The John Deere Century
The John Deere Century
ITEM 240AP
By Randy Leffingwell
In The John Deere Century, acclaimed author and photographer Randy Leffingwell uses his unique brand of storytelling—alongside a wealth of photographs, both modern and vintage—to chronicle the company and the tractors that have carried the distinctive green and yellow livery for the past century.
Iconic John Deere tractors ranging from the spartan Waterloo Boy to the Model AOS, and from German and Argentine models to the acclaimed New Generation tractors are featured in this celebration of industrial tractor design. Models covered:
The Waterloo Boy
The Model D
The Model C Experimental, GP, and Specials
Models A and B
Models L and LA
Models G, H, A, B, Styled D, and M
Diesel Models
Models 40, 50, 60, and 70
Generation II Tractors and the 21st Century
This book is a must-have for every John Deere fan.
Hardbound, 176 pgs., 170 color and b&w photos, 24 drawings.
When another book appears on one of the large tractor companies, one wonders what there might be left to say. However, prolific tractor writer Randy Leffingwell has done a good job of creating a fresh look, which celebrates John Deere’s centennial of building tractors. The author has searched beyond the tractors and tells the story of John Deere’s tractor evolution through the eyes of the people in the design rooms, shops, and testing fields. These are the people who created Deere’s tractor designs and continued to improve them into the 21st century. The author offers some valuable insights into the thought processes of the engineers as they developed Deere’s tractors from the older Dain and Waterloo Boy machines. The book even gives us a clearer understanding of why John Deere embraced the 2-cylinder engine and ran with it for so many years. Leffingwell also elaborates on Deere’s association with industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss, a collaboration that led to the iconic styled tractors of the late 1930s and beyond. Deere is one of the last of the old names still standing as an independent company and looks to remain that way through a new generation of innovative engineers. The book is beautifully illustrated and is a pleasant tribute to the centenary of John Deere’s takeover of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Co.
Book Review by Robert Gabrick
