In his brief introduction, editor P.A. Letourneau explains the John Deere Model D, introduced in 1923, “was an immediate success, and production spanned nearly 30 years. No other tractor in the history of Deere & Company enjoyed as long a production run.” While Model D production ended in 1953, this Photo Archive edition covers the Model D, starting with a 1921 prototype through only to 1938. Selected from Deere & Co. Archives, the excellent reproduction quality of the 123 photographs is noteworthy. The Introduction includes a brief summary by the editor and illustrations that include a drawing of the “Leaping Deer” trademark used in 1935, an early advertisement, the 1921 prototype, snapshots of its 1923 Nebraska tractor test, a cutaway drawing, a parts display, and four pages of factory assembly photographs. The comprehensive visual coverage featuring plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting continues with three additional sections that cover Model D Production dating from 1923 to 1928, 1929 to 1933, and 1934 to 1938. (Letourneau fails, however, to provide an explanation as to why these divisions are relevant.) Readers can appreciate tractor cutaways, “studio” promotional photos, sales brochure pages, and Model Ds performing a variety of non-farm tasks, including sawing wood, plowing snow, and blading roads.

Book Review by Robert Gabrick