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Deere’s invention of his polished steel plow was not the first, as the
overall design of the plow had been around for hundreds of years. It
turns out that Thomas Jefferson created an iron moldboard plow
designed to work through the soil with much less strain. Jefferson’s
design, based on plows he observed while serving in Europe, was easily
duplicated. Later, he began to cast them out of English steel. The fact
that Jefferson’s design was not patented made it easily adopted by
blacksmiths throughout the country.
Deere’s original plow, designed in 1837, had a slightly “tinkered”
plow shape that he made using a circular blade from a local lumber
company that was rendered from fine English steel. Deere cut off the
teeth of the blade and shaped it into a curving parallelogram that could
pass through the soil more easily.
In early 1838, Deere completed his first steel plow and sold it to a
neighbor named Lewis Crandall. News quickly spread about its
effectiveness. The plow’s ability to break through the ground was not
just the shape of the steel, but that “he polished his steel so smooth that “John Deere Plows. The Gilpin Sulky,” Deere & Company, 1895
the thick clay-like soil would slide right across the blade” that made the
biggest difference in the ability of the plow to cut through the sticky Charles Deere officially joined his father’s company in 1853 at the
soil. The highly polished steel would actually clean itself as it went age of just 16. Though not considered to be the “heir apparent” since
through the soil, which scoured easily. he was not the eldest, Charles’ strong work ethic from years of helping
his father paid off. By the age of 21, he was handling the primary
management of Deere & Company (incorporated in 1868) and
continued to spearhead the company for 46 years. Under his leadership,
the company expanded its production of steel plows, cultivators, and
corn and cotton planters among other farm implements.
Deere bought out Tate and Gould's interests in the company in
1853 and was joined in the
business by his son Charles
Deere. By 1855, Deere’s factory
was selling over 10,000 steel plows
in one year. The plow’s nickname,
“The Plow that Broke
the Plains,” was put
The original John Deere logo
on a marker near
his birthplace in
John Deere: Businessman & Marketer Rutland, Vermont.
In 1841, at a time when 90% of the population lived or worked on In 1858, a nation-
farms, Deere was producing 75-100 plows in a single year. To keep up wide financial recession
with demand, Deere joined forces with Leonard Andrus in 1843 to be took its toll on the
able to produce more plows. Because both men had a stubborn streak, company. To prevent
the relationship was strained. Deere wanted to sell to people outside of bankruptcy, the com-
the Grand Detour area as Andrus opposed the railroad coming to their pany reorganized, and Deere sold
part of the state. This along with other points of contention continued his interests in the business to his
to break down the partnership. By 1848, Deere and Andrus had son-in-law, Christopher Webber,
distanced themselves from one another and reached a breaking point. and his son, Charles Deere, who John Deere
Deere was untrusting of Andrus’ accounting methods, and Andrus was would take on most of his father’s 1800's
sticking to his more localized managerial roles. John Deere Advertising
approach to business, resulting in served as president of the company Trade
the dissolution of the partnership. until 1886. Card
Looking for a more advanta- The company was reorganized showing
geous location, Deere and his again in 1868 when it was incorpo- the Riding
family then moved to Moline, rated as Deere & Company. While Cultivator
Illinois, a transportation hub the company's original stockholders
along the Mississippi River. were Charles Deere, Stephen Velie,
There, he was able to take George Vinton, and John Deere,
advantage of waterpower and Charles effectively ran the company. In 1869, Charles began to
signed a contract with introduce marketing centers and independent retail dealers to advance
Pittsburgh Steel to keep up with the company’s sales nationwide. This same year, Deere & Company
increasing demand. won “Best and Greatest Display of Plows in Variety” at the 17th
Once relocated to Moline, Annual Illinois State Fair, for which it won $10 and a Silver Medal.
Deere formed a partnership with
Robert Tate and John Gould and The Hawkeye Riding Cultivator and More
built a 1,440-square-foot factory
that same year. Production rose Not one to put all his eggs in one basket, Deere made a variety of
quickly, and by 1849, the Deere, farm implements (along with the occasional non-farm-related items)
Tate & Gould Company was that formed the bedrock of his business’ success. Another important
producing over 200 plows a example is his manufacturing of the Hawkeye Riding Cultivator, the
Vintage John Deere Moline 1847 month. A two-story addition to first piece of riding farm equipment, made starting in 1863.
Many of the men returning from the Civil War were wounded and
Dealer Mail Emblem, Cast Iron,16” tall the plant was built, allowing
x 8” wide, sold for $79.99 on eBay further production. unable to run the walk-behind tools on the farm. By improving upon
an original patent by W. Furnas, Deere was able to alter the original so

30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles