Styled or Un-Styled

The John Deere two cylinder tractor letter series are often referred to as either un-styled or styled. Around 1937 John Deere employed New York industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss to add streamline design features to their range of tractors and other equipment, to make them more appealing to farmers. The first tractors to be styled were the model A and model B, followed by the styling of the model D in 1939 and the model G in 1942. The main future of the first styled tractors had a streamline bonnet (hood), these tractors also had the option of electric starting. The battery was fitted behind the fuel tank under an extension of the bonnet. The starter motor fitted on top of the transmission. In 1947 the model A and B tractors were updated to included more powerful engines, electric starting and lighting as standard equipment. The battery was moved to be under the new “arm chair” style drivers seat and the flywheel was housed under a flywheel cover.

1935 John Deere Model B un-styled serial number 16416, radiator and steering exposed

1940 John Deere model B styled serial number 87324, styled bonnet and grill, hand start, radiator and steering covered.

1949 John Deere Model A, styled late model with flywheel cover, battery under seat.