C. L. Best
Encyclopedia
Clarence Leo Best usually known as C. L. Best, was a pioneering tractor company executive. C. L. Best founded the C. L. Best Gas Traction Company in 1910 (later the C. L. Best Tractor Company) then merged his company with Holt Manufacturing Company
to form Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1925. C. L. Best was chairman of the board
of Caterpillar Tractor Company from its founding until his death in 1951.
C. L. Best started out working for Best Manufacturing Company
, owned by his father, Daniel Best
, and eventually became manager of Best Manufacturing Company's Stockton, California
plant.
Best Manufacturing Company was acquired by Holt Manufacturing Company
in 1908. In 1910, C. L. Best left Holt Manufacturing Company and formed his own company, C. L. Best Gas Traction Company, to continue his father's work.
Originally operating out of a plant in Elmhurst, California
, the C. L. Best Traction Company became large enough to purchase Daniel Best's former San Leandro, California
plant in mid-1916. In 1920, the C. L. Best Traction Company was restructured and renamed the C. L. Best Tractor Company.
In the mid-1920s, C. L. Best and Benjamin Holt both encountered financial trouble. Best's financial backers approached Holt executives to discuss a merger. On April 15, 1925 C. L. Best Tractor Company and Holt Manufacturing Company merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Company. C. L. Best remained chairman of the board
of Caterpillar until his death in 1951.
He was interred at Evergreen Cemetery
in Oakland, CA
Holt Manufacturing Company
The Holt Manufacturing Company traces its roots to the 1883 establishment of Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California, United States. Benjamin Holt, who was later credited with patenting the first workable crawler tractor design, incorporated the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1892...
to form Caterpillar Tractor Company in 1925. C. L. Best was chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of Caterpillar Tractor Company from its founding until his death in 1951.
C. L. Best started out working for Best Manufacturing Company
Best Manufacturing Company
The Best Manufacturing Company of San Leandro, California was a manufacturer of farm machinery, now probably most well known for its steam tractors....
, owned by his father, Daniel Best
Daniel Best
Daniel Best was an American adventurer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for pioneering agriculture machinery and heavy machinery.-Early years:...
, and eventually became manager of Best Manufacturing Company's Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
plant.
Best Manufacturing Company was acquired by Holt Manufacturing Company
Holt Manufacturing Company
The Holt Manufacturing Company traces its roots to the 1883 establishment of Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California, United States. Benjamin Holt, who was later credited with patenting the first workable crawler tractor design, incorporated the Holt Manufacturing Company in 1892...
in 1908. In 1910, C. L. Best left Holt Manufacturing Company and formed his own company, C. L. Best Gas Traction Company, to continue his father's work.
Originally operating out of a plant in Elmhurst, California
Elmhurst, Oakland, California
Elmhurst is a residential neighborhood in the southernmost part of Oakland, California. Originally a separate town, it was annexed by Oakland in 1909, and today is considered part of East Oakland. It lies at an elevation of 39 feet...
, the C. L. Best Traction Company became large enough to purchase Daniel Best's former San Leandro, California
San Leandro, California
San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is considered a suburb of Oakland and San Francisco. The population was 84,950 as of 2010 census. The climate of the city is mild throughout the year.-Geography and water resources:...
plant in mid-1916. In 1920, the C. L. Best Traction Company was restructured and renamed the C. L. Best Tractor Company.
In the mid-1920s, C. L. Best and Benjamin Holt both encountered financial trouble. Best's financial backers approached Holt executives to discuss a merger. On April 15, 1925 C. L. Best Tractor Company and Holt Manufacturing Company merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Company. C. L. Best remained chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of Caterpillar until his death in 1951.
He was interred at Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Oakland, California)
Evergreen Cemetery is a cemetery, crematorium and mausoleum in Oakland, California, near the Eastmont Town Center and Mills College. The cemetery is on a small hill, with a large combined mausoleum, crematorium and chapel at the top of the hill. It is the second largest cemetery in Oakland, after...
in Oakland, CA
See also
- Daniel BestDaniel BestDaniel Best was an American adventurer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for pioneering agriculture machinery and heavy machinery.-Early years:...
- Best Manufacturing CompanyBest Manufacturing CompanyThe Best Manufacturing Company of San Leandro, California was a manufacturer of farm machinery, now probably most well known for its steam tractors....
- Benjamin HoltBenjamin HoltBenjamin Leroy Holt was an American inventor who was the first to patent and manufacture a first practical crawler-type tread tractor. The continuous-type track is used for heavy agricultural and engineering vehicles to spread the weight over a large area to prevent the vehicle from sinking into...
- Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc.Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
- Caterpillar 60Caterpillar 60The Caterpillar Sixty was a crawler tractor manufactured by the Caterpillar Tractor Company from 1925 until 1931. The Sixty was the largest tractor in Caterpillar's product line at that time....
— tractor originally manufactured by C. L. Best Tractor Company