ROLLIN H. WHITE IS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME
On May 3 and 4, 2011 a great honor was bestowed on the name of Cletrac when Rollin H. White, the founder of the Cleveland Tractor Company was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Rollin was inducted specifically for his invention of a flash boiler that generated steam rapidly and safely in steam cars in the 1900 to 1910 era. He was also recognized for his invention of controlled differential steering in crawler tractors. This type of steering supplied uninterrupted power to both tracks even while on turns.
The Cleveland Tractor Company was purchased by The Oliver Corporation in 1944. Oliver crawler tractors were built until 1965 when this part of the business was phased out by White Farm Equipment Co., now owner of Oliver.
This story has a strong NTPDA connection. Here is how it came to be. In July 2008, I attended the NTPDA board meeting in Aurora, OH. While our board was hard at work, I made arrangements to meet with Henry Merkel that lived near Cleveland, OH. Henry is the grandson of Walter White, one of the founders of White Motor Company. As some of you know, I have a great interest to gather as much information on the Cleveland Tractor Company and the fine people that operated it as I can. Henry knew quite a bit about the White family history and also owns several White Steam cars.
During my conversation with Henry, He said, “You really need to contact my cousin Betty King, she could help you a lot more." I contacted Betty King, now living in Washington, DC. Betty is Rollin H. White's granddaughter and also the White family historian. Betty was elated to hear that someone out there cared about the tractors built by her grandfather and was trying to keep them alive. Since I write regular articles for the OLIVER HERITAGE magazine, I sent her some of my writings.
A few days later, Betty called me with a request. She said,"I have a huge favor to ask of you." I said," I would be more than willing to help you if it's within my means." Betty was filling out an application to nominate her Grandfather, Rollin H. White into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame. It was required to explain how the individual had contributed to our Nation's welfare. Betty needed help with this. I was happy to help with this since I had researched every patent that Rollin held. Since my experience was limited to the Cletrac line, Thomas E. Goyne, Denver, Co. wrote the White steam car portion. I was also listed as the co-nominator.
Before I go further, let me tell you about the National Inventors Hall of Fame and its purpose. The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHOF) was founded in 1973 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Association to honor individuals who conceived, patented, and advanced great technological achievements since the birth of our nation. In 1973, Thomas Alva Edison was the first and only inductee for that year. Today, the NIHOF has a total of 460 inductees. The NIHOF museum is located in the atrium of the Madison Building at the headquarters of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA. More information can be obtained by calling 571-272-0095 or visit www.invent.org.
Over two years passed, and finally in January 2011, we received the wonderful news that Rollin's nomination had been approved and he would be inducted into the NIHOF along with 28 other historical inventors and 10 living inventors. A full list of the inductees can be found at www.invent.org. The induction ceremonies were to take place over two days on May 3 and 4, 2011 in Washington DC. The historical inventors were inducted at a ceremony held on May 3 at the NIHOF museum and the living inventors were inducted at a grand ceremony held at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. Since I was the co-nominator of Rollin H. White and involved in helping with the application, I was invited to attend both of these elegant ceremonies which I enjoyed hugely.
The above dinners were attended by 8 of Rollin H. White's descendants namely, Betty King (granddaughter), Rollin White III (grandson), Rollin White IV ( great grandson), Grif King (great grandson), Elena King and her husband Scott Thomas (great granddaughter), Wende Ely White (great granddaughter), and Catherine Wright,(great ,great granddaughter). Witnessing their ancestor being honored was certainly a high point in this family lives. I felt honored to have played a small part in making this happen.
Rollin finally received the recognition that he deserved. He is now part of this prestigious, limited fraternity of men and women such as, Thomas Alva Edison, Eli Whitney, Robert Fulton, Samuel B.F. Morse. , Elias Howe, Henry Bessemer, Alexander Graham Bell, Cyrus McCormick, Henry Ford, John Deere, Rudolph Diesel, Benjamin Holt, Simon Ingersoll, Nicholaus Otto, Henry Timken, Charles Goodyear, Harvey Firestone, and more recent notables such as, Steve Wozniak ( Apple Computer),Esther Takeuchi ( Lithium/Silver Vanadium Oxide Battery), and Steve Sasson(digital camera) to name a few.
Rollin's accomplishments and superb engineering abilities are reflected in the thousands of Cletrac and Oliver crawler tractors that are still in existence today.
Following is a brief timeline concerning Rollin H. White and Cletrac crawler tractors.
* Builds White Steam Cars from 1900 to 1911
* First White gas cars produced in 1909
* Rollin H. White is awarded a gold medal for his White Steam Car developments in 1904 at Louisiana Purchase Exposition
* Rollin applies for his first Agriculture Wheel Tractor patent in June 1912. Patent granted March 1918
* Cleveland Motor Plow Company is officially incorporated on January 20, 1916. The name is soon changed to Cleveland Tractor Company and trademarked as Cletrac.
* Rollin applies for his most important patent, Controlled Differential Steering in December 1916. Patent granted January 1918.
* In 1921 builds Cletrac model F, a small crawler with high drive sprocket and unit type construction.
* From 1923 to 1925 builds the Rollin Automobile. This auto was built right in the Cleveland Tractor Co. plant.
* In 1927 introduces the giant Cletrac 100, a large crawler tractor with 120 BHP. It was the largest crawler tractor on the market at this time.
* In 1928 offers a full line of crawler tractors. Five models ranging from 12 DBHP to 100DBHP.
* Cletrac controlled differential steering systems become standard items in many of the military tanks during World War II.
* The Cleveland Tractor Company is purchased by The Oliver Corporation on October 31, 1944 marking Oliver's entry into the crawler tractor field. The Cletrac line would now be marketed under the Oliver name.
* The Oliver Corporation is purchased by the White Motor Company on November 1,
1960.
* All Oliver crawler tractor production is discontinued in 1965.
Landis Zimmerman
Zimmerman Oliver-Cletrac
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