At the height of steam popularity in the early 1900s, J.I. Case had grown to become the industry leader in agricultural power. So varied was the company’s line that it spanned dozens of models of stationary and steam tractor engines ranging in size from 6 to 150 horsepower, which employed both simple and compound operating cylinders.

The 65-horsepower steam traction engine employed a simple 10x11-inch cylinder to generate power. This provided enough high-torque energy to readily pull a six- to eight-bottom plow. Although the undisputed leader in steam power, Case is also known as being an early pioneer in the development of the used of internal combustion engines on vehicles, which would eventually be called tractors.