Growing up, we all had that one neighbor with a 1988 Craftsman lawn mower that looked like it was salvaged from a shipwreck but still fires up on the first pull before settling into the perfect idle.

John Deere is about as recognizable as it gets for lawn equipment and tractors. The brand started in 1837 and was founded by John Deere, inventor of the steel plow, which legend says was made out of a ...