John Deere LETTERS-SERIE
3 models in this series
John Deere Letters series – the A to H range from Waterloo, Iowa: two-cylinder tractors from 1923 to 1960, here with the C, L/LA and Y models, 10.7 to 18.6 kW, petrol and petrol/kerosene operation
In 1918 John Deere took over the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company in Iowa and from 1923, with the Model D, launched its first tractor range under its own name; the following letters A, B, G, H, L, M and R ordered the size classes of the so-called Letters series until 1960, when the new generation with four- and six-cylinder engines replaced it. The hallmark of the range was the horizontal two-cylinder engine, whose distinctive exhaust beat earned the nickname 'Johnny Popper'. This page carries the Model C as an early version ahead of the later General Purpose range, the compact Model L/LA and the small Model Y, from which the L range descended.
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The register lists here 3 versions with 10.7 to 18.6 kW output at 950 to 1,850 rpm, from horizontal two-cylinders of 1,261 to 5,110 cm³. Unladen weights range from 609 to 1,935 kg, lengths from 2,311 to 2,845 mm, widths from 1,194 to 1,524 mm and heights from 1,270 to 1,524 mm; two of the three models ran on petrol, one on a dual-fuel setup with petrol for starting and kerosene for continuous running.
The Letters series made John Deere one of North America's leading tractor brands through the 1920s to 1950s; the simple, rugged two-cylinder with its distinctive engine note became a brand hallmark that still delights collectors and vintage-tractor enthusiasts today.
On a used purchase, the condition of cylinder liners and crankshaft counts, the tightness of the fuel changeover and carburettor on the petrol/kerosene models, the pulley and clutch, and rust on sheet metal and the radiator; parts for the Letters series now run mainly through vintage-tractor specialists and Deere collector clubs.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere Letters-Serie, John Deere (manufacturer)
Models compared
3 of 3 models.
| MODELL-C08/1927–1928 | Model-LA1940–1946 | Modell-Y1936 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 18.6 kW | 10.7 kW | – |
| Rated speed | 950 rpm | 1,850 rpm | – |
| Cylinders | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Displacement | 5,110 cm³ | 1,261 cm³ | – |
| Top speed | 7 km/h | 15 km/h | – |
| Length | 2,845 mm | 2,362 mm | 2,311 mm |
| Width | 1,524 mm | 1,194 mm | 1,245 mm |
| Height | 1,410 mm | 1,524 mm | 1,270 mm |
| Unladen weight | 1,935 kg | 1,145 kg | 609 kg |
Models
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
MODELL-C
With the MODELL-C, John Deere offers a model from the LETTERS series. Production: 08/1927–1928. The engine delivers...
Model-LA
The Model-LA from John Deere is part of the LETTERS series. Production: 1940–1946. The engine delivers 14.5 hp (10.7...
Modell-Y
The LETTERS series from John Deere includes the Modell-Y. Production: 1936. The engine has 2 cylinders. The machine...