Titan tractor., Bernard Spragg Photo

By 1915, the International Harvester Company (IHC) was the world's leading tractor manufacturer with successful designs such as the Mogul 12-25 and 8-16 capturing a third of U.S tractor sales. IHC also owned the McCormick & Deering brands which gave the company enormous market power which was challenged in Australia by H.V McKay who launched a relentless and successful campaign to introduce federal tariff protection for local agricultural machinery makers. In response, IHC established a local organisation in 1912; International Harvester Australia Pty Ltd (IHA) allowed the firm to assemble equipment from imported components in Australia.