January has been an exceptionally busy month for us at Tamar Vintage Tractors as we continued to source and sell some fantastic tractors. As the darker months of January draw to a close, we've embraced a new tradition of ‘Showcase Sundays’ to give you a closer look at some of our personal favourites.
Last week, we introduced the International 10/60, and prior to that, we shared the story of the Chamberlain 306 from Matt’s personal collection. This week it was the turn of our Industrial John Deere to take centre stage.
What started as a passion project has now grown into a full-fledged business dedicated to preserving
and sharing the rich heritage of vintage tractors. We’re fortunate to work with so many like-minded individuals who share our enthusiasm, and the photoshoots we’ve been doing for these showcases have been a real joy. It’s a great opportunity to embrace the slower pace of a Sunday drive while shining a light on some of our most cherished machines.
Matt has always had a soft spot for classic John Deere tractors, and this particular example is no exception. The tractor you see here is a 1952 John Deere Model M Industrial, a rare variant with a fascinating history. Built at the John Deere Dubuque Works Plant from 1951, the Model M was initially designed for highway and government use. Of the 1,032 units produced, this particular model is even rarer, as it was one of the industrial versions that saw several key modifications compared to its agricultural counterparts. In total, nearly 46,000 of the agricultural version were manufactured, making this industrial model a true rarity.
This 1952 industrial variant is powered by a 2-cylinder petrol engine, delivering around 20 horsepower. The rear final drives have been rotated by 90°, lowering the tractor’s stance to keep it closer to the road, while the front axle has also been adjusted to match. The flat fender wing tops and extended lift arms give the tractor a distinct industrial look.
Typically, industrial John Deere tractors were painted in highway yellow, but this one is an even rarer variant in highway orange. Some were even built specifically for New York State, painted in a distinctive blue and yellow livery.
It’s believed that only 187 of these industrial M models still exist today, making this one a real gem in our collection.
If you’d like to learn more about this unique tractor, you can find a video feature on our YouTube channel, Tamar Vintage Tractors, where we took a closer look at the John Deere Industrial in June 2024.
Thank you for joining us for this week’s Sunday showcase—we look forward to sharing more of our favourite tractors in the weeks to come!
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