History of John Deere Combines (Part 1)

[@brianjohnson7317]

I helped runJD 36B combine pulled by D4 cat from 1966-68 . Dad already had JD 55 with an added hillside conversion done in Garfield Wa, later JD 55H,95H, both factory hillside combines, in 2001 I ran JD 9600 with hillside added in walla walla, Wa with a 30 ft header for a friend after leaving my family’s farm on some very steep hillsides . We cut 2100 bu on a good day with the old 36B hillside combine, it started w/ a crank, header was 16.5 ft header. It had a 2nd (upper)cleaning sieves and many of them had an automatic leveler control built in Spokane Wa, an added hydraulic header control enabled one man on a cat, usually D6 cat , to run the combine by themself. Dad paid $300 for the 36B combine when we had doubled our grain acres, it was 20 years old in 1966.

[@sheldonhall1295]

I worked for a neighboring farmer in my early years. He had a 12A JD combine pulled by a JD B tractor. The combine had a canvas with wooden slat about every foot. Turning to watch the combine was tiring. As I remember, the JD combine was reliable and didn’t need many repairs.

[@brucehislop8860]

Dad bought a new 12A around 1950. It was PTO driven 12A with a pickup head as we swathed our barley. The swather had a 10 ft head, so with the higher yields in Southern Ontario, it was a bit much for the 12A to handle. Dad had a Cockshutt 30 tractor with live PTO and creeper gear, but we still had to "slip the clutch" to feed the 12a combine very slowly so we would not "plug" it. Around 1970 dad bought a used model 30 combine which handled the 10 ft swaths much better.

[@DarrellGraham-4440]

As an adult with Aspergers and a love of John Deere, your channel feeds my mind so well. Keep up the great work

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching👍🏻

[@jefftheaussie2225]

Headlie Taylor invented and built his first compact header/harvester in 1914. It was pulled by horses. It was commercialised by HV Mackay in 1920 and called the Sunshine Header Harvester or just Header. All this happened in Australia. A self propelled version was developed shortly after and the rest is history.

[@mikewithers299]

Wow! What a blast from the past. I used to help my grandad combine with a 12A. I will never forget that machine. It was the only JD he owned for a long time. It had its own motor to run the combine. That was 50 years ago 🤣🚜

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching!

[@jodydelk8726]

My first combining experience was with a 12A combine. I thought I was a big boy helping dad who had a 45 and my brother had 30 pull type. Very fun days indeed

[@kevinfrerichs8589]

I have first hand knowledge of the #5A combine. My granddad had two of them, both where sold to neighbors, one ended up getting buried in a damn of a wash out. The other one I bought when I was 14 in the hopes of restoring, but lack of time and money it was scraped out by the late 90's, Thanks for this video, it brings back fond memories.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching!

[@danielbeiersr3642]

I started my combine harvesting with the pull type AC All Corp 72 inch combine. I bought it used from a second hand farm equipment yard in 1991. I pulled it with a 35 horse Fordston Dexter. This combine was set up to fill two sacks at a time which required a second person riding on the sacker platform or the tractor driver would have to stop, board the combine, tie the two sacks, push them off in the field, clamp two empty sacks under the clean seed elevator then continue cutting. These combines were tractor PTO operated and did have another model with clean seed bin with unload auger. I harvested small grass seed with mine with very few problems or clogs and on a good day, bout 8 hours, my AC could harvest 1500-2000 lbs. I used this AC All Corp from 1991 until 1998 when I moved up to the JD 6600 combine. My son and daughters again used the AC when they were in high school for extra money. They used it for a few years then it was retired where it’s stored in the equipment barn till today.

[@thomasmarti5856]

Very cool! Thanks for the history and information.

[@momdadschneider8502]

I worked with my uncle in the early 60's using probably a 12A combine with an engine. He windrowed his oats with his hay mower with an attachment and because the combine was a left sided feed, he had to start in the center of the field so as not to drive on the uncombined windrow, and work outwards. By the mid 60's, he had bought a new combine and I was off to college!

[@ronfullerton3162]

My father had a 12A with a two cylinder motor. The combine itself ran good. Having to watch and care for the canvas added time and work. The real problem was the two cylinder motor. It would run fine for awhile. Then it would refuse to run for some time. Which was a headache, because it was hand crank started. Dad would crank and crank for a half hour to an hour before it would restart. Mechanics from five different John Deere dealerships tried and couldn't fix it. Independent mechanics tried and failed. After years of this frustration, Dad finally traded for a PTO driven #30. We had far better harvest seasons after that!

