. Mr. Fitch moved to Big Rapids to tend to the company and perfect the tractor. World War I caused a delay of materials needed and progress was being made on marketing, demonstrating and selling the tractors. Mr. Fitch died suddenly in November 1916.〔"John Fitch Dies Suddenly at Big Rapids Saturday," The Ludington Sunday Morning News, 19 November 1916〕 Elbert Jenkins of Big Rapids - who was the Vice President of the Company during the first year - was elected as the new President after Mr. Fitch's passing.〔(Gas Engine Magazine, Volume 20 - Page 534; 1918. )〕
The company struggled during its entire existence to make a profit as the tractors were selling for just a few hundred dollars above the cost of manufacture. This led to the demise of the company after the Stock Market Crash of 1929.
抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』
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