John Deere Bikes Not Just Green , By The Way Dave Everitt holds onto a 1970 John Deere Ladies’ Touring Frame 19-inch bike, a rare item, for sale Nov. 28. ANDY ANDREWS Editor LEOLA (Lancaster Co.) Did John Deere actually make bikes? Yes, believe it or not. In the late 19605, early 19705, a whole spate about eight differ ent models were introduced sporting the traditional John Deere green, and also blue, white, and yellow. John Deere yellow? John Deere blue? Indeed and several of these bikes are going up for sale at a Wolgemuth Auction on Friday, Nov. 28, beginning at 9 a.m. on Maple Avenue in Leola. Dave Everitt, Everitt Equip ment in Ringoes, N.J., brought some of his collection of Deere bikes to the Lancaster Farming office late last week. The bikes range from a 1970 Ladies’ Touring Frame, 19-inch 3-speed to a Boys’ Stingßay, 20-inch, weighing about 33 pounds. All are vintage John Deere bikes in pretty good shape, to boot. The 20-inch boys’ Stingßay type bike seat has minimal webr bli the John Deere-manufactured bike. Lancaster FjMJ^OTig Auctioneer John Hess, Leola, noted that the bikes are in excel lent condition, and refuses to put a value on them. He pointed out the condition of the leather seat on the ladies’ bike, and noted it was the “nicest condition of any John Deere bike I’ve ever seen.” Everitt obtained the ladies’ bike from a New York State farm sale about six years ago. The Stingßay came from a sale about a year and a half ago. Another ladies’ model, a 19- 3-speed, sports John Deere blue yes, blue, from the early 19705. The bikes came in standard Deere green and also a blue. The blue Everitt obtained about six years ago from a sale in Pennsylvania. The blue touring frame bikes came out of the same years the 19605, noted Everitt. Everitt also has a vintage 20- high, 14-inch frame, 33-pound Boys’ Stingßay in John Deere yellow. Everitt noted the bikes were acquired years Auctioneer John Hess holds onto a John Deere blue yes, blue ladies’ 19-inch wheel 3-speed from the 19705. ago. He had a Stingßay made by another manufacturer when he was a lot younger. One day, Ev eritt noticed a friend painting a Deere bike green, using paint left over from a job. He started col lecting Deere bikes since then from yard sales, flea markets, private auctions, and other loca tions. Everitt said he has been “hunt ing for (the bikes) for about 15-18 years.” Deere made eight different types of bikes, including the la dies’ green 3 speed, men’s green 3-speed, a ladies’ blue 3-speed, a white “unisex” 5-speed model, a white Deere 10-speed, a black Deere mens’ racer 10-speed, a boys’ Sting Ray, and a girls’ Sting Ray. Everitt has all eight, and collects other items, includ ing pedal tractors, full-size an tique tractors (he has a John Deere Model B, the fifth one built, Model B 1004). Everitt, who grows about 500 acres of grain near Ringoes, N.J., also cares for horses. The Deere logo is clearly a part of the handlebar in the circa-1970 John Deere Ladies’ Blue 3-speed bike. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 22, 2003-B2 Dave Everitt holds up the boys’ Stingßay bike, one of several at an upcoming auction. A look at the 3-speed shifter on the right handle bar of the John Deere La dies’ Blue 3-speed. All photos by Andy Andrews, editor John Hess of John M. Hess Auction Service Inc., noted the bikes could be sold “after 4 p.m. or later,” but the sale will go to the late hours. “It should be a whole evening full of fun,” said Everitt. For more information, contact Everitt at (908) 782-5283 or John Hess at (717) 733-8192. The leather seat on the John Deere Ladies’ Touring Frame 19-inch bike has held up well for wear. John Deere actually manufactured a blue bike. John Deere manufac tured this 20-inch bike, a Stingßay, during those crazy days of the popular type of sporty bikes in 1969-1970. Notice John Deere yellow yes, yellow. 1
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