Bill Newlon G1000/Allison

Guys, I am searching for information, pictures, etc of the late Bill Newlon from Prophetstown, IL's G1000 Moline with the Allison 1710 V12 Engine. Any help will be great! Especially pictures! Please email me if you can help!
 
This is what it looked like when I saw it Feb 2009.
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didnt find any pics but run across nice story at RedPowerMagazine -- hope this helps -- oops did find some pis -- google billnewlon
 
Thanks, I've googled until the ends of the earth and havent come up with anything. He had a Vista with a 800 at one time, found pics of that, none of the Row crop G1000 though
 
I am going to make a few calls about Bill . I know a guy that was involved in building Bills pulling tractors . It will take a little bit to track him down . I am old enuff that I do remember him and his different pulling tractors. Those were the good old days ??
I wish I had taken pictures , but did not bother doing that. A bummer ! clint
 
Now we're gettin' somewhere!!!! This is a GREAT picture!!!

Thanks for posting!! Looking forward to more of these!!
 
Luke- not much info. to add, but if my memory is correct I watched Bill pull at the Sandwich fair on his 80th birthday. I don't know what year that would have been. I do know that the pull was on the old track, (the limestone horse track in front of the grandstand). I also know that it was some time back because nobody had cell phones for photos or video !!!! Interesting topic Luke. Hope we learn more! --Dean--
 
Man, that brings back some memories. Instead of being stripped and put out to pasture, that tractor should have been put in a museum.
 
Dont worry everyone! I guess the pic of it setting in the weeds gave everyone the wrong idea... The tractor is sitting in my shop and is already going through the transformation back to what it was!! Me and a few partners (zeebad1 being one of them) are going to bring this tractor back to what it once was. We are glad we were able to have the oppurtunity to save it! Actively looking for a running Allison v12 to install in it and have some good leads. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
 
Ahhh...so that is what the jokes were about. My mind was getting even more numb than usual from staring at the computer all day. Good luck with the restoration.
 
One more thing - I dug out my 10th anniversary Puller magazine (from 1980) and it had a thumbnail size picture of the G1000 back when it was a narrow front. If you are interested let me know and I'll try to get it to you.
 
He also pulled at the Boone County (Il) fair when he was 80 or about to be 80. Would have needed ID to get a senior citizen discount! I believe that was in the mid or late "80s, but not sure. Could have been later but not earlier. A guy who may be able to help : Mark Colberg, Freeport Il 815-563-9026.
DEAN: How about the Bend bros who have the UB Special with Allison in it? Do not recall just who has it now. Ken
 
C"mon, Luke- don"t be a wimp. Why settle for 1710 inches when you can have 3420? Just get yourself one of these!
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It looks like we got the ball rollin' now!! Good to see we sparked some interest in this.

Just a little bit about me..... my Grandpa knew Bill, and I used to tag along with him to the pulls.(Probably 11-12 yrs old) Also a couple of neighbors from that era were Al Beardin & Fred Schmidt. (both passed on now.) These guys all had MM's, and that's what I grew up around.

Another friend & I stopped by Bill's house in Prophetstown in '82 or '83, and had a nice visit with him that day. Last time I saw him.

I've always had a yearning for power, and it's mostly been satisfied with Camaros, but this is something that has always sparked my interest.

I stumbled upon this tractor, sitting in that pasture, about 15 years ago. Never did stop to get the details, but others told me that it was untouchable.

Luke was like "a kid in a candy store" when he told me that he learned that it "could be had!" I wasn't much different, and we decided we needed to do this.

Since Saturday, when we picked it up, I visited with a couple of Prophetstown residents that knew Bill.

I've talked to a cousin of one of the mechanics (Bill Noord) that worked on the tractor for Bill. Left a message for him, but no response yet.

Visited with 2 others that worked on it while at Frank's Sales & Service in Normandy,

Met Bill's daughter & son-in-law, and visited with them for a hour. Great stories that definitely need to be documented.

