This John Deere 40 is the tractor my grandfather started out farming with when he was 22 years old in 1955. My dad and aunt used while growing up in Woodford County, Kentucky. 

The last time it was running was the late 1980s or early 90s. It’s always been one of those “we’ll fix it up one of these days” types of projects. My Dad turned 70 on January 20th this year and I took it upon myself back at the end of October 2021 to restore it as a surprise for him for his birthday with some help from my 2 sisters Kari and Stefani. And lots of questions of my aunt and uncle, Jeff and Judy Adams. 

(Above) My Great grandfather driving, my grandfather, on the left, and my uncle, on the right setting tobacco. My dad, Carl, and I with the restored John Deere.

I finished it a couple weeks early and couldn’t wait to give it to him. Here are a few before, during, and after pictures. 

The video of when we surprised Dad.

Kyle Whalen
Versailles, Kentucky

This tractor was purchased in 1950 by my father. I took possession in 2007. It had not run since 1980. I had the generator and starter rebuilt. I rebuilt the carb and magneto with parts from Steiner Tractor Parts. I had the gas tank and radiator hot tanked and sealed. Some fresh gas and it fired right up after a couple of cranks. The engine has never been re-built to my knowledge. It smokes a little upon first start up, but does not use any oil.

In Spring of 2017 I began the restoration. I finished on December 19, 2020.

Emil Kuelske of Lansing, Michigan

This is my dad’s 1936 BI John Deere Tractor. My dad, Don Huston, bought this tractor from the City of Great Falls, Montana in 1945. The tractor came with a street sweeper broom, a seven foot sickle blade mower, pto drive, attached directly to the draw bar. The mower has not been restored but available for restoration.  Our small farm, 3 miles south of Great Falls, is where this picture was taken.  This tractor was used to mow alfalfa hay, rake and bale on this same field.

 
We know the tractor was sold to the City of Great Falls, Montana in 1936 to sweep city streets and mow undeveloped gravel roadside grass.   The City of Great Falls purchased this BI through a Caterpillar/John Deere Dealership, then located in Billings, Montana. This tractor is thought to be only one of TEN ever produced.  What makes this tractor so rare is the limited number of BI tractors manufactured in 1936, traditional yellow industrial color and a special gearbox drive, when engaged, turned a front chain drive street sweeper attachment. The mower and broom sweeper were on the tractor when dad brought the tractor home.  Dad sold the sweeper in 1947 to a private citizen.

 
This tractor is still in our family and stored inside a secure workshop.  This tractor is for sale.   It was completely restored inside and out by my brother Ray, while my folks were still living. Ray has passed, but four brothers share this tractor now.  If interested in buying this tractor, write to larrysvtx@gmail.com

I enjoy chatting with interested individuals about the history of the tractor and how it was used on our small farm 865-599-3899.

Thanks for being such a great company.
Regards,

Larry Huston of Knoxville, Tennessee

My 1949 John Deere M was purchased new for $1,500 by the late Carl Koenig of Dolores, Colorado.  It was delivered to Cortez, Colorado and then was taken by trailer up to the mountain. Carl used the tractor for farming hay, but it was a staple for the saw mill and the never ending need for firewood at 7,000 feet above seal level where winters can be darn cold.  When he passed, the tractor came to Grand Junction, Colorado with his daughter Patricia (Pat) Sturdevant and her husband Ralph.  It enjoyed limited use and was stored away in an old shed.

I became Pat’s neighbor in 2014 and she saw my interest in history.  She also knows I’m a Type A personality, so when she gifted the tractor to me in the summer of 2019 she knew it would not stay in its aged condition for long.  I began to work on the tractor, taking off a piece at a time and restoring them as I went along.  Restoration included a good sandblasting, then two coats of primer, and two coats of John Deere green paint.  My profession as an attorney did not do me any favors in the tearing apart of a tractor, it was learn as you go!  I placed every nut, bolt, clip, and screw into a plastic sandwich bag, and labeled them so I knew where they came from when time came to reinstall.  New parts came from Steiner and just looking at old pictures showed me how it was supposed to look.  I scoured the internet looking for original parts that were unavailable on Steiner, like the silver ball knob for the hydraulic handle.

When it was totally restored, I drove it over to Pat’s house and she heard that Johnny Popper coming.  She ran (as fast as she was able) to see her Dad’s tractor.  Now Pat isn’t a softy, but she was on that occasion.  The memories of her Dad and childhood were overwhelming when she saw it come up the driveway.  The tears flowed freely; I’m happy that I could give her a gift in return. 

Brad Hibberd of Grand Junction, Colorado