Deere & Company began when John Deere, a blacksmith, opened a 1,378 square feet shop in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837 which allowed him to be the general repairman for the village. He also manufactured small tools, such as shovels and pitchforks.
Deere pioneered the steel plow in 1837. This plow was revolutionary to farmers as the rich mid western soil stuck to the wooden plows used previously, while it did not stick to the smooth steel. At first, Deere manufactured each plow as it was ordered. Later on he changed to making stock so that customers could see what they were buying beforehand.
The company expanded, and in 1857 they were selling more than 1,000 implements per month.
By the time of Deere’s death in 1886, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment products.
In the 1900s Deere began to manufacture gasoline-powered tractors. Deere expands this line and in 1963 was world’s largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. Total sales reached $1 billion for the first time in 1966.
Deere then expanded globally, and had $3 billion in overseas sales in 1997.
Today Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery in the world. It is part of the S&P 500 and was 97 on the Fortune 500 list in 2012. It produces tractors, combine harvesters, cotton harvesters, balers, planters/seeders, sprayers, UTVs, construction equipment, forestry equipment, as well as parts used in diesel engines, lawn mowers, snowthrowers, and lawn tractors. Deere also offers financial services to support the core businesses. Their revenue for 2010 was $26 billion.
Deere & CompanyDeere & Company began when John Deere, a blacksmith, opened a 1,378 square feet shop in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837 which allowed him to be the general repairman for the village. He also manufactured small tools, such as shovels and pitchforks.
Deere pioneered the steel plow in 1837. This plow was revolutionary to farmers as the rich mid western soil stuck to the wooden plows used previously, while it did not stick to the smooth steel. At first, Deere manufactured each plow as it was ordered. Later on he changed to making stock so that customers could see what they were buying beforehand.
The company expanded, and in 1857 they were selling more than 1,000 implements per month.
History
By the time of Deere’s death in 1886, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment products.
In the 1900s Deere began to manufacture gasoline-powered tractors. Deere expands this line and in 1963 was world’s largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. Total sales reached $1 billion for the first time in 1966.
Deere then expanded globally, and had $3 billion in overseas sales in 1997.
Today Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery in the world. It is part of the S&P 500 and was 97 on the Fortune 500 list in 2012. It produces tractors, combine harvesters, cotton harvesters, balers, planters/seeders, sprayers, UTVs, construction equipment, forestry equipment, as well as parts used in diesel engines, lawn mowers, snowthrowers, and lawn tractors. Deere also offers financial services to support the core businesses. Their revenue for 2010 was $26 billion.