Almost 50 years ago, farm equipment manufacturer John Deere ushered in a new era for its company by introducing tractors to replace the old two-cylinder designs it had been producing.

According to AgWeb writer Larry Gay, the company made the move to start producing four- and six-cylinder engines. Of these, the biggest machine was the John Deere 4010, a row-crop machine that boasted a power take-off horsepower of 80.

The new PTO horsepower presented by the 4010 bested older John Deere models by 35 percent.

"The new tractors were introduced to 6,000 dealers and guests at Deere Day in Dallas on August 30, 1960," the AgWeb story said. "It was the first introduction meeting in the farm equipment industry with all the company's dealers present at the same time."

John Deere has continued to try and create innovations in the machinery and engines it offers. Meanwhile, it also is keeping an eye on its own history and plans on opening a new museum in Waterloo, Iowa.

The facility will feature the history of the company's equipment and engines.