Evolution of John Deere Manure Spreaders

By Sam Moore
Published on December 5, 2017
1 / 6
The John Deere Model E manure spreader in all its glory.
The John Deere Model E manure spreader in all its glory.
2 / 6
The New John Deere Spreader Model D: “The Spreader with the Beater on the Axle and the Box-Roll Turn.”
The New John Deere Spreader Model D: “The Spreader with the Beater on the Axle and the Box-Roll Turn.”
3 / 6
A Deere & Co. ad from the September 1939 issue of Farm Implement News.
A Deere & Co. ad from the September 1939 issue of Farm Implement News.
4 / 6
A John Deere Model B apron-type manure spreader; the “Spreader with the “Beater-on-the-Axle.”
A John Deere Model B apron-type manure spreader; the “Spreader with the “Beater-on-the-Axle.”
5 / 6
A 1904 ad for the Kemp & Burpee Success manure spreader that got Deere started in the spreader business.
A 1904 ad for the Kemp & Burpee Success manure spreader that got Deere started in the spreader business.
6 / 6
My favorite shot of a Model E spreader. The caption reads: “‘Knee deep’ in fertility is this John Deere spreader owned by Henry Stueland, Grand Mound, Iowa. Two horses do the job easily.”
My favorite shot of a Model E spreader. The caption reads: “‘Knee deep’ in fertility is this John Deere spreader owned by Henry Stueland, Grand Mound, Iowa. Two horses do the job easily.”

The following is probably more than you ever wanted to know about horse-drawn manure spreaders offered by Deere & Co. over the years.

Deere first got into the manure spreader business in 1902, when John Deere dealers started carrying the Success spreader that was being manufactured by Kemp & Burpee Mfg. Co., Syracuse, New York. In 1910, Deere bought Kemp & Burpee and began making the Success spreader in their Marseilles plant in East Moline, Illinois.

In 1911, Theo Brown, who had earlier patented a spreader with the beater on the rear axle, was hired by Deere and put in charge of the Marseilles factory. Brown’s beater-on-the-axle spreader was introduced as Deere’s first spreader in 1912, and was sold as a Model B two-horse version, and the Model C for three horses, although the capacity of both machines was the same.

Lowest in the industry

The Model B and C machines had high rear drive wheels for plenty of traction and leverage. The beater was mounted on roller bearings on the rear axle, and was driven through three planetary gears that were enclosed and ran in oil. The wooden slat feed apron was ratchet-driven, and could be varied to apply from five to 25 loads per acre.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388