Our history began in 1919 when Quinn Company supplied the Killifer Disc and Holt Tractor to the Fresno area farmers in their quest to develop the great San Joaquin Valley into the world’s richest agricultural region. In 1925, when Holt and Best Tractor Company merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Co. (now Caterpillar Inc.), Quinn became its dealer in the Fresno and Madera County area. Since then, we have expanded through acquisitions and grown along with the economy of California.
1919: Budd & Quinn, Inc. was founded by Joseph A. Quinn and C. C. Budd to supply the Killifer Disc and Holt Tractor to the Fresno area farmers in their quest to develop the great San Joaquin Valley.
1925: When Holt and Best merged to form Caterpillar Tractor Co. (now Caterpillar Inc.), Quinn became its dealer for Fresno and Madera counties.
1926: Joseph A. Quinn established the first dealership in Peoria, Illinois, the site of Caterpillar’s headquarters. Peoria Tractor and Equipment Co. was operated by Joseph A. Quinn until it was sold in 1947.
1954: Bradley Quinn, the founder’s son, became head of the company.
1958: Quinn Company was formed and expanded into Tulare County.
1963: Expansion continued into Monterey and San Benito Counties through the acquisition of Pringle Tractor Co.
1965: A new, modern 90-acre facility was established as company headquarters in Fresno.
1974: The company built an 11-acre facility in Salinas to serve the coastal counties.
1978: Additional service facilities were established in Fresno for engines, on-highway truck and lift trucks. Also, a separate used parts facility was opened.
1979: Blake Quinn, the founder’s grandson, becomes dealer principal.
1983: The company expanded into Kings, Kern, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties through the acquisition of Wallace Machinery Co.
1996: Quinn Lift, the forklift division opened in Yuma, Arizona. In addition, Quinn entered the Rental Services business by opening a new store in Tulare.
1997: A new location was opened in Firebaugh.
1998: Quinn Rental Services acquires Easter Rents and establishes store locations in Santa Maria, Paso Robles and Nipomo.
1999: Quinn Rental Services opens in Salinas.
2000: Quinn Rental Services opened in Oxnard.
2002: Quinn Rental Services opened a new location in Fresno, and opens in Bakersfield. Quinn Company becomes an AGCO dealer.
2003: Quinn acquires Shepherd Machinery Co., the Southern California Cat® dealer, expanding into Los Angeles and Orange counties.
2006: Quinn Rental Services opens a new store location in Pomona.
2012: Quinn Company and Quinn Rental Services open in Sylmar.
2017: Quinn Company expands into San Bernardino and Riverside counties with the acquisition of Johnson Machinery.
2019: The Company celebrates its 100th year.
2021: Parker Quinn, who joined the business in 2014, and the founders’ great-grandson, assumed control of the Company as Dealer Principal, CEO and President.
2021: Spencer Quinn, the founders’ great-grandson, who joined the business in 2016, is named Executive Vice President.
2022: Perkins Engines, a Caterpillar subsidiary, selects Quinn Company as distributor for the Western Region of the U.S., comprised of 15 states. The new business is called Monarch Power Supply.
2024: Quinn Rental Services opens a new store in Carson, servicing the Long Beach Port and South Bay areas.
Now in our fourth generation of family ownership, our operations span fifteen counties throughout central and southern California, including Arizona. Quinn now has 22 locations from Salinas to Foothill Ranch with more than 1,400 employees to serve our customers.