Because of the popularity of our Throwback Thursday posts on Facebook and Twitter, we’ve started a new, nostalgic series of blog posts that showcase some of the old ads, brochures and articles, which chronicled Kinze innovations throughout our nearly 50 year history.
Multi-row Mobility
The 1970s: Kinze gets into the planter business.
It all started with the introduction of the rear-folding planter toolbar, invented by Jon Kinzenbaw in 1975, after a conversation with a Kinze customer. He was frustrated by the time wasted and tedious and repetitive task required to transport his large rigid frame planter from field to field on his Donohue trailer. That simple conversation sparked an idea that not only changed planter toolbar design, but it also revolutionized planter production and significantly increased the amount of acres farmers were able to plant in one day.
Jon’s first attempt to improve planter performance was the product that prompted Kinze to get into large-scale manufacturing and ultimately become one of the largest, privately held manufacturers of farm equipment in the world.
This 1980 advertisement was one of the first ads to introduce rear-folding toolbars, complete with Kinze row units, for large 16 and 24 row planters.
This inside spread of an old black and white brochure highlights many of the benefits and options available.
Farm editors also took notice as evidenced by this Soybean Digest February 1978 issue, which featured a Kinze rear-fold planter on their cover.