twostepn2001 1,405 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 Here's another "what kind is it" pic. lt was posted in a FB group and lots of questions as to what it is. Also , what is the piece right behind the tractor? ls it some kind of hitch for the plows? Pretty sure l'll find the answer here. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred B 374 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 believe it's a Best steam tractor, built by Danial Best, of San Leandro, CA. looks like water, or fuel tender, then 2, one way disc plows, or discers up north. later with Holt became Caterpillar tractor co. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twostepn2001 1,405 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 50 minutes ago, Fred B said: believe it's a Best steam tractor, built by Danial Best, of San Leandro, CA. looks like water, or fuel tender, then 2, one way disc plows, or discers up north. later with Holt became Caterpillar tractor co. l thought Best had tracks along with the front wheel...??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred B 374 Posted December 21, 2020 Share Posted December 21, 2020 As I understand it Benjamin Holt first used tracks in 1904 he took one of his gasoline wheel tractors, and converted it to tracks. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roger Byrne 331 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 You guys are right, that is a Best steam engine. Below are a few more photos: one hauling logs, another pulling a combine and the last one is the Best known as Old Dinah that replaced the famous 20 mule hitched used to haul Borax. 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roger Byrne 331 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 By the way Old Dinah, or what's left of her, still exists. Here is a link to a web page that tells the story of that Best steam engine and some history of Borax mining. http://www.girr.org/girr/relics/dinah/dinah.html I imagine O'l Wrangler has told Anson that he wasn't surprised that the 20 mule team (actually 18 mules and two horses) would do a better job than that contraption! 2 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgehammer 8,687 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 That borax makes good flux when you are forge welding. ? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,824 Posted December 22, 2020 Share Posted December 22, 2020 20 mule team Boraxo prank (from high school days) Way back in the 50s----our shop class began at 10:00. Invariably our teacher would be about 10 minutes late. One of my classmates (and close friend) found these few minutes an opportune time to rush to the shop rest room and take him a leisurely "dump"-----basically using it for his private use. It was decided that our friend's habit needed to be broken. Someone had the brilliant idea of sprinkling Boraxo hand cleaner on the toilet paper. Several of us stopped by the shop rest room one afternoon as school was dismissed. We carefully unpacked the small individual sheets of toilet paper and applied a light sprinkling of the dry (and coarse ) Boraxo on the toilet paper. Repacked into dispenser-----and were ready to go for tomorrow's business. Uhhhh------Big John walked sideways down the hallways for several days!!!! And------the shop rest room was open to the general public once again.?? OUCH-------a teenager's mind can be a turrible thing!!!! DD 1 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Binder Guy 1,681 Posted December 22, 2020 Author Share Posted December 22, 2020 On 12/21/2020 at 1:06 PM, twostepn2001 said: l thought Best had tracks along with the front wheel...??? That would be the Holts with the tracks and steering wheels. Some had tracks some had rear wheels, twostepn2001. This is Daniel Best watching one of HIS steam engines pulling one of his combined harvesters in California. The 1903 Model A Ford and chauffeur are his too. This is Holt steam traction engine number 77. This is Holt #77 after the factory converted it to a crawler engine. If I remember correctly, this was the first Holt Crawler. And about 5 years ago, (the late) Don Hunter built this Holt steam crawler in California. He started with an original crankshaft and flywheels. So I guess this recreation makes it a restoration and not a replica? Gary? Todd, you're correct about borax being forge welding compound or flux! This wooden finger joint box was empty, but I filled it with Boraxo. I keep plenty of Boraxo on hand at Mike's shop. I got this dispenser and a case of Boraxo at the school, when the Superintendent decided he wanted liquid soap and dispensers instead of gritty old Boraxo. "Get it out of here" is what I heard. The custodians and I cleaned up the machines and boxes of Boraxo. I got the only (chipped), white porcelain coated Boraxo dispenser in the district. It was in the boiler room just outside of my office at the HS. I refilled this empty Boraxo can, a reminder of my growing up on the farm at Lewistown, coming in for dinner or supper, dirty. Roger earlier posted this picture of the 20 mule team pulling borax wagons out of Death Valley, California. This was before Ol' Dinah, the Best steam engine was used. Thank you for your post Roger. I wanted to post this Daniel Best 110 hp steam engine and combined harvester at Compton, California. In case you've ever wondered if it could be dangerous pulling a combined harvester in a ripe grain field with a machine that makes steam with water and fire, IT CAN BE! Gary? PS: In case this old dilapidated mind spaces out wishing you guys a Merry Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS! And we can't forget this "Christmassy" looking photo of the 1256 I used to own, in her snow plowing clothes. She was an IH Tractor on a Montana Farm! 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twostepn2001 1,405 Posted December 23, 2020 Share Posted December 23, 2020 22 hours ago, Old Binder Guy said: This is Holt #77 after the factory converted it to a crawler engine. If I remember correctly, this was the first Holt Crawler. OBG, l should've remembered about the Holt #77. l posted a pic of it quite a while ago and asked you what it was. l'm just glad you "steam guys" have the patience to explain to someone like me that has never been around steam power before. