Official John Deere TOC Bicycle Thread

[New Mexico Brant]

It is the intent to have this thread be an archive of Deere literature, ads, and bikes. Please add any information or pictures of known examples of bicycles so we can expand our knowledge of these wheels.

Here is what I have found on the Deere product line so far. I have checked with Bill Smith at the Wheelmen library and they do not have any catalogs or additional information.

Can anyone comment on how companies disseminated print blocks in the 19th century. The images of the men's and lady's bike appear in different 1896 advertisements across the country. Is it safe to assume Deere sent print blocks out to their agents/retailers to be used in local newspapers? Or are these images merely "stock art" blocks the newspaper printers bought to use ad hoc?

 

[Blue Streak]

November 2, 1893 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

March 31, 1895 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

September 8, 1895 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

February 25, 1896 - Omaha Daily Bee (Omaha NE)

March 12, 1897 - The Abilene Weekly Chronicle (Abilene KS)

April 8, 1897 - Jamestown Weekly (Jamestown ND)

May 8, 1897 - The Ottawa Herald (Ottawa KS)

May 26, 1897 - The Evening Herald (Ottawa KS)

April 17, 1898 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

October 28, 1898 - Echo de Louest (Minneapolis MN)

April 9, 1899 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

May 8, 1899 - Star Tribune (Minneapolis MN)

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Here are some others from 1895-1896. Note all the Deere specific bikes have the same artwork even though the ads are from different parts of the country. In the large ad the bicycle printing block artwork is different (possibly this is depicting the Dayton or Tribune?). The ladies bike depicted in the Kansas City Tribune ad is also different (maybe a Spaulding or Tribune model?). The 1896 Deere exclusive ads all seem to share the same artwork; reference the Feb. Omaha Bee ad Jeff posted above and the Jamestown Weekly Alert below. Interestingly there are subtle differences on the 1895 San Francisco printing block artwork (could this be left over blocks from the 1895 bicycle line?).

Jamestown Weekly Alert, Jamestown, North Dakota, Mar. 19, 1896

San Francisco Examiner, Dec. 25, 1895

Kansas City Gazette, May 22, 1896

Star Tribune: Mar. 7, 1896, Minneapolis, MN

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Another observation from the the March 12, 1897 - The Abilene Weekly Chronicle (Abilene KS) Jeff posted above. If we are to believe the artwork is a Deere tandem it is my opinion Schwinn built the bicycle. The hanging bottom bracket, frame design, and the front BB guard are completely Schwinn. The rear chain ring must have been chosen for use on the Deere bicycles as it is not what was used on The Worlds.

It would be great to see images of an 1897 Deere tandem to confirm this theory.

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Sold at auction: August 5th, 2017; and I think it then sold again at Mechum a year later for over three times as much.

 

[Blue Streak]

Sold on eBay: July 2, 2020

 

[JO BO]

Sold at auction: August 5th, 2017

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Incorrect saddle bars wheels 1898 Deere

 

[Blue Streak]

Craigslist: March 2021

 

[JO BO]

Sold on eBay: July 2, 2020

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1899 Deere HMR saddle

 

[Blue Streak]

Newspaper article about John Deere Corporate Archives:

Ickes: Off Limits at John Deere Corporate Archives

What a wonderful surprise.

qctimes.com