Remembering John Deere Ds
I have been writing for the Green Magazine for about 5 year now and is one of my favorite jobs. As I mentioned last week we just got back from Davenport, Iowa, after attending a John Deere show. In the summer of 2023 Patty and I had a nice trip to Lebanon Tennessee for another Classic Green show. At that show the D John Deere was featured as 2023 was the 100th Anniversary of the D. This reminded me of many stories I heard from dad about the D John Deeres they owned.
One of my fondest memories of tractor stories includes hearing my dad tell about the 1925, “spoker D”, they owned on the farm near Clearbrook in the late 1940ʼs. When they moved to the farm it came with an F-20 Farmall. Grandpa traded with George Felch of Shevlin. So long F-20, hello Model D John Deere! After a while they upgraded again and traded the Spoker D for a newer 1936 model D on rubber. They also got the D from George Felch. It had come from the John and Olaf Hayes farm south of Bagley. When they moved to Oklee in 1952 the D came with them. A lot of farm work was done with that D until it was traded for a Case baler and a new disc at Bagley Implement. I think this was the start of a family farming with mostly John Deere tractors. So I guess these old Ds are part of the reason I love John Deere!!
When John Deere wanted to release the model D tractor sales were poor and John Deereʼs board of directors were not sure if they should release their model D. Who would buy it? But, farmers bought the model D and John Deere tractor sales grew. Starting in 1923 the very early Dʼs had a 26 in. spoked flywheel, and the steering on the left side. In 1925 the 24 in. spoked flywheel was used, and in 1926 a solid flywheel replaced the earlier spoked flywheels. This of course makes a “spoker D” a real collectorʼs item. These early unstyled Dʼs had 2 forward speeds and one reverse(not known for itʼs speed!). In 1939 the model D was styled. The new sheet metal design streamlined the tractors, just as automobiles were doing during this time. The D went through many changes over the years. It became the longest produced tractor model in history.
How about a little Tractor Trivia!
1. The model D was produced from 1923-___________.
A) 1951 B) 1952 C) 1953
2. John Deere claimed the early D produced ________ hp on the draw bar.
A) 15hp B) 22hp C) 30hp
3. During the end of production John Deere claimed the D produced________hp, although when tested they produced even more.
A) 15hp B) 22hp C) 30hp
4. The cost of a model D in 1924 was ________________.
A) $1000 B) $1295 C) $1750
5. The 1924 D was rated a _________ plow tractor.
A) 2 bottom B) 3 bottom C) 4 bottom
Answers: 1. C. 1953 2. A) 15hp (They were called the 15-27.) 3. C. 30 hp(They were actually tested with 38 on the drawbar and 42 on the belt!) 4. A. $1000 5. B. (It was rated for 3 14” bottoms.
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Eric Mickelson
Green Magazine
RIchard's Publishing
Oklee, MN 56742
218-791-9157