jd history

Would it be a "considerable effort" if various people posted information on Wikipedia to compile a history?

Sorry that you perceived my comments that way, it wasn't my intention. To do a good history of Deere combines from 1927 to present would be a major undertaking, and obtaining photos of all the models would be nearly impossible. It would take many pages on a website to present all of the information, even if the photos could be obtained. Two-Cylinder magazine did a history of JD combines in three separate articles back in 2005 and 2006, which covered all the pull-type combines up through the end of production of the 9501, and did the history of the self-propelled combines up to the New Generation machines in 1970. Worthwhile reading for anyone interested in JD combines. As for Wikipedia, I think such a history would end up being corrupted by people who just think they know the history, and haven't done the research to insure that it is correct. There's too many things on Wikipedia that are taken as fact when in reality, it's just someone's opinion, and in many cases, the definitions in Wikipedia are simply wrong. The problem is, entirely too many people take anything on the Internet as absolute fact, when in reality, it's not. A good example would be the Yesterday's Tractors various discussion forums---many of the answers provided to people with questions are guesses, not facts.

Actually, I DID write a manuscript for a small book on just John Deere's combine history, repleat with pics of every model made from 1927 to then present. This was back in 1983, and was intended to be the sequel to a company-published small paperback just titled, "Tractors 1917[?] to 1982." I cannot even remember that author's name, but during a lengthy conversation, he gave me all the information I needed to begin my own research, which is exactly what I did.
I traveled to East Moline, stayed a week, researched the John Deere archives an yes, collected all the basic data on those combines. My book was to show each model and basic specs, as well as years produced and any other unique trivia about each.

Sadly, John Deere still refused to finance the work and at the time, was ever able to access anyone other than Charles Wendel, who wanted to just literally take it over, leave off my name, and then receive full credit for another's work. Since then, I've really questioned Mr. Wendel's real knowledge or authority on old tractors or companies' history.

Back then, the title of my book was "America's Favorite Combines," seeing how it was still International Harvester and NOT Case-IH, and with the still new Axial-Flow just rebounding after an 18 month or so UAW strike against IH which nearly finished off the giant corp at the time. Deere and Company had a rather wide margin, in 1983, because Allis-Chalmers combine division and Massey-Ferguson were also insolvent.