Two Cylinder Magazine

The Two-Cylinder
“Unstyled” Era

The third basic style of “GP” Standard (1931–1935) can be easily identified by the pair of stacks; intake on the left, exhaust on the right (complete with “finned”-style spark-arrester muffler).

Note the more elevated operator’s position as compared to the Model “D”. The “GP” was a much easier tractor to drive, and was equipped with four forms of power; drawbar, belt, power take-off (PTO), and optional power lift. The mower used both the drawbar and PTO.

On May 3, 1933, a wagon was hitched to a “GP” Tractor with rubber tire equipment (Firestones) in front of the Moline Wagon Works for this photograph.

Note that the final drive housing has been painted yellow through the opening in the rear wheel. It was standard practice to do this at the Tractor Works, and is a detail often overlooked by “GP” restorers.

Production of the “GP” Standard ended with serial number 230745 on March 4, 1935. It had, in reality, already been replaced by the Model “A” on larger farms, and the Model “B” in smaller operations.

Experimental tricycle versions of the Model “C” had been tested from 1926–1928, which led to the introduction of the “GP” Tricycle in mid-1928. The tractors were serial numbered in with “GP” Standards, using the 200000 series of numbers. In August of 1929, the Tricycle officially became the “GP” Wide-Tread Tractor, and the 400000 Series of serial numbers was adopted for them. The 72 original Tricycles, many of which were renumbered, are blisteringly rare and almost in a class with the Model “C”. The photo shows an original “GP” Tricycle in Texas, with very unusual rear wheels.

There are probably more variations of the “C”, “GP” Standard, and “GP” Wide-Tread than can ever be accumulated by any individual, and the cost of doing so would be enormous. Some collectors have chosen to focus on specific models or types.

Think the “D” had an awkward seating position? Imagine operating a “GP” Wide-Tread if it didn’t have the optional and rare five-position adjustable Swing Seat (shown in half-left position). An optional platform was also available for the Wide-Tread, but it must have almost never been ordered.

The two stacks and “C”-type steering positively identify the tractor as a 1931.

There were 718 Model “GPO” tractors built from 1931 through 1935. Ironically, the first six of them were rebuilt Crossover “GP” Wide-Treads. Deere got the idea from the Lindeman Brothers of Yakima, Washington, in 1929, when they modified a “GP” Standard for orchard use.

For 1932 and 1933 (the last years of production), the Wide-Tread got an over-the-hood steering shaft that led to the pedestal. General-purpose tractors that followed (“A”, “B”, “G”, etc.) retained this improved feature.

The “Top-Steer” Wide-Tread, as they are often called, are highly sought after by collectors. But, that’s also true of any “GP” Wide-Treads. The first six-inch-bore units are even rarer (the “Crossovers”), and make collecting a full representative set of “GPs” an almost impossible-to-satisfy obsession for some enthusiasts. Add to that the rare (203 built) Series “P” Wide-Treads (the “Potato” Tractor), and the task becomes even more difficult.

The Top-Steer Wide-Tread shown here has the optional inset rear wheels for farming two 34-inch rows (the regular rear tread was 74 inches), which tends to suggest that this tractor is in 1930s potato country of upstate New York to Maine.

The John Deere Wagon Works got into the act in 1936 by developing and briefly producing the Model “Y”. No originals are known to exist today; but, if one did, it could very likely surpass even the scarcest Waterloo-built two-cylinder Hi-Crop Tractors in value. The “Y” put Deere into the reach of “truck farmers,” and led to the “L” Series. About two dozen were built.

The Model “62” pulling a No. 596 Side-Delivery Rake, shown here tailing the unstyled Model “B” with No. 5 Power Mower, followed the Model “Y” as a 1937 introduction. Look closely and you can see the “JD” logo cast into the front shield. There’s another one on the rear axle housing. Collectors tend to want to paint the logos yellow, but that’s not how they were.

The “62” was a little too pricey to produce for its intended market, so Deere dropped it after making no more than 79 of them. The unstyled Model “L” took its place later in 1937, complete with some minor improvements as well as some cost-cutting measures.