John Deere 200th anniversary

bebster · Mar 16, 2004

This morning on the Today Show Willard Scott said that it was the 200th anniversary of John Deere's first tractor built in Vermont. I'm surprised I haven't heard more about that on TBN. Obviously a long time before diesel engines. Anyone familiar with this history?

JDGREEN4ME · Mar 16, 2004

There were tractors in 1804? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif John Deere was born in 1804 /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cliff_Johns · Mar 16, 2004

Perhaps they were talking about the first JD plow? They
started as a plow company didn't they?
Cliff

Cliff_Johns · Mar 16, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Perhaps they were talking about the first JD plow? They
started as a plow company didn't they?
Cliff )</font>

Oops, I didn't read the next post before I started talking.
Yes, JD was BORN 200 years ago. Google found that quick
enough.

Cliff

EquipmentJunkie · Mar 17, 2004

I have a 150th Anniversary bumper sticker which pegs Deere & Co. at an 1837 birthday.

bebster · Mar 17, 2004

Must be it -- I guess they were talking about the birth of John Deere (the person) 200 years ago. That puts it in perspective. He must have started the company at age 33 in 1837. I was sure wondering what kind of horse-drawn tractor that would have been!

rockyridgefarm · Mar 17, 2004

I am pretty sure that Deere & Co. sold their first tractor long after the founder's death. They bought out another brand to get going, I think....

Actually there was another thread about this being the Founder's Birthday event, and there is all kinds of info at JohnDeere.com

gone · Mar 17, 2004

John deere did buy the waterloo tractor co. ,2cyl horizontal,the popers deere is known for.

EquipmentJunkie · Mar 17, 2004

The Waterloo Boy was first made in 1914.
If I'm not mistaken, John Deere was born in Vermont in 1804. He later moved to Grand Detour, IL where he worked with the steel plow. The homestead at Grand Detour is a neat little museum worth seeing if you are in Northern IL.

rmonio · Mar 18, 2004

Willard Scott also noted that John Deere has backed everything since it's inception - except for the manure spreader... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

-Bob