The
truth about tractors From the first Froelich to the unclaimed Dain and the Waterloo Boy beginnings…John Deere’s tractor history includes a couple names that may be unfamiliar to many people.
Contrary to some 4th-grade history texts, John Deere did NOT invent the tractor (nor did he invent the plow but you can read about that in an earlier column). In fact, he died a few years before the first experimental tractor designs ever made it to production! To give credit where credit is due, engineering pioneer John Froelich built the first tractor in 1892, although the term "tractor" was not yet used. In the tiny town of Froelich, Iowa, the inscription on a monument reads: "In this village, John Froelich built the first gasoline tractor that propelled itself backwards as well as forward. Far-reaching in its effect on modern agricultural history, it moved out of this village and into the world in 1892." Froelich was first Froelich mounted a Van Duzen stationary engine on a Robinson running gear and the first tractor was born. The inspiration for this innovative design came from farmers in the Dakotas who didn’t have easy access to a wood or coal supply for steam-powered units. Amazingly, this 16-horsepower machine was capable of moving both forward and backward. Unfortunately, Froelich’s invention didn’t instantly propel him to fame and fortune. Only two models were ever built, sold and then returned by unhappy customers. Still, Mr. Froelich knew he was on to something. And so did the fine folks with the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company who joined forces with Froelich from the start.
Waterloo boy gains fame The Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company of Waterloo, Iowa touted Froelich’s "gasoline traction engine" as the only one on earth. However, tractors were not very successful yet, so the stationary engine line kept the company afloat while Froelich experimented. By 1911, the company built the first official Waterloo Boy design. Over the next six years, more models would be introduced and an estimated 8,000-plus Waterloo Boys were at work on American farms by the time Deere acquired the growing company in 1918. "D" is for Dain? Maybe you’ve heard some controversy about a top-secret tractor that Deere made before buying the infamous Waterloo Boy? Maybe you’re thinking Dain only dealt with hay equipment? Maybe it’s about time you learned the truth about Deere’s slow start in tractor production! Deere & Company battled internal strife about whether or not to build a tractor in the early 1900s. While Deere waited to sort things out themselves, Froelich and the Waterloo Boys were busy building tractors. The first experimental tractor built in1912 by C.H. Melvin didn’t fare well in the field and was soon scrapped entirely. But Deere’s entry into tractor manufacturing was inevitable and the task of designing the next one was given to Joseph Dain, Sr., the same man responsible for building Deere’s popular hay equipment line. In 1918, 100 models of the John Deere All-Wheel-Drive Tractor made manufacturing history when they rolled off the assembly line at the Marseilles Company, a Deere subsidiary in East Moline, Illinois.
The strange 3-wheeled design was ahead of its time for many reasons, including its ability to change speeds without stopping the tractor. Dain’s goal was to design a tractor that could be sold for $700, but his effort ended up costing twice that. At about the same time Dain’s tractors went to dealers in the Dakotas, Deere decided to buy a tractor design instead and acquired the Waterloo Boy line. John Deere buys "The Boy" Deere & Company took over the Waterloo factory and named it the "John Deere Tractor Company." Still, the company produced the "N" for six more years under the Waterloo Boy brand. It wasn’t until the Model "D" was introduced in 1924 that a Waterloo tractor bore the John Deere name. Model D is for Deere After a frustrating series of fits and starts in tractor production, Deere hit a home run with the new Model D in 1924. In fact, it remained in production until 1953, reveling in three dominating decades of popularity. What made this model so famous? Some say it was the low-cost fuel usage; others say it was the easy serviceability. But the bottom line was that it was cheap. And that was very important for many farmers facing the post-WWI depression. Tractors take on more tasks By the mid-1920s, the "GP" (General Purpose) introduced multi-tasking to tractors and developed the 3-row farming concept in the Corn Belt. But Cotton Belt boys wanted 2- and 4-row versions, so the GP Wide Tread hit the market in 1929. It was the first tricycle-type front end that fit between the two rows the rear wheels straddled.
A & B start the alphabet The 1934 Model A offered two industry firsts —Ýadjustable wheel tread and a one-piece transmission case. Now farmers didn’t need to conform to the 42-inch row width of a horse’s rear. And with more under-axle clearance and less side draft, the tractor could do more in the field. Introduced a year later in 1935, the Model B was billed as "two-thirds the size of the A." Both the A and the B got a major facelift in 1938 when industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss streamlined or "styled" the tractors. Letters give way to numbers In 1952 Deere retired the lettered series for the new numbered line, which started with the 50 and 60, followed by the 40, 70 and 80 models. In 1956, the "20" Series began as the entire line was updated for two years. In 1958, the "30" Series came out, which led to the end of the infamous two-cylinder era for John Deere tractors. The "New Generation" line launched in 1960 revolutionized tractor design and farming in general. The Green Girl doesn’t profess to be an expert on every model ever made by John Deere. Instead, it’s best to defer to JR Hobbs of Green Magazine, who is probably the most well-known authority on the topic of tractors. It’s also helpful to refer to excellent resources directly from Deere & Company for accurate, authentic information. Numerous books have been published on Deere tractors over the years. Just be sure to double-check dates and details in at least two sources for verification and validation. Next week, check back for a look at later tractors from the post-2-cylinder era that began in 1960 with the New Generation models. We’ll also touch on the Lanz line of tractors made in cahoots with our beer-and-brat buddies in Germany. Text Ý © 2000 Brenda Kruse. Photos by Brenda Kruse unless otherwise noted. |
