John Deere WATERLOO BOY
3 models in this series
John Deere Waterloo Boy – forerunner of the company's own tractor range: two-cylinders from Waterloo, Iowa, 1914 to 1924, here with the L/LA, N and R, 11.2 to 18.6 kW, kerosene operation throughout
From 1914 the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company built the Waterloo Boy in Waterloo, Iowa, one of the first series-produced farm tractors with a horizontal two-cylinder engine; in 1918 John Deere took over the company and continued the range under its own name until 1924, when the newly developed Model D replaced it. The early Model L/LA still had a single gear, the following and most numerous Model N introduced a two-speed gearbox, and the Model R was the last version sold under the Waterloo Boy name after Deere's takeover.
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The register lists here 3 versions with 11.2 to 18.6 kW output at a uniform 750 rpm, from horizontal two-cylinders of 5,451 to 7,613 cm³. Unladen weights range from 1,361 to 2,812 kg, lengths from 3,353 to 3,607 mm, with a uniform width of 1,829 mm and height of 1,600 mm; all three models ran on kerosene.
The Waterloo Boy was the first tractor to pass Nebraska's official tractor test in 1920, laying the technical groundwork for John Deere's later rise to the world's largest farm-equipment maker; its simple, rugged two-cylinder became the model for the following Letters series.
On a used purchase, the condition of cylinder liners, crankshaft and water pump counts, the operation of the kerosene carburettor with its cold-start preheating, the gears and bearings of the one- or two-speed gearbox, and rust on the radiator and sheet metal; parts now run mainly through vintage-tractor specialists and collector clubs for early Deere tractors.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: John Deere Waterloo Boy, John Deere (manufacturer)
Models compared
3 of 3 models.
| Waterloo Boy L/LA1914 | Waterloo Boy N1917–1924 | Waterloo Boy R1914–1919 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 11.2 kW | 18.6 kW | 18.6 kW |
| Rated speed | 750 rpm | 750 rpm | 750 rpm |
| Cylinders | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Displacement | 5,451 cm³ | 7,613 cm³ | 5,451 cm³ |
| Forward gears | 1 | 1 | – |
| Reverse gears | 1 | 1 | – |
| Top speed | 4 km/h | 4.8 km/h | 4 km/h |
| Length | 3,607 mm | 3,353 mm | 3,607 mm |
| Width | 1,829 mm | 1,829 mm | 1,829 mm |
| Height | 1,600 mm | 1,600 mm | 1,600 mm |
| Unladen weight | 1,361 kg | 2,805 kg | 2,812 kg |
Models
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
Waterloo Boy L/LA
The Waterloo Boy L/LA from John Deere is part of the WATERLOO BOY series. Production: 1914. The engine delivers 15.2...
Waterloo Boy N
The WATERLOO BOY series from John Deere includes the Waterloo Boy N. Production: 1917–1924. The engine delivers 25.3...
Waterloo Boy R
With the Waterloo Boy R, John Deere offers a model from the WATERLOO BOY series. Production: 1914–1919. The engine...