BETWEEN THE BOOKENDS

Although the quality of the photographs in the book varies from snapshots to professionally produced portraits, a large number show these vintage machines actually working in the field. They're just doing their jobs and getting dirty - something rarely seen in antique tractor books. Scattered throughout are a few interesting reproductions of period advertisements and posters, too.

The scope of today's John Deere tractors is symbolically portrayed in the final two photo pages of the book. A 9420T and a 9420 are shown as they appeared at the 2001 introduction of the 9020 Series, held in Seville, Spain.

In the back of the book are an index and source page. The index lists every model included and the page numbers on which the tractor is featured. The source page lists resources for readers wanting more information, although the listings are not up to date. FC

- The Field Guide to John Deere Tractors by Don Macmillan, published by Voyageur Press Inc., Stillwater, Minn., 2002; ISBN: 0-89658-514-X, 160 pages, hard cover, $19.95. Available from Farm Collector Books (item number 1468).

This field guide's author, Don Macmillan, was the first official John Deere dealer in the British Isles. His book naturally reflects his international perspective.