Just re-reading this tread after Land_Surfer's post. Didn't Curtis Bladwin break away from his brother and Gleaner to work on Rotary design. I know there is rotary threshing and/or separation design pattens dating back into the 1880s.

I didn't post this orginaly for any other reason then to show people that Deere had R&D on Rotors before New Holland, IH Gleaner and White brought them to market.  As for pro John Deere only Green piece of equipment on this farm in the past 60 years was a Max-Merge for a while. LOL  Raised around Gleaners.