Having determined the One Millionth John Deere Tractor Built at Waterloo, Iowa (January–February 2007 issue), it was time to proceed with the Second Phase of the Quest. The mission this time was to determine the One Millionth Two-Cylinder Tractor built at Waterloo. Of course, to do this, all Waterloo Boy Tractors produced from the time that Deere & Company acquired the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company (March 14, 1918) would also be counted. In effect, these tractors would back up the date at which the one million figure was reached. It was during the counting of the Waterloo Boy Tractors that something unexpected was discovered…

Perhaps Waterloo Boy enthusiasts have known it for years, but the discovery was new to Jack Cherry and J.R. Hobbs. First, a scattering of serial numbers, an average of about one out of 50, were not used. No explanation for this was provided in the log books. The count of the Waterloo Boy Model “R” began at serial number 8808; those of the “N” at serial number 11750. For several months, both models were in production. A total of 422 Model “R” Tractors were built until production of the single-forward-speed tractor ceased. The two-speed Model “N” continued on for 9039 tractors until the “old” log book ended at serial number 21364 on May 15, 1920. That’s when the second part of the discovery occurred…

The “new” log book of Waterloo Boy Tractors began at serial number 25000, but that number was not used. The first tractor in the second log book was 25001, and this is important to note: The second log book picks up immediately after the first book, which is to say that there was no gap in time. In other words, there is clearly no indication of any Waterloo Boy Tractors being built between serial number 21364 and 25001. This amounts to 3636 potential serial numbers that apparently were never used, in addition to those mentioned earlier. This shot quite a hole in the casual figure of 30,000 Waterloo Boy Tractors built, for the most part ending at serial number 30400; the first production John Deere Model “D” being 30401. It didn’t end there, though, for the Waterloo Boy. Another batch of 91 were built in 1924, the last of them serial number 31412.

In total, 14,933 Waterloo Boy Tractors were built under the ownership and control of Deere & Company. Consequently, this many tractors had to be backed out of production starting with the One-Millionth John Deere Tractor Built at Waterloo, Model “60” serial number 6021465, as reported in the first chapter of this subject in the January–February issue.

It was exactly three months to the day, January 30, 1953, that the One Millionth Two-Cylinder Tractor was built by John Deere at Waterloo. The figures were checked and rechecked, and the tractor was approached from both the beginning and end of the day to be absolutely sure.

Coincidentally, the One Millionth Two-Cylinder to be built at Waterloo was another Model “60” Gas Row-Crop Tractor, serial number 6015188. January 30 was a Friday. The tractor was shipped on the next working day; Monday, February 2 (Groundhog Day), to Freeport, Illinois.

As was stated in the first article, the rate and order of tractors coming off the assembly line, and then through the paint line, tire and wheel equipment installation, final assembly, inspection and adjustments, etc., would undoubtedly scramble the order of completion. However, some basic rules of engagement needed to be laid out before taking on the project, and uniform cadence in serial number order was one of the premises.

As of this writing, there has been no word of the Millionth John Deere Tractor built at Waterloo having been located. However, two of the other tractors listed as completed on April 30, 1953, a Model “50” and a Model “60”, have been found. The owners were presented a special research document, noting the tractor’s special place in history.

All of the tractors completed on January 30, 1953, “The Millionth Two-Cylinder Tractor Day Tractors” are shown in the listing at the end of this article. As with the “Millionth Waterloo John Deere Tractor,” the Club would like to present the owner of Model “60” serial number 6015188 with a special certificate, as well as provide a free research certificate to owners of the other tractors completed on that day.

The next chapter in The Quest for the One Millionth Tractor will result in two findings, the One Millionth Two-Cylinder John Deere Tractor — All Factories, both with and without including Waterloo Boy production. This will, of course, necessitate counting all regular production two-cylinder tractors built at the Moline Tractor Works and the Dubuque Tractor Works. Needless to say, this imposing task already began some months ago.