|
A surprising symbol in John Deere's past What symbols first come to mind when you
think of John Deere? Probably the leaping deer and the plow, right? Would you be surprised
to know that a swastika also pops up in Deere history? In fact, you’ll find one on a
Waterloo Boy "Good Luck" token. Slightly larger than a penny, the Waterloo Boy "Good Luck" token is a special piece of John Deere memorabilia. This coin-like collectible says "GOOD LUCK Membership emblem of the Don’t Worry Club" around the outer edge on the front. Inside is a swastika symbol with four good luck icons in each quadrant —Ýa 4-leaf clover, a horseshoe, a wishbone, and an unidentified set of three Plains Indian hieroglyphic-like sketches that resemble buildings. The reverse of the coin reads "Waterloo Boy Gasoline Engines
Are Sure To Bring You Good Luck, Waterloo, Iowa." Right or left is difference between right and wrong While most of the good luck symbols shown on the coin seem rather traditional and familiar, I’m sure you’re all wondering why a swastika symbol is associated with good luck. Well, it’s not exactly the same symbol that Hitler made famous during his Nazi Party leadership in Germany. Upon closer inspection, we discover that this is actually a reverse of the counterclockwise version Hitler used. According to one source, Dr. Friedrich Krohn designed the classic Nazi Swastika in 1919. Unlike the rest of Germany, Dr. Krohn acknowledged the ancient Buddhist use of the symbol, and argued that the Nazi Swastika should point "anti-clock-wise" because the symbol signifies "fortune and well-being" to Buddhists. Hitler demanded that the Nazi Swastika point "clock-wise," which Buddhists believe represents a "cessation" or "away from God." Historical experts in India say the symbol bears the name of Swastika when the limbs are bent toward the right, and Suavastika when they are turned to the left. It is believed that the first represents Lord Ganesha, a sacred symbol of luck in Hindu religion, while the second represents goddess Kali, the evil opposite. According to the other school of thought, the first stands for the sun, for light and life; the second stands for night and destruction. Now you can see how this might apply to the Nazi namesake as well as good luck! The swastika symbol has been around for an eternity, or as the experts say, since "prehistory." In fact, the word "swastika" derives from the word "svastika" in the ancient Sanskrit language of India that means "well-being." Swastikas have been found on terracotta and ancient vases of Greece, Cyprus, and Crete. Swastikas were favorite symbols on the coins of ancient Greece and India. They have been found throughout the world in ancient history of diverse places, including Rome, China, Mexico, and even Native Americans in the continental United States.
Obviously, the swastika was famous long before John Deere formed his first plowshare in 1837! The Good Luck postcard The swastika as a good luck symbol gained popularity in North America when it was used on postcards and coins like the one shown above in the early 1900s. Collecting experts believe this type of usage peaked around the Great Depression of the 1930s. The back of one such colorful, swastika-bearing postcard from 1907 reads: "The Swastika" is the oldest cross and emblem in the world. It forms a combination of four "Ls" standing for Luck, Light, Love and Life. It has been found in ancient Rome, excavations in Grecian cities, on Buddhist idols, on Chinese coins dated 315 B.C., and our own Southwest Indians use it as an amulet. It is claimed that the Mound Builders and Cliff Dwellers of Mexico, Central America consider "The Swastika" a charm to drive away evil and bring good luck, long life and prosperity to the possessor. While the swastika may look like four "Ls" to those of us using the Roman alphabet, it forms four Gammas (Gs) in Greek and four Daleths (Ds) in Hebrew. Using the 4 "Ls" description, the postcard illustrates these with images of a horseshoe (luck), the rising Sun (light), twin hearts (love), and Earth (life). Historians point out that the text on the back of the postcard is not entirely accurate. For one thing, the Mound Builders inhabited the Ohio River Valley, and remnants of the Cliff Dwellers can be found in the vicinity of The Green Girl in northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado.
The swastika symbol is also used in a Boy Scout badge. In fact, another version of the swastika’s meaning can be found in a 1921 article about it: "On the stole of an ancient bishop of Winchester, Edyndon, who died in 1366, is the Swastika or Scouts’ Thanks Badge. It was at that time called the "Fylfot," and was said to represent Obedience or Submission, the different arms of the cross being in reality legs in the attitude of kneeling." Whatever its origin, age, or actual meaning, the swastika symbol is certainly a controversial conversation-starter! Amaze your fellow collectors with this bit of knowledge at the next auction…just don’t blame The Green Girl for any strange stares that may result! How did the Waterloo Boy bring tractors to Deere? Now that we’ve covered the topic of good luck symbols and the swastika, let’s look at how Waterloo Boy Gasoline Engines are connected to John Deere. Maybe many of you recognize the famous "Waterloo Boy" name, which became Deere’s first full-production tractor and earned worldwide respect as a top two-cylinder design. The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company has its roots in the creation of the first-ever "tractor" built by pioneering engineer John Froelich in 1892. However, it took a full 18 years of "working out the kinks" before the company could return to tractor production with the first Waterloo Boy, the Model R. During that time, the stationary engine line kept the company afloat while engineers experimented with more "traction engines." In March of 1918, Deere purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company for $2.1 million and decided to continue building the Model N, which was first built in 1917. Developments within Deere’s engineering department led to the introduction of the improved Waterloo Boy Models A, B, and C. By 1923, the fourth style launched the famed Model D, which remained in production in some form until 1939.Ý
©2000 Brenda Kruse |
