Froelich, Iowa

The Birthplace of the Modern Gasoline Powered

Traction Engine

On July 9th we visited Froelich, Iowa and the Museum there in a former General Store. The Store was operated by John Froelich. In 1892 he developed the Gasoline Powered Tractor (Traction Engine). He never applied for a Patent and in later years he sold out to a company in Waterloo, Iowa. The firm was known "The Waterloo Boy Tractor Works."

This is the museum Froelich Tractor. The steering was quite primitive, but it did not travel fast so the need for a quick action steering system was unnecessary.

A replica of the first Traction Engine and this one is used for display in the museum outbuildings.

Here you see the Flower Child modeling the Froelich Traction Engine. To learn more about this tractor and the inventor please visit:

http://www.froelichtractor.com/tractor.htm

After visiting the Froelich Museum it was time for Alan to function at the home of the Host in Clayton County. Note that the lawn tractor is a John Deere. The Waterloo Boy Tractor Works later sold out to John Deere, which is now the most common tractor in the Midwest of the U.S.A.