The 21st Two-Cylinder Show in Waterloo, Iowa, had big date celebrations this year. On June 23-25, John Deere celebrated its 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. production of two-cylinder tractors. Although production ceased in the United States, Two-Cylinder magazine reported that it continued in Argentina until 1970. One of these tractors, a rare Argentina 730 diesel industrial tractor, was on display.

The show also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first official model year of the new generation of power.

This was a milestone ending the tried and true time of the two-banger Johnny popper and introducing the smooth sounds of a new generation of Deere tractors.

This year there were around 300 antique and vintage tractors on display. The event also offered a swap meet, memorabilia and auction.

For those who planned ahead, they may have ordered the official show tractor in miniature, a 1/16th limited edition 2011 Two-Cylinder Expo XXI JD 730 hi-crop diesel. Toys were picked up at the show.

The Two-Cylinder Show offered visitors a chance to come to the National Cattle Congress Grounds and see some of the finest JD restored tractors and implements around. Leroy Cornwell, an Iowa farmer and tractor collector, had his beautifully restored JD 730 electric start tractor on display.

This is the fifth year the Expo was at the National Cattle Congress and, according to Lonnie Elmore, director of group sales with the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau, they are working to make the location permanent.

Along with the tractors, visitors also had a chance to chat it up with vendors and other collectors. There were presentations that Thursday and Friday and artist Charles Freitag was on hand to show off his latest tractor paintings.

The Two-Cylinder website at www.two-cylinder.com/expoXXI.htm explains “primarily, the Expo features finely restored exhibits.
However, each year a number of unrestored tractors in extraordinary condition are accepted. In most instances, these are extraordinarily excellent tractors, but some allowance is also provided for a small number of ‘basket cases.’

This is for the purpose of making it possible for visitors to see and understand to what degree some restorers have to go to retrieve a tractor from the brink of becoming scrap.”

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.