Holt

In the late 1800s, Benjamin Holt ventured into producing self-leveling combines designed for hillside use in the western United States. He started by building steam tractors and experimenting with crawler tracks. The first tracked Holt was tested in 1904, leading a commentator to remark, "She crawls along like a caterpillar," which inspired the company's trademark. In 1925, Holt merged with its competitor Best to create the Caterpillar Tractor Company.