Samson Tractor Company Janesville

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Happy 4th of July from the Samson Tractor Company Janesville
07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from the Samson Tractor Company Janesville

05/28/2026

Janesville, 1918

You’re looking at the birth of an industrial titan.

This is the powerhouse and smokestack of the Samson Tractor Company under construction in 1918. General Motors bought the company and promised to make Janesville the "Tractor City" of the world.

For a few short years, they did. At its peak, the plant employed over 3,000 people right here.

That stack said "SAMSON" to everyone for miles. It was Janesville betting big on the future of farming.
Though the Samson dream ended in 1922, the industrial DNA it left behind shaped Janesville for the next century.

Recognize this skyline? Did your family work at Samson? Tell us your connection to this piece of Janesville history.
photo colorized by me

May 1,1919Today in 1919, 107 years ago, the Samson Tractor Company in Janesville, WI produced its inaugural tractor, the...
05/01/2026

May 1,1919
Today in 1919, 107 years ago, the Samson Tractor Company in Janesville, WI produced its inaugural tractor, the Model D Iron Horse. The Samson Tractor plant, which employed 3,000 individuals, was established in Janesville that same year. Expectations at General Motors were elevated, particularly regarding the innovative Samson Model M tractor. Production of this new four-wheel tractor commenced in May 1919, with an output of 10 units per day. Initially, it was a well-regarded machine, priced at $650, but this price soon proved unsustainable, leading to an increase to $840, which ultimately thwarted plans to surpass Fordson in sales. The company also briefly ventured into truck production. However, in 1922, GM decided to shut down the Samson division. The Janesville plant was reopened in 1923, refocusing its efforts exclusively on vehicle production for Chevrolet.

Address

1000 Industrial Avenue
Janesville, WI
53546

Telephone

+16083463279

Website

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