Deutz’s Innovations In Tractor Design

Manufacturers come to mind when talking of the pantheon of tractor pioneers include J.I. Case, Hart-Parr, Huber, Holt, International Harvester, John Deere, and Massey Harris.

Yet deserving the same status – if not primary standing among these American giants of industry – is a European manufacturer that not only advanced the concept of mobile horsepower on that continent but also deserves credit for:

• Manufacturing the first diesel engine in the world.
• Building the first tractor to be powered by a diesel engine.
• Creating an engine ignition system that would lead to the success of Bosch.
• Being among the first manufacturers to introduce a tractor in the U.S.

The Otto Diesel

The storied history of Deutz goes back to 1864 when Nikolaus August Otto and Eugene Langen founded the first engine factory in the world near Cologne, Germany. Otto and Langen’s engineering work on engines would lead to the creation of the first four-stroke internal combustion engine in 1876. This, the first successful diesel engine, became readily adopted by European agriculture.

Bosch Connection

Then in 1884, the mechanical genius of Otto struck again when he developed an engine ignition that employed a low-voltage magnet. This electrical system would later be acquired by Robert Bosch, which would help launch his company to the worldwide fame it enjoys today.

Interestingly enough, Deutz’s first attempts at building a tractor took place in the U.S. – not Europe. In 1894, a Deutz tractor employing a 26-hp. petrol engine was built by a Deutz subsidiary in Philadelphia. Little is known of that tractor, and it is assumed that it never reached full production.

The First Duetz Tractor

In the ensuing years, engine manufacturing continued at a fevered pace, with the company owning a commanding presence in the European industrial horse-power market. The firm changed its name to Motorenfabrik Deutz AG in 1921, while introducing its first tractor to the European market with the model MTH 222. This two-speed tractor was powered by a single-cylinder diesel that turned out 14 hp.

This marks the MTH 222 as the first tractor to operate with a diesel engine. Previously it had been assumed that honor went to Caterpillar, which introduced its model 60 with a diesel in 1931. Two years later, Deutz introduced the MTZ 120 tractor that offered a very progressive three-speed transmission. This tractor line catapulted the firm to become the leader in tractor production in Germany.

The People’s Tractor

Deutz’s masterstroke with tractors wouldn’t occur until 1936, when it introduced the model F1 M414.

This lithe 11-hp. tractor, soon to be called the “people’s tractor” because of its immense popularity, became the first small tractor to be mass-produced for worldwide sales. Equipped with a four-speed transmission and weighing just 2,700 pounds, the M414 would be instrumental in promoting the concept of mechanization among small farms across the globe.

In 1937, Deutz went through a name change. Prior to this time, the firm had acquired Maschinen-bauanstalt Humboldt. Then in 1937, it acquired Klockner. This led to the creation of the company’s moniker of Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz, which created the famous KHD brand name. Merging all the firms together resulted in KHD becoming one of Germany’s largest manufacturers.

The company built not only engines and tractors but also cars, trucks, trains, ships, and aircraft.

After World War II

World War II took a huge toll on KHD with over three quarters of its manufacturing facilities destroyed from bombing. A massive reconstruction effort was started in 1945, and by 1950, production had returned to normal. At this point, KHD was employing over 13,000 people who were turning out 40,000 engines, 10,000 tractors, and 6,000 industrial vehicles a year.

The Air-Cooled Diesel

This post-World War II period also marked the growth of the famed air-cooled Deutz engine. Deutz introduced a series of new air-cooled diesel models while also bringing the FL 712 tractor to the market.

This model’s claim to fame was that it was the first tractor to feature a front suspension, which meant driving comfort was greatly improved. The FL 712 was a huge success, inspiring KHD to expand into producing crawlers in 1953. In 1958, the D series lines of tractors was introduced by Deutz, with its model D 40 garnering the most success. Four years later, KHD began equipping its tractors with the Deutz-Transfermatic System.

This innovation automatically adjusted the operating depth of three-point hitch-mounted implements to the draft being placed on the tractor. The end result was that the tractor’s operating speed was not lugged down by a sudden increase in draft caused by a vein of soil compaction or changes in soil types across a field. The advantage of this automatic system was that the operator wasn’t relied upon to make depth adjustments.

The D series continued to claim larger tractor market shares for KHD not just in Germany but across Europe. That market leadership was shored up with the introduction of the first six-cylinder Deutz tractor, the 75-hp. model D 80, in 1964.

Both the D05 and D06 series of tractors, some of which feature front-wheel-drive capability, drove Deutz sales to the point that over 380,000 models sold. This produced a highly favorable cash flow for KHD, which went looking for acquisitions to expand the company. This led to the major purchase of Fahr in 1968.

Fahr History

Fahr traces its roots back to founder Johann Georg Fahr, who began manufacturing farm implements in 1862. The company emerged from the pack of similar manufacturers in 1911 with the revolutionary introduction of the self-binder, or a self- propelled small grain binder. From there, the company expanded its line to include forage choppers, threshers, grain mills, mills, presses, movers rakes, self-propelled combines, and finally tractors (in 1938). Up until the merger, Fahr had produced 56 different models of tractors.

Engineering Advances

The Fahr acquisition created the now-famous Deutz-Fahr brand. During the next 10 years, KHD would continue to use innovative engineering, making its mark as the leader in Europe for tractor technology. A good example of this was with the 1972 introduction of the INTRAC series of tractors, which featured multiple automatic hitches for implements, a forward cab layout, a front three-point hitch complete with a PTO.

The U.S. Market

That same year, KHD entered the U.S. market with the 35-hp. model 4006 and 80-hp. model 8806. A year later, two more Deutz tractors were evaluated at the Nebraska Tractor Test. Deutz-Fahr’s devotion to technology was again demonstrated in 1978 when the brand introduced its 80-hp. to 200-hp. DX line featuring a fully synchronized transmission, a forced lubrication system, electronically controlled hitch, cabs, axle suspension, and powered front wheels as standard equipment.

Allis-Chalmers Purchase

Brisk worldwide sales created a cash surplus for KHD, which went looking for investments. In 1985, it purchased the financially beleaguered Allis-Chalmers Corporation. That venture turned out to be a disaster, with KHD selling Deutz-Allis off to AGCO in 1988.

That setback haunted KHD. In 1995, KHD was acquired by the SAME Group in Italy.

Today, Deutz-Fahr brand tractors are still made and regularly win international awards for their advanced engineering designs.