Overview:
This text delves into the development of John Deere’s revolutionary steel plow, focusing on the historical context of its invention and dispelling some of the myths surrounding it. The text details the challenges faced by early American farmers settling in the Midwestern prairies, particularly the difficulty of breaking through tough sod and dealing with sticky soils. It highlights how Deere’s invention addressed these challenges through its smooth, polished surfaces that prevented soil from clinging and its durable steel share that effectively cut through dense soil.
The text explores the partnership between Deere and Leonard Andrus in Grand Detour, Illinois, shedding light on their individual contributions and the evolution of their business. It examines the construction of Deere’s first plow, revealing that it was likely made with a wrought iron moldboard rather than the commonly believed steel moldboard. The text then discusses the prevalent use of wrought iron in moldboards during the early years of production, due to the scarcity and high cost of steel. The text concludes by offering a probable reconstruction of Deere’s 1838 plow based on surviving evidence, showcasing the significance of the steel share and the polished moldboard in the success of the plow.
Key Findings:
- The invention of the steel plow by John Deere in 1837 was a significant advancement in farming technology, particularly for the American prairies.
- The success of the plow was due to a combination of factors: a durable steel share and a highly polished moldboard that prevented soil from clinging.
- Deere’s initial plows were likely constructed with wrought iron moldboards, not steel, due to the limited availability and cost of steel at the time.
- The use of wrought iron in moldboards continued for about 15 years after the invention, until the availability and quality of steel improved.
Learning:
- The importance of smooth surfaces in agricultural tools: The text highlights how the polished surfaces of Deere’s plow helped to prevent soil from clinging, thereby improving efficiency and reducing the need for frequent cleaning. This demonstrates the significance of surface smoothness in agricultural tools, even in the absence of a full steel construction.
- The challenges of early American farming: The text provides insights into the difficulties faced by early American settlers in the Midwestern prairies. It describes the heavy, root-filled soil and the clogging of plow moldboards, highlighting the crucial role of innovation in overcoming these challenges.
- The development of the steel plow: The text reveals the gradual evolution of the steel plow, from its initial construction with a wrought iron moldboard to the eventual adoption of steel moldboards as steel became more readily available and affordable.
Historical Context:
The text is set in the context of the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. The fertile prairies of the Midwest, while offering vast agricultural potential, presented unique challenges to settlers. The tough prairie sod and the sticky soils of the prairie bottoms required innovative tools like the steel plow to make farming feasible.
Facts:
- The invention of the steel plow by John Deere was in 1837 at Grand Detour, Illinois. This was a crucial development for farming in the Midwest.
- The first plows made by Deere were likely constructed with a wrought iron moldboard. This is supported by a 1843 advertisement and an analysis of the 1838 plow.
- The plow share was made from steel, which was tougher and could hold a sharp edge longer than cast iron. This was a crucial element in the plow’s success.
- The steel plow was important because it could handle the tough prairie sod and the sticky soils of the prairie bottoms. The text makes this clear by describing the challenges faced by early farmers.
- The steel plow’s success was due to its smooth, polished surface, which prevented soil from clinging. This feature was a key factor in its efficiency.
- The price of imported steel from England was high in the early 19th century, which limited its availability. This explains why Deere used wrought iron for the moldboards in his early plows.
- The first slab of cast plow steel rolled in the United States was in 1846. This marked a significant step towards making steel more readily available for agricultural tools.
- In 1847, John Deere moved his plow factory to Moline, Illinois, to take advantage of better transportation facilities. This allowed him to increase production significantly.
- By 1857, Deere’s factory was producing 13,400 plows annually. This illustrates the widespread adoption and success of the steel plow.
Statistics:
- John Deere and Leonard Andrus produced 10 plows in 1839, 40 plows in 1840, 75 plows in 1841, 100 plows in 1842, and 400 plows in 1843. This shows the rapid growth of the business.
- Deere’s factory produced 700 plows in its first year at Moline, Illinois. This demonstrates the impact of the factory’s new location on production.
- Deere’s factory in Moline produced 1,600 plows in 1850 and 10,000 plows in 1857. This highlights the increasing demand for and success of the steel plow.
- Deere’s factory used 50 tons of cast steel, 40 tons of German steel, 100 tons of Pittsburgh steel, 75 tons of castings, 200 tons of wrought iron, and 8 tons of malleable castings in 1857. This indicates the scale of the factory’s operations and the materials used in plow production.
Terms:
- Moldboard: The curved metal part of a plow that turns the soil over.
- Share: The cutting edge of a plow.
- Landside: The side of a plow that runs along the unplowed ground.
- Wrought iron: Iron that has been hammered or rolled to improve its strength and ductility.
- Cast iron: Iron that has been melted and poured into a mold to create a specific shape.
- Steel: Iron alloyed with carbon to increase its strength and hardness.
- Prairie: A large, flat area of grassland with few trees.
- Sod: A layer of soil held together by roots.
- Colter: A small, knife-like blade attached to a plow to cut through sod.
- Clevis: A metal fitting that connects a plow to the draft animal.
Examples:
- The text describes John Muir’s account of prairie plowing in the early 1850s, highlighting the challenges of breaking through tough sod.
- The text provides a detailed description of the 1838 plow, including its materials, dimensions, and design features.
- The text discusses the different types of saws used in sawmills in the early 19th century, explaining why a circular saw was unlikely to have been used by Deere.
- The text cites an 1843 advertisement by John Deere, which reveals that he was selling plows with wrought iron moldboards and steel shares.
- The text mentions that cast iron moldboards were becoming more common in factory-made plows in the early 19th century.
- The text provides details about the different types of steel used in Deere’s factory in 1857, illustrating the diverse sources of materials.
- The text describes how the shape of the moldboard evolved over time, from a simple, diamond shape to a more sophisticated design.
- The text discusses the different reconstructions of Deere’s 1837 plow, analyzing their accuracy and highlighting the importance of understanding the plow’s original design.
Conclusion:
This text provides a comprehensive look at the history and evolution of John Deere’s steel plow, revealing fascinating details about its invention and the challenges faced by early American farmers. We learn that the plow’s success was due to a combination of factors, including the use of a durable steel share and a highly polished moldboard, both of which were critical for handling the challenging prairie soil. The text also dispels the myth of the steel moldboard, demonstrating that wrought iron was initially used for this purpose due to the limited availability and cost of steel at the time. By examining the surviving evidence and exploring the historical context, the text sheds light on the complex and nuanced story of the invention that revolutionized American agriculture.