Avery Company

The Avery Company of Peoria, IL was a well-known power source in the steam engine and threshing equipment industry, and should not be confused with the B.F.Avery Company of Louisville, Kentucky. Avery's steam engines faced great competition from the development of on-coming gasoline engines. Avery began its competitive efforts by building their first gas tractor-truck in 1909, which was designed by Albert Espe and marketed by J.B.Bartholomew. This unit did not compete well and was discontinued in 1914. Beginning in 1911, Avery introduced a new gas tractor model every year until 1914. Many of these models were very similar and in some instances varied only a few horsepower from one to another. This was an inventory nightmare as each model required different parts and so the necessary costs needed to maintain this area of business skyrocketed. After serious financial troubles in 1924, the company filed for bankruptcy and was reorganized as the Avery Power Machinery Company. The company did well for several years until approximately 1931, when the poor economy and crop failures resulted in another reorganiztion. Avery faired well after that restructuring and designed a small unit called the "Avery Ro-Trak" that showed real promise, but World War II arrived and ended Avery Company of Peoria, Illinois.