Late Emerson Brantingham Big 4 Thirty

[Bruce Flatmoe]

Attached is a picture of a late Big 4 Thirty with 30" x 99" rear drivers as it sat in the shelter belt out in the Dakotas. My Dad, Brother and I have gathered parts for about four years. In October 2004 we trailered the chassis home. It had stood for years out in the Dakotas located in a shelter belt with Chinese Elm trees growing up between the frame rails. We have the complete transmission and belt pulley but still need engine jugs and a differential. The missing parts will be poured if nothing shows up. So....if you know of anything, I will listen!

Bruce Flatmoe

[Bruce Flatmoe]

Here is one additional picture of unloading the Big 4 chassis at the farm at Meadow, SD. Bruce

[Bruce Flatmoe]

Well, it is evening and I am finally getting the first picture attached that I wanted to attach! Thanks to Craig Anderson! Bruce Flatmoe

[Bernie Niemeyer]

bruce.what a nice machine!!!! could you tell me little about it? thanks bernie.

[Bruce Flatmoe]

The chassis that we just pulled home to the farm in western South Dakota is one that we knew of for several years. It so happens to be a late production model as it has the large 30" x 90" rear drive wheels. The gearing is nice. There is little wear on the bull gears. We have gathered most of the engine parts except the cylinders. If they can't be purchased they will need to be poured. Parts have come from the US and Canada. The top half of the engine was used for years as an anvil in a farm shop. Transmission gears came from Missouri and Kansas, other transmission parts were found in the haymow of a barn in Canada, the remainder of the trans was poured and machined. We hope to start restoring this tractor late fall of 2005. Bruce

[Bernie Niemeyer]

bruce. thanks for the info. and please keep us posted. i for 1 am very interested in seeing this tractor come back to life!! bernie niemeyer.

[Craig A]

Originally Posted by bernie niemeyer

bruce. thanks for the info. and please keep us posted. i for 1 am very interested in seeing this tractor come back to life!! bernie niemeyer.

Bruce could find parts between the cracks in an IGLOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bruce Flatmoe]

We have been pouring babbitt in the EB Big 4 transmission. It takes a lot of time to level and square up the shafts but it is going well. Hope to have it completed in the next couple of months. See the attached pictures.

[Bruce Flatmoe]

This summer we had the good fortune of obtaining these original cylinders for the tractor. They had been hidden away in a barn for years. Kind of a high point of the summer!

[Brothers Clemens]

Bruce
I take my hat off fore you.
What you are doing is amazing...
Please keep us up to date off what you are doing but also the Hart Parr.

Thanks for sharing,

Chris

[Tony Thompson]

Wow! the job you are doing is fabulous.......and finding those cylinders,.....high point of the year indeed!

[Kent McMakin]

Having had the opportunity to visit the Flatmoe farm last spring, I can tell you it was a very inspirational experience. The guys do as much "building" as they do rebuilding on the tractor projects they do. The magnitude of some of their efforts make most tractor projects look like kids stuff. They don't seem to be intimidated by anything. And sometimes, with a hot tip, you really get a lucky break like with those Big 4 jugs.

[Bruce Flatmoe]

This transmission project is getting close to being completed. I found it interesting that "Foote Brothers" is stamped on several of the gears. I know they were an early gear supplier. The belt pulley shaft needs the babbitt poured.

[Brasherman]

Awesome. Nuf said.

[Chris Hudson]

Looks like you guys are doing a great job! We are going to have to make a trip out and take a look at your collection one of these days!