John Deere Creates Vintage Film Series

Dec. 2, 2014

John Deere has produced a series of videos highlighting company promotional films. The series, "Out of the Vault," features a contemporary design and introduction, then moves into the old film.

Two videos are currently available: "Profits on Wheels" (below) and "Industrial Tractors."  In "Profits," Deere customers explain why they use Deere backhoe loaders for trenching, backfilling and excavating near a creek bank.

The original soundtracks and footage of machines at work provide a look back at Deere's promotional heritage.

Bureau of Public Roads Manuscript Collection, Idaho State Archives
Knox Yellow road scraper.
Caterpillar image, Maier-Dailey Papers, HCEA Archives
On a road job near Galva, Illinois, in September, 1938, a Cat D4 with a High Loader is spreading fill, plus towing a disc and a pneumatic roller. It also ditched, placed pipe, and cleared brush. The machine handled excavation as well, including overburden, gravel, and earth and rock cuts.