A brief history of John Deere tractors:

- Founded in 1837, Deere & Company originally focused on tools and agricultural equipment like steel plows. 
- In 1918, Deere purchased the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Company and made their first model of tractors, the Waterloo Boy. This launched their tractor business.
- In 1923, Deere released the Model D, their first tractor fully designed and built by the company. It featured a two-cylinder engine.
- The 1930s brought innovations like the tricycle-style Model A and the smaller Model B for row-crop work. 
- In the 1940s-50s, John Deere introduced series like the A, G, and R tractors with more power and comfort features.
- The New Generation series in the 1960s delivered a more streamlined, modern look and feel. 
- Later came the Sound Guard series in the 1970s which were quieter and the PowerTech line in the 1990s focusing on horsepower.
- Today, John Deere continues to manufacture a huge range of utility, row-crop, 4WD, and specialty tractors for agriculture and other applications.

Key innovations have included diesel engines, power steering, enclosed cabs, and GPS/autonomous driving capabilities. With over 100 years of experience, John Deere remains an industry leader in tractor technology and performance.