Avery

In 1874, Cyrus and Robert Avery—two brothers with an innovative spirit—established the Avery company, initially focused on crafting agricultural tools like cultivators and planters (it’s important to distinguish this Avery from the separate entity, B.F. Avery & Sons). By 1891, the operation had relocated to Peoria, Illinois, and expanded into the burgeoning field of steam-powered tractors. Avery’s initial foray into the tractor industry came in 1909 with the Farm & City model, a machine resembling a robust truck more than a traditional farm vehicle. While Avery pioneered a range of tractors, the economic hardships of the Depression proved challenging. The company underwent multiple restructuring efforts, ultimately ceasing operations entirely with the outbreak of World War II.