Versatile had its roots with the Hydraulic Engineering Company of Toronto, which was founded in 1947 making small agricultural implements. The company expanded, and opened a factory in Winnipeg, which was later to be used for tractors. In 1963, the Hydraulic Engineering Company offered shares to the public and renamed to Versatile.
Versatile's focus was large four-wheel drive tractors, much like Steiger. In addition to high horsepower tractors, the company had great success with the 150 "Push-Pull". This tractor could be operated in either direction, and featured an operator's seat the rotated 180 degrees.
The depressed farm market forced Versatile to stop operations in 1986. The company was purchased by Ford-New Holland and resumed operations in 1988, although with New Holland colors. With the merger of CaseIH and New Holland in 1999, the new CNH Global corporation was required to divest the plant. Buhler Indutries acquired the Winnipeg factory and the rights to the Versatile name, taking over operations in the autumn of 2000. Tractors were built as Buhler Versatile. At the end of 2008, Buhler announed that the tractors would again be branded Versatile.
Versatile - official site
Versatile-Tractors.com - A history of Versatile and the early tractor models
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