[@bobearthquakepumpkinfarm7455]

When my father was young, a thrashing crew came around to do the small grains. Then the family got a 12A with the continental engine (I think) and a bagger. Sometimes I drove the tractor from the late 60's to the mid 70's. Every now and then, the canvas belt needed sewn. We also went to Charlie Burg's junkyard near Zelienople, PA to get parts, such as the wood slats for the straw walkers. We got rid of it when he ran out of junk parts and scrapped the leftovers. I think they used a JD B, Then a 2010, and we also had a 3 cyl 820 near the end.

[@duanebolen543]

When I was 18 years old, I drove the neighbors 55 picking corn and that was the first combine. I ever Grove then I started working for a farmer. That was a machinist that would brothers. Manufacturing company in Oregon, Illinois, and he had A. 105EB. And we did soy beans and corn.

[@duanebolen543]

And when I was growing up on the dairy farm. We had A12A that had A luc motor on it, and dad took the motor off and put PTO on. That made a lot better combine.

[@lougitlin5718]

I grew up on a farm we had a 12a with luc motor & a bagger system my job was to tye the bags and you sat on top of the engine this was hot work

[@Paul-m3f1v]

In the 50’s I drove tracts in front of a #17 and #36 combines. In late ‘50$ dad put an hydraulic ram to control the header height and I cut lot of acreage with that set up. The hydraulic cylinder made the units a one man operation. Late ‘50’s dad bought a 95 combine with a 28’ header. I cut a lot of wheat with that. I enjoyed running that combine. Our land was in western Nebraska near Ogallala.

[@teresadroessler9872]

I have run a 30 combine since I was young, good combine

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Nice! What tractor has been your favorite to pull it with?

[@teresadroessler9872]

@@LocustMotorWorks when l was in highschool dad put the 620 on the 30 combine,then when I rented my own farm I got a 30 combine and put the 720 gas on it,I sold my 30 and run a 7700now

[@dbockman52]

My father bought a used John Deere model 2 combine shortly after his WWII military service in the Pacific Theater. Dad did custom harvesting of small grain in North Dakota with that model 2 combine. Dad cut the steel rims off and added used rubber tires (when they became available after tire rationing ended) for easier road transport. He pulled his combine with a John Deere model D tractor. Dad and Mom purchased a farm near Finley, North Dakota, in 1950 shortly after their marriage. I was born in 1952 in Sharon, N.D. in a one room hospital. Dad and Mom sold their N.D. farm in about 1956 and moved to northwest Iowa. Dad moved his J.D. model 2 combine to Iowa and used it there for a few years. I remember when I was about 7 years old driving the JD model D tractor pulling the #2 combine while Dad rode along teaching me how to do that. So the first combine I learned to drive was the first model combine that John Deere built. During my farming career, I owned or drove the following John Deere combines - a 55 roundback (Dad owned that combine), two 55 squarebacks (Dad owned one, I shared ownership of the other)- one 7700 , one 7720, two 9500s, one 9510, and one 9560 STS (I owned all of these after Dad retired.) So I was fortunate to know what it was like to experience operating many different combines that were built from 1927 to 2007. My last JD combine had a GPS yield monitor and GPS auto-steering. I really enjoyed that GPS technology. I remember Dad's JD model 2 combine parked in the grove when it was no longer used. Later it was cut up for scrap. In retrospect, that was a huge mistake to scrap it out. Thanks for your video about early JD combine history. It brought back a lot of memories. (Retired Iowa farmer.)

[@wilsonfutrell1833]

Wow, enjoyed this video and can’t wait for the next one! I remember some of these pull-type combines, but they were out of use and sitting as junk by my time.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

thanks for watching!!

