Versatile
Encyclopedia
Versatile is a Canadian brand of agricultural equipment that has produced auger
s, swather
s and combine harvester
.
In the 1970s, it was an independent operation, founded by Peter Pakosh
and Roy Robinson, that had 70% of the 4WD tractor market and then was later owned by Ford
and Fiat
's New Holland, spun off when Case-International
merged with New Holland to form CNH Global
.
Versatile was the first company to mass-produce articulated four-wheel drive tractors, starting in 1966 with the D100 and G100 four-wheel drives. Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower. 1966 models sold for less than CA$10,000.
Daniel Pakosh
also developed the first bi-directional tractor in the world. The Versatile 150 launched in 1977.
Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel drive development and production. By the late 1970’s the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower. With the 1980’s came an expanded line of four-wheel drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150.
On November 1, 2007, Combine manufacturer Rostselmash
Inc. acquired 80% of the common shares of Versatile and it was announced that the Versatile brand name will again be the sole name associated with the tractor division.
Dmitry Lyubimov, President of Buhler Industries Inc, said the decision to rebrand the tractor division was not taken lightly. “We recognize the history that is tied to the Versatile name. There are still many older Versatile tractors at work on farms around the world. The name stands for well-built tractors that are powerful, simple and easy to maintain. It is the same philosophy we use today and we are proud of that heritage. It is with great pride that we announce that the Versatile name is back.”
Auger
An auger is a drilling device, or drill bit, that usually includes a rotating helical screw blade called a "flighting" to act as a screw conveyor to remove the drilled out material...
s, swather
Swather
A swather, or windrower, is a farm implement that cuts hay or small grain crops and forms them into a windrow. "Swather" is predominantly the North American term for these machines...
s and combine harvester
Combine harvester
The combine harvester, or simply combine, is a machine that harvests grain crops. The name derives from the fact that it combines three separate operations, reaping, threshing, and winnowing, into a single process. Among the crops harvested with a combine are wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn ,...
.
In the 1970s, it was an independent operation, founded by Peter Pakosh
Peter Pakosh
Peter Pakosh was co-founder of the Versatile tractor company, and is credited with many inventions and equipment innovations including the modern-day grain auger used by combine harvesters...
and Roy Robinson, that had 70% of the 4WD tractor market and then was later owned by Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
's New Holland, spun off when Case-International
Case Corporation
Case Corporation was a manufacturer of construction and agricultural equipment. In 1999 it merged with New Holland to form CNH Global, a Fiat Group division...
merged with New Holland to form CNH Global
CNH Global
CNH Global N.V. is a global, full line company operating in both the agricultural and construction equipment industries. CNH's scope includes integrated engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of equipment on five continents...
.
Versatile was the first company to mass-produce articulated four-wheel drive tractors, starting in 1966 with the D100 and G100 four-wheel drives. Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower. 1966 models sold for less than CA$10,000.
Daniel Pakosh
Daniel Pakosh
Daniel Pakosh is credited with designing and marketing the first bi-directional tractor in the world among other inventions.The original Versatile tractor could be used to either push or pull an implement, it was marketed as being "a number of self-propelled machines in one".The concept was an...
also developed the first bi-directional tractor in the world. The Versatile 150 launched in 1977.
Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel drive development and production. By the late 1970’s the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower. With the 1980’s came an expanded line of four-wheel drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150.
On November 1, 2007, Combine manufacturer Rostselmash
Rostselmash
Rostselmash is a Russian agricultural equipment company, based in Rostov-on-Don. It was founded in 1929. It primarily produces combine harvesters. The company income in 2005 was 400 million dollars....
Inc. acquired 80% of the common shares of Versatile and it was announced that the Versatile brand name will again be the sole name associated with the tractor division.
Dmitry Lyubimov, President of Buhler Industries Inc, said the decision to rebrand the tractor division was not taken lightly. “We recognize the history that is tied to the Versatile name. There are still many older Versatile tractors at work on farms around the world. The name stands for well-built tractors that are powerful, simple and easy to maintain. It is the same philosophy we use today and we are proud of that heritage. It is with great pride that we announce that the Versatile name is back.”