1954 John Deere 40 Utility

David A. and Tom R. from southern California own this very nice, original, early 40 Utility. (Serial # 60810, Block # 92567). They purchased it in the fall of 1999. As I'm sure most of us can agree, purchasing this and taking delivery was a very exciting time! David described it this way. "Finding, reading about, and getting this tractor was one of the most satisfying things that I have done in awhile. While towing it back home, I couldn't help but to look back every so often just to see it sitting there on the trailer." David was kind enough to take some pictures for me and has allowed me to share them with you.

David is also quite an artist. (He wants me to state he is an "amateur", but how many of us could draw like he can!!??) He sent me a beautiful Christmas card with a picture on it which he drew himself. He has also allowed me to share this with you.

The overall picture has been purposely altered in order to protect the artist's copyright. I believe that you can get the idea of the picture, however. A couple of details have also been included so you can get an idea of the detail involved in this picture.

Picture	Detail 1	Detail 2

David provided a lot of insight as to what went into this picture. "Here's a detailed explanation of the items in 1999's Christmas card, as I believe all of you probably have a keen interest in mechanical devices...

In the foreground is a ca 1945 John Deere model 'AO', which is an orchard and grove version of their model 'A'. Orchard tractors are designed so as not to damage trees and fruit as they are driven between rows of trees. Therefore, intake and exhaust stacks that usually stand tall above the hood on conventional tractors are designed low and out-of-the-way. Filler caps for fuel have fairings on the hood. The operators seat is set low and far back for the same reason. Fenders are also designed to deflect branches. Some other orchard models were designed with wheel and/or cowl fairings to further the effect.

The vehicle on the right is a 1932 Ford 'highboy' Roadster. The quintessential hot rod, the 'highboy' designation denotes that the body is sitting on top of its frame rails, and has not been 'channeled' so as to allow the body to sit lower, which would conceal the frame rails. At the bottom edge of the frame rail, you can see the characteristic crease that followed the shape of the running board and the fenders.

The reason I chose these two vehicles is because to me, they are remarkably similar in many respects. They both share: front tires at the extreme leading edge with the radiator standing between them; larger tires in the rear; exposed engine; open drivers compartment; rounded backside; both are highly collectible and therefore pricey. I actually saw the picture of the tractor first, and it reminded me so much of the '32 Roadster, that I had to show them together.

There is a third major American vehicle manufacturer represented in this card. Can you see it? I will reveal that manufacturer in the last paragraph.

The crates that hold the oil cans and spark plug wrench are like those that were once used in the citrus industry. The one on the ground is a field box, used by pickers to handle fruit in the grove. The upper box is one that was used to package the oranges for sale and distribution. It was made to be easily handled and packed in rail cars. It has a printed brand label on its end. The 'Cal-Oro' brand was an authentic one used by the Santa Ana-Tustin (California) Mutual Citrus Growers Association starting in about the 1920's. The colorful butterfly against a black background creates one of the most beautiful and striking label designs out of the many created by different growers. Wooden boxes such as these were used until the mid 1950's, when the industry turned to pre-printed corrugated cardboard boxes.

Visible above the hood of the Ford, amongst the orange trees is a smudge pot, used on the coldest nights to prevent fruit-damaging frost.

The barn on the extreme left is modeled after one that still exists in the midst of suburbia on Walnut Avenue, just East of Red Hill Avenue in Tustin. The man who lives on that property, a retired farmer, still sells Valencia oranges there for $2 per bag for pocket money. He usually also has Mexican-type limes ("Key" limes) there. He also has habanero chiles, avocados, and sometimes cherimoyas. He tells me that he was born there in 1924 and has lived there since. There are still a few hundred orange trees on his property. I buy several bags there whenever I pass by. Although smaller and not as cosmetically perfect as store-bought oranges, his are superior in flavor, sweetness, and juice content. There is simply no contest. I squeeze most of the ones I buy for juice and my-oh-my, the taste of fresh squeezed juice is unbelievably good!

In the background is Saddleback Mountain, completing the illusion of Orange County of the 1950's. The puppy near the orange crates softens or humanizes the scene.

The orange and leaf arrangement at the bottom right is based upon a similar illustration found on a business envelope of a defunct Redlands (California) packing house.

The third vehicle manufacturer is Chevrolet. Although the car is a Ford, by far the statistically most popular engine choice for hot-rodders today is the small-block Chevy V-8. The tell-tale here is the 'rams horn' style exhaust manifold, and to a less obvious degree, the distributor that is at the rear of the engine (see where the spark plug leads originate), and the triangular blanking plate (barely discernible at the lower front of the engine, partially obscured by the front tire) where a mechanical fuel pump would normally be.

Those are the details as I believe them to be. If anyone has any comments or corrections, I welcome them."