[@stevemccoy8138]

Yup, I've run combine back in my youth 1960s. Massey Harris was the most popular brand in our area. Very interesting story, Thanks 😊

[@RJ1999x]

The Allis Chalmers all-crop was the market leader, and still sought after today

[@3069mark]

Excellent video. A lot of people are missing out when they don't watch your historical farm equipment videos. I love them. I found it interesting that the early combines used Draper belts and here we thought they were a new invention. LOL. They weren't on the grain head but were on the open feeder, whereas on modern grain heads they are on the head to move the plants to the feeder house. There's a silent video on KZbin of a huge horse team pulling a combine in the huge wheat fields of The Palouse Hills in Washington State. There must be at least 24 horses on that team. I love that video.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

I’ll have to check that video out!👍🏻👍🏻

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Interesting John Deere combines

[@marionberry6909]

A John Deere 12A was the first combine I ever ran, pulled it with a 420 JD. I was 16 years old. My Dad bought it from a JD dealer that took on trade for a newer model.

[@donlehman9930]

I was happy to go from the 12A to the 30, so nice to have a 7 foot cut.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

What was your favorite tractor to pull it with? Thanks for watching👍🏻

[@donlehman9930]

We had a 620 my Dad bought new in 1958, which I still have, but really liked to pull it with our Oliver 88 row crop.

[@davidlauman760]

My dad had a 12a combine with a engine he used it to combine oats that were used as a nursery crop for clover or alfalfa before we raised soybeans he did some custom work with it

[@LocustMotorWorks]

That’s awesome! What did you pull it with?

[@thieltge]

We had two #36 combines in Northern Montana in the 50’s We pulled them with an R and a TD 14 crawler. When the 55’s came along we ran it and the two 36’s for a few years. Once the 95 came along, that was great. The diesel gave us enough power to get through the heavy spots. The gas engine on the 55 was kind of wimpy. Once the 105 came along we retired the 36’s, and I spent several summers taking them all apart for the structural steel in them. We still have a few angle irons with that old green paint.

[@michaelreilly8080]

Worked the 12A when I was 14. Hated the canvas, and it would plug in thistles.

[@noelstractors-firewood57]

Great video.

[@kimculver1038]

I had a 25 with wooded shakers It was used got it around 1980 the shaker broke after a couple years found another one at a neighbors that had metal shakers Removed them and put in my machine. Worked great I keep thinking how did l ever accomplish that was young and could do anything. WOW

[@curtweatherbee2523]

Thank you so much very interesting❤💯

[@lt-tenner]

Great documentation, very informative. I'm already looking forward to the second video.

[@tractorboy373]

Love the video

[@levigarchar3115]

I came across an 11a I believe is a 1941. I'm told I am the 3rd owner of it and it only has 2 seasons on it. I believe the 2 seasons part because the paint is still in the bottom of the cylinder bar grooves. I will get it restored someday. Got it and a 39 styled B for $750 each.

[@npalen]

We had a #17 Deere combine with 16 ft header that was used up until the late 50's and pulled mainly by a Cat D2 or RD6. My first job during harvest, at about the age of ten on our Kansas farm, was running the "ship's wheel" on the combine to raise and lower the draper platform when going through ditches. It was a test of strength and so Dad later converted it to hydraulic cylinder lift. The Deere had the four cylinder Hercules engine witch its distinct low RPM sound. The #17 combine had the rear tow hitch to attach the trailer for towing the platform (header) behind the combine when the road was too narrow. The platform was balanced in the field with about six long springs in a cluster compared to most of the old pull types which used a counterbalance weight.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Sounds like a fun harvest setup! Thanks for watching and sharing👍🏻

[@garyvornhagen4656]

Wow a lot of progress. Nothing Runs Like A Deere

[@glennso47]

Now Deere is planning to run to Mexico.

[@tractorboy373]

Can a John Deere B pull a John Deere 12a pull type combine?

[@warehousemobsquad5922]

Nice vid ready for pt2

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Will be coming soon! Thanks for watching👍

[@oldtruthteller2512]

Dad had two No.30 John Deere pull type combines. One with the sickle & reel for soybeans and one with the pickup header for swathed oats.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Nice! What tractor did you pull them with?

[@oldtruthteller2512]

@@LocustMotorWorks We had a Minneapolis Moline Super 4 Star, later a 1080 Massey Ferguson.

[@MikeLoveBuns]

Enjoy your video! Mike from Missouri

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching Mike!👍

[@peterstauter7725]

I have a John Deere combine made in Germany in 1967. Type 330. Run realy good..

[@curtisdowling3773]

Ive ran the 55 and the 95 combine for many years while my neighbors were all into modern 9000series.

