John Deere - From a Blacksmith to a Global Leader

John Deere is one of the world's leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery.It is a major provider of advanced products and services in the fields of architecture, lawn and grounds care, landscape engineering and irrigation.

In 1837, John Deer e created the world's first steel plow that didn't stick to soil while tilting. This innovative product was such a commercial success that John Deere founded the company that bears his name. Manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, transmission systems (shafts, transmissions, gearboxes) f or heavy equipment and lawn care equipment.

In 1912, Deere & Company president William Butterworth, who had replaced Charles Deere after his death in 1907, began the company's expansion into the tractor business. 

Deere & Company briefly experimented with its own tractor models, the most successful of which was the Dain All-Wheel-Drive, but in the end decided to continue its foray into the tractor business by purchasing the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in 1918, which manufactured the popular Waterloo Boy tractor at its facilities in Waterloo, Iowa. Deere & Company continued to sell tractors under the Waterloo Boy name until 1923, when the John Deere Model D was introduced. 

The company continues to manufacture a large percentage of its tractors in Waterloo, Iowa, namely the 7R, 8R, and 9R series.

The company produced its first combine harvester, the John Deere No. 2, in 1927. This featured improvements and modifications to Model D such as higher power level due to increased cylinder bore.A year later, this innovation was followed up by the introduction of John Deere No. 1, a smaller machine that was more popular with customers. By 1929, the No. 1 and No. 2 were replaced by newer, lighter-weight harvesters.

In 1934, John Deere began production of the Model A tractor, the first true ploughing tractor. The model features a three-wheel design designed to improve maneuverability while reducing steering force. Over the course of 20 years of production, there have been eight versions of the Model A General Purpose tractor.

In 1937, Deere released the largest ploughing tractor they had ever produced. The machine is called a "style-free" Model G tractor. In the 12 years of production, the Model G tractor had three style changes. During World War II, its name was changed to Model GM in order to obtain government approval for wartime price increases. After the war, the tractor became known as the Model G.

In 1947, John Deere introduced its first self-propelled combine, model 55. It was soon followed by the smaller models 40 and 45, the larger model 95, and an even larger model 105 was introduced in the 1960s.

In 1949, Deere introduced its first diesel-powered tractor, which was equipped with a power output unit and came with its own clutch. The Model R is known for its ability to lift heavy equipment through hydraulic systems, and this particular John Deere tractor has undergone a series of upgrades and redesigns over its 10 years of production.

In 1959, the Model R tractor was upgraded to the Model 730 and quickly became a favorite of tractor hauling and restoration enthusiasts due to its weight, power and low speed. At the time of production, the 730 is also suitable for diesel, gasoline, natural gas, as well as three wheel models for interrow farming.

In 1973, Deere introduced its new 'Soundguard' tractors, the 4030, 4230, 4430, and 4630. While these tractors were mechanically similar to the New Generation tractors they replaced, and the 4230, 4430, and 4630 used a 404-cubic-inch displacement engine like the 4020, they featured redesigned sheet metal and most importantly they were available with an optional completely integrated operator's cab that John Deere called the Sound Gard body.

In 1983, Deere introduced the 4050, 4250, 4450, 4650, and 4850. These tractors were followed by the mechanically similar 55 and 60 series tractors before they were replaced by Deere's completely redesigned 7000 and 8000 series tractors in the early 1990s.

In January 2022, the company introduced a self-driving tractor at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, designed for large-scale farming as opposed to existing comparable tractors designed for small-scale agriculture.

In June 2022, Deere announced to would cease production of its model 3710 moldborad plow but continue to offer it model 995 reversible plow.

Over 170 years, John Deere has become one of the oldest industrial companies in the United States and one of the most respected companies in the world.