John Deere Company Essay

Tractors: From Then to Now “The farm implement industry has profoundly shaped both American agriculture and the national economy. Of all farm implements, the tractor has had the greatest impact on rural life” (Robert C. Williams, qtd. in Olmstead). To understand the history of the John Deere company, one must know its origin, development, and its impact on the farming community.

The John Deere Company is one of the largest dealers of farm implements worldwide and has had its own impact on the world. Knowing the history of the John Deere company is important because tractors have helped farmers in many ways; tractors have allowed farmers to farm more land and accomplish that task more efficiently This study, written in the format of the

As early as 1910 some Deere branches started selling the Big Four Model 30 from the Gas Traction Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. That is part of the reason that they later decided to start manufacturing their own tractors. “In 1918 Deere bought the maker of Waterloo Boy tractors to enter the tractor business after the board debated whether to focus only on horse-drawn plows or invest in the manufacturing of gasoline-powered tractors” (Tombrink). The company quickly became a big competitor in the production of farm tractors and implements. As the company manufactured Waterloo Boy tractors they kept the name until 1923. By this time the company had built many prototypes of tractors like the all-wheel-drive tractor. They produced new Waterloo Boy models such as the A, B, C, and N. The first tractor without the Waterloo name on it was the Model D produced in 1923. It was also the first model with a flywheel to leave the factory in 1926. The flywheel is a heavy revolving wheel on the side of a tractor that is used to increase the tractor's momentum and thereby provide greater

The pneumatic tire changed the tractor industry. Tractors with pneumatic rubber tires were more versatile and capable of doing more jobs than the tractor previously could with its iron wheels. They helped increase the tractors fuel economy, torque, and traction. The tires made the tractor a lot better to ride because they added a little suspension to the tractor. The new tire reduced vibrations which in turn extended the life of the machine. The pneumatic tires caught on quickly in the tractor industry because it was such an improvement to the tractor. “In 1933 pneumatic rubber tires were available on certain tractor models of the leading companies” (Hall). The pneumatic tire became standard on tractors and led to the end of the steel wheel. The pneumatic tire was a huge improvement to the tractors and are still used on most tractors