John Lauson was born into a family of German immigrants to the United States. He established the John Lauson Mfg. Co., which made a name for itself building gasoline engines at its factory in New Holstein, Wisconsin. In 1915 the company introduced its first tractors: 15-25 and 20-35 hp models with Erd engines. Lauson tractors soon gained a reputation as high quality products, and the 1920s saw the range of models widened to include a little 12-25 tractor and a 20-40 "Thresherman's Special". Their last model, before the Great Depression took its toll, was a six-cylinder 25-45. Nichols & Shepard marketed Lauson products for a few years in an effort to boost sales, but the company was eventually wound up in the 1930s.

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