Tried to contact Gail Franks, who supposedly did the majority of the work @ Normandy.

Met with Mr. & Mrs. Fred Mende today, who were instrumental in the Shabbona "Allison Team." (Learned that it's a much smaller world than I ever could have imagined!!!)

This is going to be quite an undertaking, but we have the passion to see this through. We sure do appreciate all of the interest, and any info that anyone may have about this tractor, and its owner will be greatly appreciated.
 
I tracked a guy down that mite be able to help.

Roy Lee Book , Morrison, Ill. 815 772 4249.
He also suggested to try to get in touch with Bill Nord , he was in the Hooppole, Ill. area. Mite still be in that area. He was not far from Bills at P.town. I understand that he was involved with that tractor for a long time.
I still have a call or 2 to make on this , latter. clint
 
Zeebad1, thanks for your story about the M M pullers in that area . I knew most of them at the time . Knew Gale and Harry Franks personally , as they were my closest M M dealer . As far as I know , Al Beardens widow is still living in West Brooklyn. She mite have some stories about pulling back then. Another puller from that area that ran M M s was Rod Baker from Dixon. I heard that "Buzzy " is still in the area. She mite have some pulling info also.
Do you remember Larry Meiners of the Sterling - Lyndon area? I think he was the first to put a "605" in a 5 Star.
I hauled his UB to many pulls for him at the time.
I remember very well the very first time that Bend Bros. pulled there Allison down the track . It was at the Carrol County fair at Milledgeville, Ill.
The first time I saw Bill pull was at Shannon,Ill. on the 4th of July , sometime in the 1950 s. He was driveing a UTU at the time. That is going back long time. clint
 
Thanks for the info Clint.

I knew Harry & Gale also. Grandpa bought a red & white 4296 combine from them in the early '70's. Gale would come to Dixon to work on it. We both had 1972 Kawasaki H-2 750's at the time. (It's a wonder either one of us are still alive!!!)

I remember driving the G-708 home from Normandy, after the rearend carrier was repaired. Didn't think you could drive a tractor that far!

Evelyn Beardin is still living just north of WB. I thought about her today. I have a picture somewhere of Al's tilt-cab Ford grain truck, with a Minnie on the back. I think they went out west, and brought it home.

The "Meiners" name is familiar. Was it from the MM dealership in Sterling? Milan's?

Buzzy still lives about 6 or 7 miles west of me. I only met her once, but remember it like it was yesterday!! She says what she thinks!!! Bill's daughter told me that her Mom & Dad would meet Rod & Buzzy quite often on Friday nights for supper. I need to track her down too.

Roy Book in Morrison isn't far away, and I think I've been to Colberg's in Freeport too.

This is just too much fun!! We'll get there!
 
Wow!!! Thats alot of engine Kevin! We will save that one for another project!! I better see if i can make 12 cylinders fly (no pun intended)first!!
 
I knew Bill my uncle farmed right next to him south east of P-town on Yager rd. I looked around the buildings a couple years ago when we were picking seed corn there. Did'nt see anything. Bill Noord used to work at Birkeys in Annawan and I saw Bills later modified tractor at Noords hilltop shop in the mid 80s. I tried to buy some Allison pistons for my pulling tractor from him.Speaking of old pulling tractors I heard the Venhuizens from Morrison still have the Blue Max in the shed ??
 
Zeebad, I would like to talk to you about these good old days. Also , wondering just where you are located ,as I farmed west of Dixon , then south on Rt 26 for several yrs. Used to know several people in that area.
I think it is a real good idea that you guys are restoring Bills old pulling tractor as it is a piece of pulling history. Hope to hear more about you guys and your project. clint
 
I dont have any pictures of Bill's Allison puller but do have a picture or two from back in 1969 when he was pulling the G-1000 Vista with a 800 irrigation motor..He was in the 15,000 lb open class..He farmed with this tractor too..

