Unrestored Original: 1929 Caterpillar Ten Tractor

Caterpillar is one of my favorite American companies, as it is intrinsically tied to this country’s evolution and progress. In true American fashion, CAT has reinvented itself to suit the times – not always gracefully but always effectively. The company was formed when Holt Manufacturing and CL Best Tractor Company merged in 1925. The company’s name was courtesy of a photographer Holt hired back in 1910 when he had created his first clumsy crawler: the machine’s slow movement over rough ground prompted the photographer to mention that it looked like a caterpillar. Holt trademarked the name for his company, and CAT was … nearly born. It took another few years for the product line-up to become truly CAT, rather than an amalgamation of Holt and Best machines. Today’s feature showcases one of CAT’s earliest endeavors – a 1929 Ten tractor, listed here on facebook Marketplace for $4500. This tractor is a survivor – in fact, it still sports its battleship gray paint, the color CAT used until 1931. Take your trailer to Eatonville, Washington to pick it up – or if you’re feeling adventurous, drive it home like Alvin Straight in the movie The Straight Story. T.J. sent us this tip – thanks for striking a chord with this writer, T.J.!

The Ten was the smallest tractor CAT ever built. It weighed 4420 lbs and was available in two widths – 37″ or 44″; a few high-clearance units were also made. The 143 cu. in. gas engine produced about 15 hp at the drawbar, and it was mated to a sliding-gear three-speed manual (three forward speeds, one reverse). The tractor was popular for orchard work as the tracks prevent soil compaction, and the narrow width was easy to maneuver through rows.  This example runs very well; a video showing its progress down the owner’s driveway is embedded in the listing.

The seat has been modernized and reupholstered, and relative to the bare metal seats I’ve experienced on vintage tractors, this one looks like a treat. Here’s a glimpse of the controls. The seller notes that he does have the lower right-hand side engine panel.

Not completely visible in this photo is the structure to the left – it’s a teapot! And it looks like this little CAT has a John Deere pal nearby. The Ten was the smallest in a series of tractors CAT made into the 1930s before it revamped its lineup to offer larger equipment along with diesel power. While most of the company’s equipment was dedicated to farming, people used tractors to accomplish a huge variety of chores back in the day. Could you find a use for this tiny tractor around your place?