The Nordic Tractor : The History and Heritage of Volvo, Valmet and Valtra

The Nordic Tractor shows the establishment and history of companies such as Bolinder, Munktells, Volvo, Valmet and Valtra who all stood out as being major players in the Nordic region. Today, Valtra - now owned by AGCO - stands proudly as the last remaining agricultural tractor maker in Scandinavia.

The Nordic Tractor traces the history of tractor production in Sweden and Finland. The story goes back over 200 years to the 19th century when the industrial revolution was sweeping across Britain, and Sweden wanted to establish their own manufacturing powerhouses. This was an exciting and fast moving time for engineering and this book traces the ups, downs, and eventual demise of some of the first manufacturers working to serve the particular needs of the agricultural and forestry industries in this densely forested and rock strewn region of Northern Europe. This book looks in-depth at the companies who emerged from the early turmoil, and how they developed their products based on the widespread technological advances of the time to create a tractor industry unique to the region. Today, Valtra-now owned by AGCO-stands proudly as the last remaining agricultural tractor maker in Scandinavia, but The Nordic Tractor shows where their roots lie in the establishment and history of companies such as Bolinder, Munktells, Volvo, and Valmet, who all stood out as being major players in the Nordic region. Including over 100 photos, many of which have never been published, this book will appeal to those with a specific interest in Nordic tractors, Nordic engineering, and general Nordic history, as well as the general tractor enthusiast. *** "...certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Agricultural Machinery History collections and supplemental studies lists...". --The Midwest Book Review, Library Bookwatch, Agriculture Shelf, April 2018 [Subject: Farm Equipment, Agricultural Studies, Nordic Studies, Tractors]