John Deere history

100 years of innovation, technology, and design have gone into making John Deere tractors what they are today. For their centennial year, John Deere is looking back at their tractors through the years to see how far they’ve come.

Go back in time and watch John Deere’s tractor history unfold.

John Deere Tractors at 100 – The Legend Runs On

In 1918, John Deere bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and showcased the Waterloo Boy Tractor at trade shows around the country. This tractor revolutionized farming and was incredibly popular among farmers. Shortly thereafter, the Model D Tractor was unveiled as an improved version of the Waterloo Boy.

For over 100 years, John Deere has made a commitment to producing quality tractors that customers have relied on for generations. Their founder, John Deere, famously said: “I will never put my name on a product that does not have the best that is in me.”

When John Deere acquired the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1918, it was a natural extension of the quality products they were already producing. Fast forward 100 years and John Deere Waterloo Works builds the 6, 7, 8, and 9 series John Deere tractors. Let’s take a look at how John Deere builds them.

John Deere has a long history of developing quality agricultural equipment like the John Deere 34 Forage Harvester for their loyal customers. These strong machines were built to last and for many, they’re legacy pieces that have been in their family for generations.

Let’s go back in time to 1967 and take a closer look at this “Out of the Vault” video featuring the first John Deere 34 Forage Harvester ever created.

Out of the Vault: John Deere 34 Forage Harvester

For the last 100 years, John Deere has been entrenched in the tractor manufacturing business. From the Waterloo Boy tractors to today’s behemoths, such as the 9RX, the company has established itself as a leader in the industry and a recognizable brand across the United States and much of the globe.

With a century of manufacturing under its belt, John Deere has decided it’s time to celebrate with a year’s worth of events. These events will commemorate its tractor production legacy as the company moves into its second century of supporting today’s farmers and property owners. Here’s a look at some of the John Deere tractor events that will be taking place across the country in 2018.

Whether we are aware of it or not, corn is present in nearly all aspects of most Americans’ daily lives. Sure, we know people and livestock enjoy consuming it directly as a food source. But, did you know it’s also used as a resource for the production of starches, sweeteners, beverage (and industrial) alcohol, and fuel ethanol? And of course, it can be used as a high-quality animal bedding material as well.

While the uses for corn continue to evolve, one thing remains constant: cob collection. Let’s take a closer look at the history of corn cob collection and John Deere’s entry into the corn sheller market.

Have you ever gone to visit a friend, relative, or neighbor, and discovered a themed garage that made you want one of your own? We certainly have. Luckily for us (and you), John Deere offers a number of different items that can be purchased to help decorate your garage and fill it with items from the brand you love.

In this post, we’ve broken down the list of items into various categories that can be found throughout any garage.

Whether you’re out on the farm plowing, tilling, harrowing, or planting, one factor remains unchanged; you likely have a tractor mobilizing implements and doing the dirty work. However, with so many new tractor features and models hitting the market each year, it can be easy to lose track of the past.

Let’s take a look at some of the key dates and events that shaped the early history of agricultural tractor development.

1892

John Froelich, who was 43 years old at the time, successfully ran a gas-powered, vertical, single-cylinder engine on the running gear of a steam traction engine back in 1892. The machine, which is now known as the first gasoline tractor, moved forward and reverse.

John Deere has been producing its iconic green and yellow tractors for nearly a century. During this time, the company has seen the success of its Waterloo Boy model evolve into a global production entity. Along the way, there have been a number of company milestones and exciting new innovations.

While the long and rich history of Deere’s tractor production has yielded many interesting tidbits of information, we’ve taken some time to pick out 15 John Deere tractor facts that we thought would add to an enthusiast’s already expansive Deere knowledge bank. Enjoy, and don’t forget to share with your friends!

The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum officially opened in Waterloo, Iowa on December 2, 2014, welcoming visitors to experience the deep-rooted history of tractor and engine design and manufacturing at John Deere.

Residing on the original site of the Waterloo Tractor Works, the museum showcases the rich history and evolution of the tractor business. The John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum celebrates 177 years of endurance, and acts as a tribute to both hardworking employees and loyal customers who have contributed to the company’s growth over the years.