The Legacy of C.L. Best and the Best Steam Tractors

The innovations of the Best family are deeply rooted in the history of heavy machinery and in the evolution of the modern tractor. While Clarence Leo Best, commonly known as C.L., is celebrated as a genius of gasoline-powered tracklayers and a founder of the Caterpillar Tractor Co., his engineering prowess was forged in the foundries of his father, Daniel Best, whose steam tractors ruled the agricultural landscape of the late 19th century.

C.L. Best: The Forgotten Genius

Clarence Leo Best, better known as C.L. Best, started young and was raised in the business. Born in 1878, he began work with his father, Daniel Best, for the Best Manufacturing Company in 1891 when he was only 13 years old. This apprenticeship gave him a good grounding in the mechanics of tractors, including his father's development of steam and early gas tractors.

In 1908, after a patent infringement lawsuit and intense competition, Daniel Best sold the Best Manufacturing Company to his rival, Benjamin Holt. The younger C.L. Best remained with the company at first, managing the San Leandro plant for Holt. In 1910, however, driven by ambition and possibly family rivalry, C.L. Best struck out on his own to form his own company: the C.L. Best Gas Traction Company.

Operating in direct competition with Holt, C.L. Best proved to be a formidable innovator. While Holt was known for conservative, consistent designs, Best was continually refining and improving his machines. He introduced the "Tracklayer" line of tractors, including the legendary Model 60 Tracklayer. The Model 60 is considered one of the greatest crawler models ever built, featuring innovative engineering such as:

• The sections of track oscillate to smooth out the ride, while improving traction.
• Extensive use of antifriction bearings to reduce wear.
• An advanced steering system using multiple-disk enclosed friction clutches permitting power to both tracks even in turns.
• A powerful valve-in-head engine capable of delivering massive torque.

The rivalry between the Best and Holt families finally subsided in the face of the economic strains of the post-WWI recession. In 1925, the two companies merged into the Caterpillar Tractor Co. C.L. Best became its first chairman of the board, holding the position until his death in 1951. His design principles, especially those of the Model 60, would be a template for Caterpillar's success going forward. "Caterpillar Yellow" machines would eventually build landmarks like the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Best Steam Tractors

Before C.L. Best transformed the industry with gasoline tracklayers, the Best name was synonymous with steam. The Best Manufacturing Company, founded by Daniel Best, manufactured some of the most powerful and distinctive steam traction engines of the era.

Innovation and Design‍

Daniel Best built his first steam traction engine in 1889 after seeing a Remington steamer and buying the rights to manufacture it. Within a year he made improvements to the design that better met the demands of Western agriculture and hauling.

• Upright Boiler: Whereas most of the competitors used horizontal (locomotive-style) boilers, Best employed an upright boiler. This vertical orientation was a critical safety feature; it prevented the crown sheet from being exposed and overheating when the tractor traveled up or down steep hills—a common cause of explosions in horizontal boilers.
• High Pressure: The best tractors had a boiler steam pressure of 200 psi, whereas most in the industry were rated for a maximum pressure of 150 psi. This guaranteed great power and efficiency.
• Tricycle Configuration: The tractors were of a three-wheeled "tricycle" configuration, having two large rear drive wheels and a single front wheel. This configuration provided excellent balance for the heavy upright boiler and enhanced maneuverability.
• Power: The engines were huge, and their biggest versions could produce up to 110 horsepower. They were designed to burn wood, coal, and oil; the latter was often preferred due to its efficiency.

"Old Dinah" and Industrial Hauling

‍One of the most famous surviving examples of a Best steam tractor is "Old Dinah." Purchased in 1894 to haul borax out of Death Valley, this 110-horsepower engine was intended to replace the famous 20-mule teams. Capable of hauling heavy loads of borax ore to the railhead, Dinah was a mechanical marvel of her time. The harsh desert environment proved difficult; the tractor struggled with soft sand and steep grades, and mechanical maintenance was constant.

Although "Old Dinah" was eventually retired and replaced by mules and then railroads, the Best steam tractors remained a dominant force in agriculture for decades. In applications requiring immense power, they were ideal for logging, freighting, and pulling massive combined harvesters. As the steam era gave way to the internal combustion engines championed by C.L. Best, the robust engineering of the Best steamers laid the foundation for the heavy equipment industry that followed.