What is the history of the John Deere Tractor?
In 1915 the farm implement companies of America began exploring the idea of building gasoline tractors. The John Deere Company began building prototypes in 1916. In 1918 they bought the company that was producing Waterloo Boy tractors.
In 1923 John Deere introduced the Model “D”. This was the first tractor to wear the John Deere Logo. They had kept the Waterloo Boy name up to this time. In 1925, they came out with the “GP” (General Purpose) tractor in response to the popularity of International Harvesters’ Farmall. These tractors had wide spaced rear wheels and narrow spacing of the front tires, which was ideal for row cultivation.
The “GP” Wide-Tread was introduced in 1929. This tractor expanded on the idea of the “GP”. It was wide enough to straddle two rows of crops.
During the Great Depression, John Deere developed the Model “A” tractor in 1934. They followed this with the smaller Model “B” in 1935. These popular tractors were produced until 1952.
The Model “L” was introduced in 1936. In 1938, this model and the “A” and “B” models were redesigned by Henry Dreyfuss for aesthetic appeal. The company enjoyed a significant boost in sales from this move, particularly in the Model “L”.
During WWII, the company produced machinery, various parts, and ammunition for the war effort. In 1947 the company introduced the Model “M”. In 1949 a track drive was added to the undercarriage. The addition of a front blade, producing a bulldozer, was Deere’s introduction to construction machinery. The Model “R” was also introduced in 1949, the companies first diesel tractor in production.
When the Model 70 was unveiled in 1953, it was the largest row-crop tractor of its day. Available options were LP-gas, all-fuel, or gasoline engines.
Since becoming No. 1 in the farm machinery market in 1963, the company has continued to introduce new models for farming and in its popular lawn and garden division.
John Deere, the man, formed the first polished-steel plow that began the company’s reputation in 1837. John died in 1886 at the age of 82, 32 years before the company made its first tractor. William Butterworth, husband to John’s granddaughter was CEO of the company when they purchased Waterloo Boy.
The John Deere tractor is a farm implement with a long and illustrious history. The products of the John Deere Company have long been admired by dedicated followers, and the company has notably inspired very strong loyalties among the users of its products. While the man for whom the company is named is long dead, many of the company’s modern officials would agree that he probably would have been pleased by the direction the John Deere Company has taken.