In Aug 1969 he pulled it at my hometown in western MO after our MM dealer paid him $300 to come over..

In 1979 I bought a 27-44 Twin City tractor not that far from where Bill lived as I remember going by his farm..
 
(quoted from post at 01:00:04 12/13/12) Zeebad, I would like to talk to you about these good old days. Also , wondering just where you are located ,as I farmed west of Dixon , then south on Rt 26 for several yrs. Used to know several people in that area.
I think it is a real good idea that you guys are restoring Bills old pulling tractor as it is a piece of pulling history. Hope to hear more about you guys and your project. clint

Clint,

We are on a mad search for an engine!!! Finding out they are like hen's teeth!!!

Same here. My grandpa was Waldron Gilbert, and he lived west of Dixon, before buying the farm south of Dixon on Rte. 30, in the '40s, right east of Broderick's junk yard. My mom's brother still lives there, and has Waldron's collection of MM's.

I live 1/2 way between Dixon & Amboy, right on 52. We do seem to know the area quite well!!!

Being the fact that I can't seem to PM, or email, please call me @ (815) 484-3743. I would love to visit with you.


Thanks, Gary.


.
 
Zeebad , I will call you this eve or very soon . I usually make my calls after nine PM,free time then. This is very interesting to me , as I did know your granndad , Waldron., Not real well, but did know him. Seems to me that I bought an old engine from him that was on a combine ???.
I was the last tennet that lived where the Brandy Wine is at. Moved to just south of the Green river on rt.28.Bad farm,way to sandy!clint
 
After 9:00 is fine with me. If I'm not out in the shop, I'm in front of the computer til 11:00 or midnight.

Wow. I don't even remember anything but the Brandywine, where it is now!!

I do know the area south of the Green River. There's a reason it's all irrigated now.

I'm looking forward to visiting with you.


Thanks, Gary.
 
Is this the Gary I sold a tractor to back in the 60's. I don't remember new or used, I think it was new, Jet Star maybe??? You was living on Franklin Rd. or Rocky Ford Rd. Don't remember which.
MMDEL
 
If you are who I think you are, my dad, Bob bought a new Jet Star 3 & Du-al loader from you in Franklin Grove. We did live just south of Rte. 30 on Rockyford.

Waldron bought it after Mom died, and put a Farmhand loader on it.

For some reason, I think Fred Kesselring ended up with it. I don't have a clue where it went from there.
 
yes I am who you think I am. Very interesting! I'll have to ask Kenny about that tractor. I don't remember Fred Kesselring having a Jet. To my knowledge the only MM tractor he had was a UBE LP. He used to pull his corn sheller with it and he had a loader for it, and he made a boom for the loader which was as long as the original loader frame, with a bucket or platform on the end of it for trimming trees, painting the barn ect.
MMDEL
 
I wanted to be sure that we had this in our possession before we posted!

We did find an engine!!! Steve & Tom Bollinger offered to sell us one, at a pretty decent price, and we took advantage of that opportunity.

We actually ended up with 5 blocks & cranks in the truck, as Steve needed the 4 others taken to Wayne Longnecker, in Ankeny, IA., who is going to put ours together......


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I had some business to tend to in central IA., so I took this load to Wayne on Thursday. He's going to rummage through the parts, and start building us an engine!!!

He sent us home with a couple of pieces, so we can start mocking up what else we might need for the installation.....



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When we got home from picking the parts up from Steve, we couldn't resist pulling one off of the truck, and setting it in place. I'm glad we did, as it cleared up a few of the many questions we've had about this project.


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Not only have we had a ton of fun, searching for the engine, but all of the people we have met over the past 2 months has been phenomenal!!! It seems like everywhere we go, someone remembers this tractor, and its owner. We've made connections with many people that either worked on, gave/sold parts to Bill, traveled with him, watched him pull, were close friends with him, family members, or just knew the name!

Most everyone is excited to hear that this tractor is being resurrected, and we've received tons of moral support that just drives us harder to get this done!



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