John Deere Letter Series
9 models in this series
John Deere Letter Series (1923–1954) – the two-cylinder era: Model D as Deere's first own tractor, GP, A, B, G, H, L, M and R, the letter as model type, kerosene, petrol and the first diesel, all with two cylinders
The letter models are the tractors that made John Deere a tractor maker: the Model D of 1923 was the first tractor Deere designed itself in Waterloo after the company had bought the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and its Waterloo Boy in 1918, and it stayed in production for thirty years until 1953. The General Purpose of 1928 was the company's first row-crop tractor, the Model A of 1934 and Model B of 1935 the pre-war best sellers, the G of 1937 the large row-crop tractor, the H of 1939 the small one, the L of 1937 and M of 1947 the small tractors for vegetable growing and yard work, the R of 1949 Deere's first diesel, started with a petrol pony motor. At Deere the letter is not a size code but the model identifier – A is bigger than B, but G bigger than both. Common to all is the horizontal two-cylinder engine Deere stayed loyal to until 1960 and to which the tractors owe their nickname Johnny Popper; rated speeds lie between 800 and 1,550 rpm, fuels range from kerosene and distillate through petrol to the diesel of the R.
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The register lists 9 versions with 7.8 to 36.3 kW from two-cylinders of 927 to 7,613 cm³, unladen weights from 989 to 3,357 kg, lengths from 2,311 to 3,734 mm, widths from 1,245 to 2,150 mm and heights from 1,270 to 1,984 mm.
The letter models are North America's most-collected tractors; the Model A was built in over 300,000 units, the Model B in even more.
On used tractors, originality, compression and carburettor, ignition (magneto), clutch (hand clutch via flywheel), gearbox and sheet metal count; parts and reproductions are widely available through collector dealers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere Letter Series, John Deere Model D (Wikipedia)
Models compared
9 of 9 models.
| General Purpose1928–1935 | Model A1934–1952 | Model B1935–1952 | Model D1923–1953 | Model G1937–1953 | Model H1939–1947 | Modell-L1937–1946 | Modell-M1947–1952 | R1949–1954 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 18.6 kW | 18.4 kW | 11.9 kW | 22.7 kW | 26.8 kW | 11 kW | 7.8 kW | 15.2 kW | 36.3 kW |
| Rated speed | 900/950 rpm | 975 rpm | 1.150/1.250 rpm | 800/900 rpm | 975 rpm | 1,400 rpm | 1,550 rpm | 1,650 rpm | 1,000 rpm |
| Cylinders | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Displacement | 5,103 cm³ | 5,061 cm³ | 2,441 cm³ | 7,613 cm³ | 6,762 cm³ | 1,634 cm³ | 927 cm³ | 1,647 cm³ | 6,808 cm³ |
| Fuel tank capacity | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19 l | 37.9 l | 83.3 l |
| Forward gears | – | – | – | 2 (3 speed post 1935) | – | – | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Reverse gears | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Top speed | 7 km/h | 10 km/h | 10.9 km/h | 9 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 10 km/h | 16 km/h | 18 km/h |
| Wheelbase | – | 2,286 mm | 2,159 mm | 1,778 mm | – | – | – | 1,778 mm | 2,162 mm |
| Length | 2,845 mm | 3,150 mm | 3,060 mm | 2,769 mm | 3,429 mm | 2,858 mm | 2,311 mm | 2,591 mm | 3,734 mm |
| Width | 1,524 mm | 2,100 mm | 2,150 mm | 1,420 mm | 2,130 mm | 2,013 mm | 1,245 mm | 1,290 mm | 2,019 mm |
| Height | 1,410 mm | 1,524 mm | 1,422 mm | 1,422 mm | 1,562 mm | 1,334 mm | 1,270 mm | 1,283 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Unladen weight | 1,935 kg | 1,841 kg | 1,486 kg | 1,932 kg | 1,996 kg | 1,377 kg | 989 kg | 1,782 kg | 3,357 kg |
Models
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
General Purpose
With the General Purpose, John Deere offers a model from the Letter Series series. Production: 1928–1935. The engine...
Model A
The Model A from John Deere is part of the Letter Series series. Production: 1934–1952. The engine delivers 25 hp...
Model B
The Letter Series series from John Deere includes the Model B. Production: 1935–1952. The engine delivers 16.2 hp...
Model D
The John Deere Model D belongs to the Letter Series series. Production: 1923–1953. The engine delivers 30.8 hp (22.7...
Model G
The John Deere Model G is a model in the Letter Series series. Production: 1937–1953. The engine delivers 36.4 hp...
Model H
The Model H from John Deere is part of the Letter Series series. Production: 1939–1947. The engine delivers 15 hp...
Modell-L
The Letter Series series from John Deere includes the Modell-L. Production: 1937–1946. The engine delivers 10.6 hp...
Modell-M
The John Deere Modell-M belongs to the Letter Series series. Production: 1947–1952. The engine delivers 20.7 hp...
John DeereRno photoR
The John Deere R is a model in the Letter Series series. Production: 1949–1954. The engine delivers 49.3 hp (36.3...
