Early 1950's 4 Wheeler.

[KC7CN]

This thread is mostly off-topic, but it does have a woodworking connection. This farm-made mowing machine was built by my uncle in the early 1950's. A majority of the parts came from war surplus army trucks. There is an article about it in the June 1953 issue of the Country Gentleman magazine.



The mower has 4 wheel drive, 4 wheel steering, and independent 4 wheel brakes. There is no steering wheel - rather a row of hydraulic levers to control steering, brakes, and the mowing blade.

My uncle has been gone for several years now. Last week I ran into my 94 year old aunt at the grocery store, and pestered her for the umpteenth time about finding me a copy of this picture. She smiled, and opened her wallet ; she was just waiting for me to ask again!

So, how does this relate to woodworking? She told me the machine was sold to a man who wanted it to pull logs out of his forest.

-Don

[DaveO]

Now that's just plain ugly. But I bet it got the job done well. I would love to have a few old Willies Jeeps to part out and have some fun with. They are about indestructable

Dave

[McRabbet]

My neighbor across the street is a retired heavy equipment operator (from the steam pile drive and cable drag bucket era) and he built his own small utility tractor complete with all kinds of attachments -- an under-belly rotary mower, a rear-mounted leaf bagger and hydraulics for a plow blade. He built is about 30 years ago, just before he turned 60 and he still uses it around his 1 acre lot as he approaches 90. In his spare time, he built working models of many of the machines he operated years ago and now they are in a construction collectors museum somewhere in the midwest.

[scsmith42]

Definitely a neat piece! That countryside is pretty nice too - is that in Colorado?

Scott

[mcoston2]

Now that is way cool.

[KC7CN]

Originally Posted by scsmith42

Definitely a neat piece! That countryside is pretty nice too - is that in Colorado?

Scott

The farm is located in central Washington. My uncle's shop was originally an old farm house, 1800's vintage, and my cousin has preserved it for their personal enjoyment. There's a big old electric motor mounted high on the wall that drives an overhead shaft with multiple pulleys - big wide flat belts. I'll take pictures next time out there!

-Don

[Kenith]

Reminds me of an old tractor called a grasshopper. I really enjoy seeing old and hand fashioned equipment.

Ken (KI4PFG)

[Bas]

Very cool Don. Although with four individual controls, operating this beast might be like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time