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Antique Engine Database
Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Co.
Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company was organized at Waterloo, Iowa in 1893 to build a gasoline tractor. Designed by John Froehlich of nearby Duzen vertical engine built by Van Duzen Gas & Gasoline Engine Company. Froehlich’s initial success prompted him to improve the Van Duzen engine. In 1893 he filed a patent application covering his designs – this resulted in Patent No. 550,266 of 1895. Froelich was totally committed to building tractors, but poor sales made it imperative that the company broaden its product line. Thus, stationary engines were introduced shortly after formation of the company and became the company’s mainstay through 1895. At this point, froehlich left the company. While his activities subsequent to leaving Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company are obscure, the Patent Office Gazette carries a number of patetns issued to Froehlich – these include No. 1,056,531 and 1,0560532 assigned to Hackney Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. Thus at least part of Hackney’s “Auto-Plow” design came from the inventive genius of John Froehlich.
history
Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company was originally organized by John Froehlich. He was probably ahead of his time as a tractor pioneer, but at the time, steam was king, and demand for his gasoline traction engine was below expectations. The financial partners opted to expand into gas engines, against Froehlich’s wishes. Thus came the W.G.T.E. engine built from 1892-1895. It is interesting to note that by late 1896 the “Gasoline Traction” portion of the company name had been dropped.
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