In the progression of JohnDeere tractors, from
the Waterloo-Boy to the present day works of art they have produced,
one of the greatest advancements of the company was when they
created the Model "A". The first A's were of the tricycle
type that were called "row crop" tractors. Emerging
from this tractor were two other popular models of the "B"
and the "G" tractors. The "A" was not the
first tricycle type, however. In 1928 John Deere decided to build
a "row crop" version of the Model "GP" and
there were a couple different models of these. The "GP"
Tricycle and the "GPWT". These were built from 1928-1935.
These were restyled several times during there life. All these
tractors were of the no adjustment rear wheel width.
In 1932 Deere started experimenting with
another tractor which was a modified "GPWT", called
the "FX". This was a prototype with over the hood steering
and several new trial features that later became standard on the
new Model "A" tractor. However, it still had the round
frame hole, for cultivator mounting and a tapered down front frame,
and still had the non adjustable rear wheel width.
In April of 1933 another continuation of this tractor was introduced
which was called the "AA". There were eight of these
built. Six with a four speed -"AA-1", and two with three
speeds - "AA-3. Four more prototypes were built and tested
before full production of the model "A"-"AA 1"started
on March 19 , 1934. This was the very first John Deere tractor
with wheels that could slide in and out, making them fully adjustable
for a variety of crop row widths.
All the tractors up to number 414808 had open
fan shafts and a four spoke steering wheel.
In 1935 Deere put the "AN" ( single
front wheel - the "N" stands for narrow) into production
as well as the "AW" (wide front). The "AH"
and the "ANH" (high crop) came out in 1937.
1938, starting with number 477000, brought a big
change in the " A"row crop model. Some have dubbed it
the Dreyfuss streamlining, but Deere simply called it styling,
which then made the earlier models "unstyled". They
got a hood to cover the gas tank, grills to cover the radiator
and steering mechanism and a dash for the insturments. The electric
start models (first time offered) got a longer hood (extended)
where the battery was located just behind the gas tank. The first
styled models retained the four speed transmission just like the
previous unstyled models had.
11000 of these were built and in 1940 Deere decided
to increase the horse power by increasing the stroke of the engine,
change the 1 1/8 PTO shaft to 1 3/8, and replace the 12 spline
axle with 15 spline. The extra power it now enjoyed made it a
three plow tractor in light soils, even though it still had the
four speed gearbox. It wasn't until late 1940 that more improvements
gave it the six speed transmission, 38" rear wheels and decals
replaced the silk screening process.
The first styled "A's"and "B's"
that were ordered with rubber tires in 1939, had factory flat
spoke wheels, but only were produced until early 1940 when only
round spoke wheels were available thereafter.
WWII brought on many incumberances to be dealt
with. The War Board put quota's and special specifications on
the company, just as it did all other companies, which had to
be overcome in one way or another. Due to the banishment of using
copper, the radiators were manufactured with steel which did not
cool as well. The tractors were adapted with a pressure cooling
system during the time steel radiators were used and went back
to standard type thereafter. The war time tractors had serial
numbers from 523600 - 542699.
|
After the war the "A" received even
more updates to make it a very popular tractor. Among them, "power
trol", which allowed the rock shaft to be variable positioning,
the introduction of "AN", "ANH"
and the "AWH" to go with the regular row crop and the
"AW".
Operating comfort was now beginning to come to
the forefront of farm equipment so in 1947 serial number 584000
John Deere would introduce even more advances to it line of model
"A" tractors. The old pan seat was gone forever to the
new armchair design with cushions that incorporated springs, and
it had a cushioned backrest and roll-a-matic (1949) front wheels,
and best of all, the cyclone engine. The old cast iron frame was
replaced with a new pressed steel frame and the motors top was
cleaned up by moving the starter to its own compartment under
the tractors main housing and out of site. This allowed a cover
to be placed over the flywheel as a dress item. The hydraulic
system now included an external cylinder that could be mounted
on many different attachments.
The steering post was redesigned at number 648000,
the two stick gear levers were now just one lever in a new gear
designation box with all six speeds marked as well as the reverse.
The "ANH" and the "AWH" were dropped and the
"AN" and the "AW" offered with either 38"
or 42" rubber tires.
In 1950 square rear axle housings, distributor
ignition, black face gauges and the "AH" hi crop was
announced to the line up of "A" tractors
.The 1952 Korean War brought a shortage of copper
and the radiator had to be made of steel, which caused a heating
problem. With serial number 700200 a water pump was installed.
John Deere Model A 1934-1940 Row Crop
Bore x stroke-------------------- 5.50 x 6.50
------------Stroke increased to 6.75 at #488000
Rated RPMs---------------------975
Compression ratio-------------3.96:1
Horse power (drawbar)-------18.72
Horse power (PTO)------------24.71
Price -1939---------------------$1,050
Weight----------------------------4,059
John Deere Model A 1941-1952 Row Crop
Bore and stroke-----------------5.50 x 6.75
Rated RPMs---------------------975
Compression ratio--------------5.60:1
Horse power (drawbar)--------34.14 - Neb. test
Horse power (belt)--------------38.02 - Neb. test
Price -1952---------------------$2,513
Weight----------------------------4,909
|