Daniel Best was a famous 19th century US pioneer and inventor, who manufactured steam traction engines and harvesting equipment in a factory at San Leandro, California. In the early 1900s there was keen competition between Best and his rival Benjamin Holt, which resulted in a number of lawsuits and the eventual purchase of the Best company by Holt. Daniel's son, C.L. Best, worked for Holt for several years before leaving in 1910 to found his own company in Elmhurst, California. This was named the Best Gas Traction Engine Co. and began to produce both wheeled and crawler tractors. Further conflict with Holt ensued, especially regarding patents, but Best went on to build a range of high-quality crawler tractors from 16 to 90hp. In 1925 Best and Holt merged to form the Caterpillar Tractor Co.

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