Pond Family

• Harold Pond, founder of the Speedex Tractor Corporation in 1935, is credited with developing America's first four-wheel riding lawn mower in 1938. Harold's brother Elmer and son Cecil began making lawn tractors in their South Bend, Indiana garage in 1946. Their company would officially become Wheel Horse in 1956. Harold and Elmer honed their mechanical engineering skills while working for Shaw Manufacturing Company of Galesburg, Kansas, making walk-behind garden tractors. The Pond family was responsible for many innovations in the riding lawn mower industry.
  
  

Elmer Pond

• Elmer Pond began building two-wheel lawn tractors from angle irons and surplus motorcycle and automotive parts in 1946. Pond designed his first four-wheeled tractor in 1947. Known as the Ride-Away Sr., it initially lacked a rear engine cover for easy serviceability. In 1948, Elmer formed a partnership with his son Cecil to produce the Sr. model for seven years. By 1955, the Ponds manufactured three tractor models, including the Ride-Away Jr., with either a 2.5-horsepower Briggs and Stratton or a 3.6-horsepower Clinton engine.
  
  

RJ-58

• By 1957, Wheel Horse product sales increased to over $1 million. In 1958, the popular RJ-58 model was introduced. It featured a three-speed Uni-Drive transmission designed by Elmer Pond. The RJ-58s had welded brackets for a number of attachments. The tractors featured a Clinton B-1290 or a Kohler K-90 engine. The 2.5-horsepower Briggs and Stratton-equipped tractor was known as the RJ-25. At the end of 1959 Wheel Horse sales topped $4.5 million.
  
  

1960s Models

• In 1960, two models were produced: the 400, with a 4-horsepower Kohler engine and the 550, powered by a 5.5-horsepower Lauson engine. Known as the "Surburban," the two models began the numbered series of tractors. In 1961, the first front-mounted engine design was introduced. Walk-behind rotary mowers were manufactured starting in 1964. A low range added to the transaxle in 1967 allowed six speeds. The model naming process began in 1969 with the Commando, Raider, Charger and the Electro. Wheel Horse sold out to Toro in 1986.