 | |
| Successor |
Buhler Versatile New Holland |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder(s) | Peter Pakosh and Roy Robinson |
| Headquarters | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Products | agriculture machinery, tractor, auger, swather, Combine harvester |
| Parent | Basak |
| Website | http://www.versatile-tractors.com |
Versatile is a Canadian brand of agricultural equipment that has produced augers, swathers, Combine harvesters and most notably tractors. Founded by Peter Pakosh and brother-in-law Roy Robinson in 1946, working in a basement. Tye company is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Peter as a tool designer for Massey-Harris and had been turned down when he tried to join the product design department.[1] They sold out to Cornat Industries in 1977, who then sold out to Ford New Holland in 1987. Ford New Holland had been partially purchased by by Fiat. Fiat increased its stake in Ford, and the name changed to New Holland. Versatile was sold to Buhler Industries in 2000 due to regulatory concerns when Case IH merged with New Holland to form CNH Global. The tractors were branded as Buhler Versatile. In 2007, the Russian combine manufacturer RostSelMash purchased 80% of company. In 2009, they dropped the Buhler name and returned to just Versatile.
In early 2024, it was announced that RostSelMash had sold all shares of Versatile (Buhler Industries) to Turkish-based Basak Traktor. [2]
History[]
Founded as the The Hydraulic Engineering Company in 1948 after Founder Peter Pakosh was disgruntled with Massey-Harris and first produced grain augers. Sprayers were next, followed by a new harrow drawbar. In 1964 a new factory was built in Fort Garry, Winnipeg, Canada; producing 5000 swathers in 1964 alone. The company was incorporated in 1963 as Versatile Manufacturing Ltd. In 1966 they entered the 4wd tractor market with the Versatile D-100, a 100 hp (75 kW) tractor fitted with a Ford 6-cylinder diesel engine. The Model Versatile G-100 had a 318 V8 Chrysler Industrial engine. Both had 3-F 1R gear boxes within a 4-range transfer case. There was no cab, thus selling for less than $10,000. Only 100 D100's and 25 G100's were built due late introduction in the model year.
Next year (1967), the Versatile D-118, Versatile 125 and Versatile 145 were introduced. The same year a Self-Propelled combine was introduced, called the Versatile SP420, along with the Pull type Model 420. A new line for 1968 was a self-propelled swather, the Versatile SP400, with hydrostatic drive. The swather was followed by the Versatile 5000 hydrostatic combine in 1970.
- During the 1970's the next generation was introduced. As the Versatile 700, Versatile 800, Versatile 850 and Versatile 900 series. the 700 being of 220 hp (160 kW), 800 was 250 hp (190 kW) and the 850 was 280 hp (210 kW) from a Cummins engine. The 900 was a massive 300 hp (220 kW) from a Cummins diesel.
- The model Hydro-Mechanical Versatile 300 a Row crop tractor with Live power take off was next.
- In the 1970s, it was an independent operation, that had 70% of the 4WD tractor market.
- The series 2 followed with extra models Versatile 750, Versatile 825, and Versatile 950 added to the line up and the others upgraded.
An innovative Tractor of a Push-pull design was introduced in 1977 called the Versatile 150 Bi-Directional, followed by the 160. Replaced by the Versatile 256 Bi-Directional of 85 hp (63 kW) in 1984 . A more powerful 100 hp (75 kW) Versatile 276 Bi-Directional followed in 1985.
Versatile then built a tractor to be the biggest in the world. This 600 hp (450 kW) monster had 8 wheels, a 19-litre engine from Cummins and weighed in at 26 tons. It was Nick-named as "Big Roy" after Roy Robinson but was designated as the Versatile 1080. It never went into production,.
The Constant power series was introduced in 1977, of 4 models. The Versatile 835, Versatile 855, Versatile 875, and Versatile 935, ranging from 230 hp (170 kW) to 330 hp (250 kW). The Company was sold to Cornat Industries of Vancouver in 1977 after a failed bid by Hesston.
The world market was open up in 1979 by a deal with Fiat to supply tractor to the European market. Sold as the Fiat 44-23 (230 hp (170 kW)), Fiat 44-28 (280 hp (210 kW)), Fiat 44-33 (330 hp (250 kW)), and the Fiat 44-35 (350 hp (260 kW)), painted in the sandy orange color of Fiat. The company was taken over by Ford Tractors in 1987, who also bought Sperry New Holland, and renamed the tractor division Ford New Holland.
Versatile Noble[]
Noble was a Canadian company that manufactured tillage equipment. It was purchased by Versatile, another Canadian company, in 1979 to extend Versatile's products. They were marketed for a time as Versatile Noble.[3] The tillage division was later spun off as New Noble, possibly when Ford Tractors purchased Versatile.
UK Market & Preservation[]
They were best Known in the UK for the High-horesepower tractors, which were imported mainly under the Fiat brand.
There are a few examples under preservation in the UK or being worked by smaller farms as a cheap big tractor to cover a lot of ground. The UK conditions didn't suit them as the design suited USA/Canadian conditions of fast shallow tillage work not deep heavy ploughing.
