In 1906 Leon Claeys, a Belgian mechanic, started to build threshing machines.[1] In 1909 he built his factory in Zedelgem, Belgium, to manufacture harvesting machines.[2]

In 1952 Claeys produced the first European self-propelled combine harvester[2] and by the 1960s, Claeys was one of the biggest combine manufacturers in Europe;[1] in 1964 the majority of Claeys was acquired by Sperry New Holland. In 1967 the company changed its name to Clayson, and in 1986 it merged with Ford.[2] In 1991 Ford was acquired by Fiatagri and became New Holland.

References

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  1. ^ a b New Holland official site http://agriculture.newholland.com/uk/en/WNH/whoweare/Pages/alonghistory.aspx
  2. ^ a b c CARROLL J.: The world encyclopedia of tractors and farm machinery, 1999 LORENZ BOOKS, p.109

New Holland Agriculture

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