[@Dennis-xt8lw]

I had a John deere 30 combine and my son has a 6620 side hill and a 9600

[@Canis_Lupus_Rex]

The Caterpillar deal wasn't just a one way deal, Deere shared rheir info on hydraulics with Caterpillar.

[@glennso47]

When did the Gleaner combine come out? I think Allis Chalmers introduced the Gleaner?

[@asr2809]

we ran a 12A, 30, two 45, 3300, 6600, 9600, & now a 9670.

[@GermanShepherd1983]

At 2:23, most of those combines are Massey Harris, probably model 90

[@MaclearieFarms]

My uncle has a number 10 he restored his grandfather bought it brand new back in the day

[@jimstewart8927]

I'm a Deere fan but believe you failed to mention somewhere in the 11--12 models Deere purchased that straight through concept from Allis Chalmers placing AC in the side discharge arena.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

That’s a cool fact I didn’t know that. Thanks for watching👍🏻

[@jimwoidyla5139]

My Dad had a #25 pull type combine with a Wakasha 4 cylinder motor, we used it in oats and wheat. I believe he bought it $900 at an action sale.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

That’s cool! What tractor did you pull it with?

[@jimwoidyla5139]

@@LocustMotorWorks He pulled it with the ‘65 2510 narrow front

[@davidschollenberger6871]

Good job very interesting we had 2 pull type combines when I was young don’t remember what company made it the second one was a John Deere model 30 I think

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching!👍🏻

[@randymagnum143]

4:03 Hercules engine of Canton Ohio, who made modern automotive engines. Not Hercules gas engines of Evansville Indiana, who made antique and obsolete engines, like Deere.

[@Marvin-fn7ks]

I have a #30 JD with the wider than body auger header. I have only run it empty to see if it would operate.

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thats cool! did you restore it or is it all original?

[@Marvin-fn7ks]

@@LocustMotorWorks I haven’t yet restored it. I have all the new decals . It’s actually quite amazing how little wear it has . The knife ,rub bars and auger flights look near new. I may sell it as we now spend winters in the south .

[@charliebub2627]

Terrific video! Do you know if it would be feasible to partially dissemble a John Deere 12A combine for the purpose of transporting on a trailer?

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Appreciate that, thanks for watching! Unfortunately I'm not sure on what would be the easiest place to disassembly the 12a combine

[@Blakebrash]

We got a couple number 2’s and. A couple 12 a’s down in our bone yard

[@kevinwittstruck8764]

My dad had brought a 55 John Deere combine when I get to be 14 years old my dad would me combine corn by myself and boy I felt like a very big man that felt great better than sex

[@deancampfield4703]

I remember we had a IH seems like but it had a Wisconsin engine on it. Combine ran great but if you slugged it and killed the engine you were done work for hours them Wisconsins wouldn't start for hours but when they ran were a good machine

[@j.t.theagguy]

love your videos can you do the 3300 4400 6600 7700 series I have a 4400 and would lave to see you talk about the history of them.

[@randymagnum143]

This is an easy one, they bought an All Crop 40 Allis and copied it nearly exactly.

[@smajhound4048]

Part 2 plz

[@hammerslammer3006]

They should show what machine they copied in each era.. 😅 grew up in green combines

[@scotsmanofnewengland7713]

John Deere was born in Vermont for those that didn’t know .

[@kennylayher6890]

I have a John Deere pull type combine serial # 52942,Hercules OOB engine serial # 2411220. Could you tell me the model # and year produced.

[@kennylayher6890]

Hercules engine serial # correction #241220

[@gustavn8902]

35 bushels to ton or kg?

[@terrysmith2018]

We had a 12A what a pile of crap last John Deere that was on our farm

[@briangleason5597]

I would rather have the first combine made, then use a current John Deere Combine. I could fix it and not void my warranty. 😂😂😂

[@Smokeyandthebandit182]

Kinda disappointing

[@combinelover8988]

The first John Deere combine harvester came out in 1927, not '26!

[@survivortechharold6575]

john deere sucks, will never own any of their stuff

[@shaunault7538]

Ran a no 12

[@AgriFatech]

Very cool! Thanks for the history and information.

[@davidkimmel4216]

Great video

[@LocustMotorWorks]

Thanks for watching!👍🏻