Charles Walter Hart (July 6, 1872 — March 14, 1937) was an American mechanical engineer, inventor, and businessman. Together with Charles Henry Parr, he founded a company that produced a commercially successful line of gasoline-powered tractors. After being forced out of his company in 1917, he went on to work on further development of the tractor and later, started an oil refinery.
Biographyedit
He was born in Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa in 1872.[1] His company, Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company, known as the "founders of the tractor industry", coined the word tractor.[2] First enrolling at the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts at the age of 20, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin (now University of Wisconsin–Madison).[3] It was here that he met Charles H. Parr, and the two young men quickly became friends. Together they worked on their university thesis, which consisted of building three working internal combustion engines.[4] One of these engines is still on display at the school today. Despite owning three farms near Charles City, Iowa, Hart's father considered his son's experiments "folly".[5]
In April 1897, J.H. Bowman joined Hart and Parr on a three-member board of directors after his $3,000 investment in Hart-Parr.[6] In October 1897, Wisconsin Engineer featured Hart and Parr as they discussed their final draft of the thesis on the internal combustion engine.[7]
In 1898, Hart married Jessie Case on February 14.
In 1916, Hart wrote an article in Farm Implement News, advocating for the 60-horsepower, 8-bottom plow tractor, versus the smaller 2-plow tractors.[8]
By 1917, however, Hart left Hart-Parr after a disagreement with Charles City bankers. He then moved to Montana and created the Hart Refinery in Hedgesville. This company supplied gas and petroleum products to the ten filling stations owned by Hart. He expanded his refinery business in Missoula, Montana and remained in the oil refinery business until his death in 1937. Parr gave the eulogy at his funeral. Hart is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City, Iowa.[9]
His home from 1914 through 1918, the Charles Walter Hart House, is on the US National Register of Historic Places.
Referencesedit
^Gregg, George R. (January 1965). . Morpheweb. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
^Andrew Morland. Farm Tractors. MBI Publishing Company, 1993. p. 75.
^C.H. Wendel. Oliver/Hart-Parr. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 1994, p. 54.
^Robert N. Pripps and Andrew Moreland. Oliver Tractors. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks, p. 24.
^Pripps, Robert, Oliver Tractors. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks, pp. 23-24.
^Gay, Larry. "A Look Back in Time", Hart Parr Oliver Collector, Mar/Apr 2007, p. 12.
^Gay, Larry. "A Look Back in Time", Hart Parr Oliver Collector, Sept/Oct 2007, p. 8.
^Gay, Larry. "A Look Back in Time", Hart Parr Oliver Collector, Mar/Apr 2006, p. 14.
^Morrell, Herbert T. Oliver Farm Tractors. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks, 1997, pp. 13-14.
January 01, 1970
charles, walter, hart, july, 1872, march, 1937, american, mechanical, engineer, inventor, businessman, together, with, charles, henry, parr, founded, company, that, produced, commercially, successful, line, gasoline, powered, tractors, after, being, forced, co. Charles Walter Hart July 6 1872 March 14 1937 was an American mechanical engineer inventor and businessman Together with Charles Henry Parr he founded a company that produced a commercially successful line of gasoline powered tractors After being forced out of his company in 1917 he went on to work on further development of the tractor and later started an oil refinery Biography editHe was born in Charles City Floyd County Iowa in 1872 1 His company Hart Parr Gasoline Engine Company known as the founders of the tractor industry coined the word tractor 2 First enrolling at the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts at the age of 20 he transferred to the University of Wisconsin now University of Wisconsin Madison 3 It was here that he met Charles H Parr and the two young men quickly became friends Together they worked on their university thesis which consisted of building three working internal combustion engines 4 One of these engines is still on display at the school today Despite owning three farms near Charles City Iowa Hart s father considered his son s experiments folly 5 In April 1897 J H Bowman joined Hart and Parr on a three member board of directors after his 3 000 investment in Hart Parr 6 In October 1897 Wisconsin Engineer featured Hart and Parr as they discussed their final draft of the thesis on the internal combustion engine 7 In 1898 Hart married Jessie Case on February 14 In 1916 Hart wrote an article in Farm Implement News advocating for the 60 horsepower 8 bottom plow tractor versus the smaller 2 plow tractors 8 By 1917 however Hart left Hart Parr after a disagreement with Charles City bankers He then moved to Montana and created the Hart Refinery in Hedgesville This company supplied gas and petroleum products to the ten filling stations owned by Hart He expanded his refinery business in Missoula Montana and remained in the oil refinery business until his death in 1937 Parr gave the eulogy at his funeral Hart is buried in Riverside Cemetery Charles City Iowa 9 In 1929 Hart Parr was one of the four companies that merged to form Oliver Farm Equipment Company His home from 1914 through 1918 the Charles Walter Hart House is on the US National Register of Historic Places References edit Gregg George R January 1965 C W Hart and C H Parr Morpheweb Archived from the original on 2011 07 14 Retrieved 2011 01 09 Andrew Morland Farm Tractors MBI Publishing Company 1993 p 75 C H Wendel Oliver Hart Parr Osceola WI Motorbooks International 1994 p 54 Robert N Pripps and Andrew Moreland Oliver Tractors Osceola WI Motorbooks p 24 Pripps Robert Oliver Tractors Osceola WI Motorbooks pp 23 24 Gay Larry A Look Back in Time Hart Parr Oliver Collector Mar Apr 2007 p 12 Gay Larry A Look Back in Time Hart Parr Oliver Collector Sept Oct 2007 p 8 Gay Larry A Look Back in Time Hart Parr Oliver Collector Mar Apr 2006 p 14 Morrell Herbert T Oliver Farm Tractors Osceola WI Motorbooks 1997 pp 13 14 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Walter Hart amp oldid 1111385556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
