Stockton Wheel Company
April 18, 2016
Our Early Innovation and Roots Can be Traced Back to the Horse!
By Lee Fosburgh and Zack Brown
Our oldest photograph stored in our Corporate Archives in Mossville, Illinois, documents that before the introduction of the track-type tractor our roots can be traced back to the horse. Yes, the horse! In 1883 – 21 years before Benjamin Holt invented the first commercially successful track-type tractor - the Stockton Wheel Company was founded in California by brothers Benjamin and Charles Holt. The Stockton Wheel Company sold lumber, wagon and carriage materials and primarily manufactured wagon axles, wheels and frames for horses. The photo of the horse carriage was likely taken outside the plant in Stockton, California, in 1883.
The photo of the horse carriage was taken in 1883 and is the oldest photograph in our corporate archives collection.