| Keeping track of the green Giving new meaning to 'greenbacks' While some would complain that John Deere equipment is expensive, others would say it helps them save money.
For the latter, John Deere promotional wallets, billfolds, coin purses, and banks are ideal places to keep their extra dough. These currency-related collectibles can now be found on the memorabilia market for much more than their original price! Collectors can find it rather ironic that they have to pay a pretty penny for something called a "Titewad," which is an early billfold design that folds into a tiny rectangle. Coin banks of several varieties existed, although none are quite as famous as the "blacksmith" bank model. Other popular banks include the "low-cost fuels" oil can issued for Deere’s centennial celebration and the mailbox with the yellow bird. Even paper money and wooden nickels have been "minted" by Deere & Company as part of various promotional efforts. Greenbacks in a Titewad Spotted in John Deere souvenir catalogs as early as 1916, the
three wallets shown in the photo are called "Titewads" as a result of their
narrow folded design. The "Titewad" imprint states it was "patented Nov. 29, 1909." A 1930 catalog says, "The John Deere TiteWad bill fold for new-sized currency…is an exceptionally high-grade souvenir made of the best calf-skin. It is a possession any customer will prize. Price 30 cents each, plus postage." By 1940, dealers were able to buy these for 55 cents each. The dark brown ones feature the bust of John Deere on the outer cover. The inside of one was stamped "John Deere Harvester Works" while others are found blank or imprinted with a different factory. The upper wallet of lighter brown leather is imprinted with an aerial view of the "John Deere Plow Works. Largest in the World." Bank on John Deere quality John Deere released several promotional coin banks over the years.
One seems to attract the most attention —the blacksmith bank — partly due to its unusual history. Designed in the tradition of the antique penny banks that were so popular in the 1800s, these mechanical banks featuring John Deere as the blacksmith are nowhere near that old. The 9-inch tall banks exist in a couple major variations — mostly reproductions recently reissued by John Deere or fakes sold by unauthorized wholesalers. An earlier cast-iron design weighs about 5 pounds, compared to the lightweight plastic painted versions that were reproduced for the John Deere Expo 1994/New Orleans Aftermarket 2000. According to the Company, the crude cast-iron version was the result of an almost-run promotion involving door prizes for the 1977 Farming Frontiers John Deere Day shows. An informed source reports that the order for 18,000 banks to be made in Taiwan was cancelled after top management decided the design was inferior in quality and did not match the approved prototype. Production ceased and all tooling was supposed to have been destroyed. By 1984, Deere discovered a New Jersey wholesaler illegally selling the banks as antique cast-iron reproductions. A bird in the hand means money in the bank Another popular bank is the mailbox with bird, which was first used as a John Deere promotion during the 1960s.
Measuring 6 inches in length, these 1966 metal mailboxes are green with yellow doors, a flag, leaping-deer logo decal, and a yellow finch perched on top. In 1984, a new version was introduced with a plastic flag and decal on the front. Six years later, John Deere released another style of bank with molded stripes in the box and a larger sticker-like decal. The newest variations have a coin slot on the top, compared to its location at the back of the earlier banks. All four types of mailbox banks include a small lock and set of keys. Some versions allowed for personalization with a set of stick-on letters. Minting money Whether it’s a wooden nickel or an actual dollar, John Deere’s name, logo, and products can be found on these pieces of monetary memorabilia.
While wooden nickels were never really worth anything, the ones touting John Deere equipment could certainly be worth more than 5 cents each today! Dealers once gave away wooden nickels imprinted with advertising messages like the three coins shown in the photo. Each one has a three-legged leaping deer logo that best matches the 1912 trademark. However, judging from the products featured —the General Purpose tractor, manure spreader, and heavy-duty farm wagon, these pseudo-coins are newer than that. For one thing, the GP tractor was introduced in 1928 and made until 1935. But the vertical right-hand exhaust and left-hand air cleaner denote that this was the large-bore "X/O crossover" model built from 1930 to 1935. The manure spreader is the Model E, "The Original Low Down Spreader" introduced in 1932. Note the early design with a seat at the front where a lucky driver would sit during this unpleasant chore. The farm wagon appears to be a "Triumph" model first built in 1914. Deere built wood wagons until 1947. Deere also actually printed paper money as part of a promotional stint in 1979.
According to the legal wording on these bills, this money "can be exchanged at face value for goods and services at any John Deere agricultural dealership when properly endorsed by the registered owner." Rumored to have been discontinued, recalled, and destroyed due to counterfeiting claims, John Deere money found today may be selling for more than face value on the memorabilia market. Taking titewads to an auction As you can see, John Deere "green" means more than just the famed color of equipment. Whether you’re out to make a quick buck or buy a coin bank to fund your hobby, be sure to put your wallet in "Titewad" mode before bidding on any currency-related collectibles. Text © 2000 Brenda Kruse; photos © 2000 Nick Cedar
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Photo © 2000 Nick Cedar
This pretty pearl
coin purse would make a beautiful addition to any woman’s handbag. The metal edging
and paper-thin red cloth interior of this piece give the impression of age, probably
around the 1920s. However, the plow pin attached to it may not be part of the original
design. Perhaps not created intentionally to fool collectors, even a rough reproduction
can still cause a collector to part with big bucks for no good reason.