East Molene, IL: John Deere Combine Plant

(Harvester Works Satellite, 60+ photos; Pavilion Satellite, 195+ photos)

Brian Bell posted
Rocks right of way in foreground, East Moline Illinois just west of Silvis yard. Burlington northern cuts thru mid pic, at least it became BN.

Judging from the water tower and the roof lines, the photo looks the same as this 1938 aerial.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

John Deere Information Systems uses the land that was across 13th Street from the original Union Mallable Iron Plant and the land for that plant has been sold for other uses.

Satellite

John Deere's current combine plant is north of the original plant. And we can see the vacant land on which the information center was built.

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Unlike International Harvester, John Deere built new assembly buildings with high ceilings.

Satellite

The X9 is John Deere's top-of-the-line model. I think I read that it can do 5,000 bushels per hour. That is a semi-truck with a hopper trailer leaving a field every 12 minutes. You better have a close grain elevator with a fast leg to take that output.

6:46 video @ 3:25