HOW’S THIS FOR A STEAM PLOW?

John C. Delavigne had a great idea for making a stationary steam
engine portable, and using it as a track-layer to plow and
cultivate, as far back as 1868.

It was an idea whose time had not yet come, and the name of the
inventor is seldom mentioned in histories of development of steam
for farm power.

We assume his name was Delavigne. In the article which appeared
in Vol. 1, No. 2, of Iron Men Album (Spring 1947) it was also
spelled Delavigue. The picture and story first appeared in
Scientific American, Nov. 4, 1868. Here is the original
article:

We are pleased to present two Montana photos from the Belt
Valley History published in 1979. Photo shows turning sod with
plows weighted down with rocks, outfit owner unknown. Photo is
owned by James Dawson, who farms south of Belt and is an avid steam
enthusiast.

We are pleased to present two Montana photos from the Belt
Valley History published in 1979. photo is the John F. Sweeney
outfit with a steam traction engine, separator, cook wagon and trap
wagon. Photo is property of Mrs. Alma Sweeney, widow of the former
owner. The book was compiled by Ethel Castner Kennedy, Box 23,
Belt, Montana 59412, and Eva Stober, in two and one-half years of
research. Prints courtesy of Advanced Litho Printing.

Many attempts were made to plow with the steam traction engine
both in England and in this country before any satisfactory method
was found. Some would work under certain conditions but a good
all-around method was not found until much later.