The John Deere Model GP tractor was a two-plow, and later a three-plow

row-crop tractor A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most common ...

produced by John Deere from 1928 to 1935. Initially called the John Deere Model C, the name was changed to GP as a result of difficulties in distinguishing between the Model C and Model D over the telephones of the time. It was intended as a response to the

Farmall Regular The Farmall Regular, or just the Farmall, was the first in the Farmall line of general-use row-crop tractors manufactured by International Harvester. The Regular was the first affordable tractor that could be used for plowing, stationary threshin ...

line of general-purpose tractors produced under the

Farmall Farmall was a model name and later a brand name for tractors manufactured by International Harvester (IH), an American truck, tractor, and construction equipment company. The Farmall name was usually presented as McCormick-Deering Farmall and l ...

brand by

International Harvester The International Harvester Company (often abbreviated by IHC, IH, or simply International ( colloq.)) was an American manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment, automobiles, commercial trucks, lawn and garden products, household e ...

Description and production

The original C was first produced in 1927. Intended as a general-purpose row-crop tractor to compete with the

line, the tractor had a wide arched front axle to straddle three rows of crops In 1928 the tractor was renamed the GP, following confusion in distinguishing between "C" and "D" over the telephone. The C's innovations included a mechanical implement lift and front and rear power take-offs. The GP used a horizontal side-by-side two-cylinder engine, giving of drawbar horsepower, and by belt, allowing a two-plow rating. The GP had a three-speed transmission. Both gasoline and kerosene-fueled versions were available. All GPs were manufactured at the John Deere factory in

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, where 30,535 were built.MacMillan, p. 47 A two-row version, the GPWT (GP wide-tread) was introduced in 1930 with a tricycle configuration, featuring close-set front wheels. By 1931 the GP's engine had displacement, for drawbar and measurements, allowing a three-plow rating. This also allowed the elimination of water injection, which had been used in the smaller engines to avoid pre-detonation. The GPWT was introduced in 1932, longer, with a simplified steering system that was arranged over the engine.

Variants

The Model P was produced specifically for potato cultivation from 1930 to 1931 with a rear wheel tread. Later models of the GP could be fitted with adapters to achieve the same result. The GPO was adapted for orchard work, with lower axles. The GPO-L was a tracked version.

References

{{John Deere John Deere tractors