“Tracto The Talking Robot”

“Tracto The Talking Robot” AG WORLD County fair-goers in the 1960’s thought they were getting a glimpse of the future when they met Tracto a “talking” robot made from scrap machinery Tracto was the creation of International Harvester and was used to get people excited about the company’s farm equipment IH started its tradition of bringing robots to fairs in the 1930’s with “Harvey Harvester ” a stocky metal man built from machine parts including a truck grill for his barrel-shaped chest Tracto entered the county fair circuit in later decades According to an IH Company press release the cheerful robot was built from 227 standard production tractor parts used on Farmall 560 tractors Both robots towered over visitors at 8 ft tall While Harvey Harvester was built to be stationary Tracto had two tractor wheels for legs that made it possible to roll him around the fair Tracto is equipped with a two-way communication system powered by a transformer installed in his stomach He “talked” through district office personnel that hid from sight and talked into the robots’ amplification systems at passersby When Tracto talked his eyes would light up while his head and right arm moved It’s no surprise he became a must-see exhibit for many visitors A Ford dealership bought Tracto in the 1970’s and displayed him outdoors painted blue He was later purchased by the Darst family and then loaned in 2019 to the Bartlow Prototype IH Dealership Building in Millville Penn Those interested in seeing this piece of IH history in person can schedule a visit to the museum which is open from 10 a m to 3 p m on select Saturdays Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bartlow Prototype Dealership Building Museum 47 S Chestnut Street Millville Penn 17846 ph 570-971-3232; www ihcc17 org

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.