Model range[]
Versatile Grain Drill
Tractors[]
Versatile[]
| Model | Year(s) Produced | Horsepower | Engine Type | Misc Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatile 125 | 1967-1971 | 125 hp (93 kW) | Ford | ||
| Versatile 145 | 1967-1971 | 145 hp (108 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 150 Bi-Directional | 1977-1981 | 54 hp (40 kW) | Perkins | 
| |
| Versatile 160 Bi-Directional | 1982-1983 | 65 hp (48 kW) | Waukesha | 
| |
| Versatile 256 Bi-Directional | 1984-1985 | 85 hp (63 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 256 Bi-Directional Industrial | 1984-1985 | 85 hp (63 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 276 Bi-Directional | 1985-1990 | 100 hp (75 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 300 Hydra-Mech | 1973 | 120 hp (89 kW) | Cummins | 200 units built | 
|
| Versatile 500 | 1977-1979 | 192 hp (143 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 555 | 1980-1984 | 210 hp (160 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 700 | 1972-1976 1976-1977 |
230 hp (170 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 750 | 1976-1977 | 220 hp (160 kW) | Cummins | ||
| Versatile 756 | 1986 | 168 hp (125 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 800 | 1973-1976 1976-1977 |
235 hp (175 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 825 | 1977 | 250 hp (190 kW) | Cummins | ||
| Versatile 835 | 1978-1984 | 230 hp (170 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 836 | 1985-1987 | 210 hp (160 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 846 | 1988-1988 | 230 hp (170 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 850 | 1973-1976 1976-1977 |
280 hp (210 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 855 | 1978-1982 | 250 hp (190 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 856 | 1985-1987 | 240 hp (180 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 875 | 1978-1984 | 280 hp (210 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 876 | 1985-1987 | 280 hp (210 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 895 | 1980-1984 | 310 hp (230 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 900 | 1972-1976 1976-1977 |
300 hp (220 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 925 | 1983 | 257 hp (192 kW) | Cummins | ||
| Versatile 935 | 1978-1982 | 330 hp (250 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 936 | 1985-1987 | 310 hp (230 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 945 | 1983-1984 | 335 hp (250 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 946 | 1987-1988 | 325 hp (242 kW) | Cummins | ||
| Versatile 950 | 1977-1982 | 348 hp (260 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 955 | 1983-1984 | 350 hp (260 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 956 | 1985-1987 | 335 hp (250 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 975 | 1983-1984 | 360 hp (270 kW) | Cummins | ||
| Versatile 976 | 1985-1987 | 360 hp (270 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 1150 | 1982-1985 | 470 hp (350 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile 1156 | 1986-1987 | 470 hp (350 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile Big Roy 1080 | 1977 | 600 hp (450 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile D-100 | 1966-1967 | 100 hp (75 kW) | Ford | the 1st Versatile | 
|
| Versatile D-118 | 1967-1971 | 118 hp (88 kW) | Cummins | 
| |
| Versatile G-100 | 1966-1967 | 100 hp (75 kW) | Chrysler | 
|
Ford Versatile Models[]
Fiat Models[]
| Model | Year(s) Produced | Horsepower | Engine Type | Misc Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 44-23 | 1979-1983 | 230 hp (170 kW) | Cummins | by Versatile, same as 835 | 
|
| Fiat 44-28 | 1979-1983 | 280 hp (210 kW) | Cummins | by Versatile, same as 875 | 
|
| Fiat 44-33 | 1979-1983 | 330 hp (250 kW) | Cummins | by Versatile, same as 935 | 
|
| Fiat 44-35 | 1979-1983 | 350 hp (260 kW) | Cummins | by Versatile | 
|
| Fiat 44-38 | 380 hp (280 kW) | Cummins | by Versatile |
Other Models[]
| Model | Year(s) Produced | Horsepower | Engine Type | Misc Notes | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Versatile 42 swather | |||||
| Versatile 400 swather | Ford | ||||
| Versatile 4400 swather | Ford | ||||
| Versatile 4700 swather | |||||
| Versatile 4750 swather | |||||
| Versatile 420 combine | |||||
| Versatile 5000 combine | - |
See also[]
- Ford
- New Holland (Versatile)
- Ford New Holland
- Fiat
- Buhler Industries
- Buhler Versatile
- Hesston
- John Deere
References[]
- ↑ "Ultimate Tractor Power, Vol. 2", Peter D. Simpson, 2002
- ↑ https://world-agritech.com/2024/01/10/buhler-shares-to-basak-traktor/
- ↑ https://www.versatile-ag.com/the-groundbreaking-legacy/
- wikipedia for base article
- Versatile "A farm boy's dream" by Jarrod Pakosh, ISBN 1-55046-416-7
- The World Encyclopaedia of Tractors & Farm Machinery by John Carol
- Classic Tractors of the World by Nick Baldwin
External links[]
- Buhler official web site - Versatile Tractor Brand
- Versatile web site
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