Inventors and Inventions, 1804–1886
“I will never put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me.”
- John Deere John Deere started his work life as a blacksmith's apprentice, later entering the craft in 1825. Deere eventually moved to Grand Detour, Illinois, where he started the first blacksmith shop in that farming area. Becoming familiar with the local plows, Deere noticed that the current cast-iron implements did not perform well, and required constant repair. Deere came up with two ideas: to use polished steel, and a more correct angle for the plow to pierce the soil. Those fresh ideas inspired Deere to develop and sell improved plows. In 1837, he moved to Moline, Illinois, so that he could ship his plows from a transportation hub. By 1855, more than 10,000 plows were sold and Deere had gained a strong reputation for high-quality products. Deere and Company was incorporated in 1868. The firm blossomed from a one-man smithy into an international corporation that conducts business in more than 160 nations. Approximately 46,000 people work for John Deere, one of the oldest industrial companies in the United States.
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