Cecil Elwood Pond

Chairman of the Board

WheelHorse Products Co.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cecil Pond at the annual WheelHorse show in Arendtsville Pa. He parked a long side of me while I was unloading my tractors. He put his hand on my 1960 Surburban and said. " I havent't seen one of these in a long time. It was a real pleasure meeting the man who invented the first riding lawn tractor. I feel honored to have shaken his hand.    (Terry Lutz)

Elmer Pond is Born 1898, Cecil Ponds Father

Cecil Elwood Pond Born June 24 1924 in South Bend Ind.

Cecil Pond extends frame on two wheel tractor cecil designs prototype hood

made of fiberglas for junior tractor and hood displayed at chicago trade show.

invented the first true riding tractor  The 1954 Rideaway Jr.

                                 1956

Wheel Horse becomes the official company name.

                                 1969

Wheel Horse aquires skystream.

Wheel Horse aquires snowmobile division.

Wheel Horse finance corporation begins.

                                 1974

American Motors aquires Wheel Horse.

General Electric Elect-trak acquired by AMC.

Cecil Pond retires from tractor business.

                                 1986

TORO acquires Wheel Horse

1946

Elmer Pond designs his first four-wheel tractor.

Elmer & Cecil build their first four wheel tractor.

1948

Elmer & Cecil form official Partnership.

First factory on Dixie Way North hand-built by Elmer & Cecil

Two Wheel Pond Tractor begins.