Big 4 Tractor - PICS (attn. DeltaRed and Greygoat)

DeltaRed and Greygoat,

First, I apologize for my reply in earlier EB post. I was WAY off base on figures. Won't even try to correct them here... suffice it to say that based on price a BIG 4 is a big-boy toy for sure. (I normally verify facts with my husband before posting, but did not that time... my OOPS.)

Anyway, yesterday the kids and I took an axel/steering shaft in to be pressed apart. That machinist, Allan Severson, has been doing some work on a BIG 4 tractor, I am unsure of the year for it. (For more pics and details, google his name & "gas traction Big 4 from Blomgren estate"... and you should come up with a link to a site he is on). He and his wife were gracious in showing us their shop (very impressive) and permitted me to snap a few photos of the tractor (enormously impressive). He is also restoring a BIG 4 of his own. Just fantastically fun to see!

The pic with our kids in it, is to give perspective on size... our son is 5'6'. Cannot recall if the rear wheels are 90 or 99 inches tall - but what a huge beast of a tractor. And how fun to accidently run across one sort of "in our own backyard". [*I asked Allan if it was all right to post a few pics and use his name - he ok'd it. If we had a BIG FOUR, he would be our "go-to" guy, for sure.]

Thanks for the pics of a make I've never seen before. I'd hate to have to change one of those rears.

They really are a beast....That is a beautiful amchine.'Ours' is not going to be painted,it will be left in its original 'patina'Thanks,Steve

But they don't go flat to often.

Dave in GA,
I had never seen one either, until DeltaRed recently posted some of another model in its work clothes. If you want to see a rusty one (it is really neat, I'm partial to rust) here is the link to DeltaRed's post on YT. Both are huge tractors.
DeltaReds pics of a Big Four Tractor in work clothes

DeltaRed,

Very neat that it will never be painted! We like tractors in their original state... and once painted, the decision can never be reversed.

I wonder what one rear wheel weighs.

In early 60s when I was working in S. Louisiana oil patch in the Mississippi delta, the workhorse machine in the marshes was a "swamp buggy". It looked very much like this machine, except its "wheels" were 9-foot cleated cannisters. Thing could walk through mud and walk on water. Pretty much unstoppable.

I have been following Allens thread since it started and it is a massive project well worth reading through.

Here are pictures of another Big 4 I took at Rantoul last year, that was down from Little Log Cabin. I think I have some vid of it running maybe, but I don't think I ever posted it online. I'll have to look when I get power back.

Jerry S.,
That would be something to see a huge beast like this go through mud and/or water. Too bad there were not video cams then.

Paul Searl,

Thanks for sharing the photos! What is the thing on the front end? Is it factory... and is it to help the operator know where they are steering?

If you have video of it running - and if you do post it on youtube - please post back here and mention it or post the link. Would be fun to hear one run.

that is a plow guide to run down the plow furrow, early autosteer. The operator doesn't have a great view up front so plow guides and pointing arrows helped a lot. I don't recall for certain, but i beleive that was an actual E-B guide. they were pretty popular, so a lot of companies built and sold them.

I believe that the Big 4 sweetfeet and Paul Searl posted are in fact the same tractor. There is a thread of Allan Seversons restoration over on smokstak in the Lugs and Cleats section. It should say in that thread where the one tractor is from but I am sure it is from the Log Cabin.

ihredo4,
If the Log Cabin is in Hastings, then both sets of photos must be the same tractor... the one I posted pics of will be shipped to Hastings tomorrow for a show there this weekend.

Guess its actually Little Log cabin, but yes, its in Hastings, so I guess its the same tractor! then again, their aren't many, let alone as beautifully restored as that one. I looked through my files and I don't find a video of it, which really surprises me since thats the type of thing I love seeing.

Anyway, I looked on youtube and there are a couple of vids on it though, including one from ranotul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wuTzF6tHLw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw1L1yadwPU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xSa09KzbD0


I do have videos of other tractors up though, mostly old iron, some of which are also big prairie giants.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RockIslandHeider

Thanks Paul. I had a brain fart right in the middle of...now where was that at again. LOL A Big 4 is my dream tractor. Someday I will own one even if I have to let it sit on my 12X30 lot and me sleeping under it. LOL

Thanks, Paul. Will save these links to puruse later.

Yes they are one and the same tractors. It is leaving Allan's shop today and I thought headed back to Hasting's. Allan said it had been at his shop since September. Wish I would have been paying attention last year as it went by 30 miles away.

Here is the link on Smokstak about the Big 4 that Allan Severson is restoring. This is the Morris Blomgren used to own.

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81774

Plan some time to read the thread. It is amazing what Allan has done. Thank You Allan for showing your work.