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fred B 374 Posted December 24, 2020 Share Posted December 24, 2020 I messed up. In the post above I said the track tractor was a gasoline, but it is actually a steam tractor. Gasoline came a couple years later. In 2004 Holt Caterpillar celebrated their 100th anniversary. They have stores from Rio Grande Valley to the north Texas border with Oklahoma. Headquartered in San Antonio they had celebrations I believe throughout the year at different stores. At that time they were dealers for AgCo farm equipment and they invited the farmers to the celebration. So I went to the one in Corpus Christi. Of course they fed us and showed this movie below. The building they had it in had one side open which was tarped off and had some of their big air conditioning units with big ducts running inside. After the movie I was looking at some paraphernalia and a guy came up to me and said something to the effect that the movie sure was good with those animated tractors and people and it actually was so good I didn't pick up the fact that there would not have been moving pictures with sound. Anyway, the gest of the matter was he was with the program. Apparently they went around to all the different cities where dealers were and put the program on. Of course they did give away caps and had their own labeled drinking water. I kept the bottle, and here's a photo of the cap. I believe they have since dropped their farm equipment line. Benjamin Holt is the great grandfather to Peter Holt, the current CEO of Holt Cat (of Texas). They are dealers in 118 counties in Texas and I believe they manufacture in San Antonio brush removal equipment and for road building, road water spreaders. (although I believe I read somewhere that Peter has turned the business over to his daughter and son, making his daughter CEO.) MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !!! Fred B 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Roger Byrne 331 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Sorry it's not a IHC vehicle and it isn't Red, but it gets my point across. Here's wishing all of you a great Christmas and a Happy AND Heathy New Year!! 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgehammer 8,687 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Merry Christmas to all. I believe if those watermelons were headed anywhere for stocking stuffers tonight they might freeze. I’m sure Anson and Wrangler could help old Santa find his way though. 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,824 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Merry Christmas to all!!! It's a cold, cold night here in Mississippi-----somebody left the door open at the North Pole??? Wrangler is always on standby to help the reindeer if one has problems. He reminded me to put some extra feed and hay out for them when I fed him tonight!!!! He is hoping not to have to join the hitch on the sleigh-----seems like he is getting sorta slow much like his ol' ranch hand. Sure is good to see another Christmas eve roll around. DD 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Old Binder Guy 1,681 Posted December 25, 2020 Author Share Posted December 25, 2020 Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the shed, not an IH Tractor on this Montana Farm was stirring in their winter bed. Mike and Pam made sure we didn't go home hungry! I don't need my stomach pumped, but it's close! No watermelon, though, Anson and Roger... Merry, Merry Christmas to one and to all! Gary or OBG? 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MT Matt 318 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Merry Christmas Gary from the west side of the state! 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iowaboy1965 2,748 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Looks like a good time was had by all Gary! My kids were out last nite for popcorn an a movie. Will be back here shortly today as well. To my mothers this evening. Inlaws side postponed due to covid exposure in my sister in laws family. Here's to Gary,Anson, Roger, Twostepn and all the other regulars keepn the Blue Smoke rolling for another year! Merry Christmas everyone. ? 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Butch-Ky 43 Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 Thanks to all on this site,Merry Christmas to all. Hope we all can be here next Year. 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,824 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 11 hours ago, iowaboy1965 said: the Blue Smoke rolling for another year! ?--------I am absolutey humbled to see my name associated with the likes of the elite group of great Blue Smoke "spreaders" mentioned above. ?? DD 4 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
U-C 4,223 Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 Merry Christmas Gary, hope ya had a good one. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,824 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 I posted this rather unique picture of my farm shop on Farmall 77's farm shop thread. Don't want to discriminate against the old codger thread-------so here goes. Think what I like best about this picture is that my cluttered shop yar doesn't show. and----- my wife snapped this picture of the old Ranch hand taking a break in front of Wrangler's barn this afternoon. We had been out riding the yard in the golf cart that my neighbor brought over for us to use. Uhhhh-----dumb a$$ me had to try to cross shallow drain (it wuz wet). Tried pushing by hand (where did my strength go???) I still look vibrant and strong------not that much older than Gary. Had to get pickup for a pull. I was exhausted. DD 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgehammer 8,687 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Little man was excited. He says “a STEAM ENGINE!” as I got it out for him. He was a little put off that ertl didn’t have a hitch on there so he could farm with it but was happy none-the-less. I guess it will just be stationary in his farming endeavors. ? 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Delta Dirt 1,824 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 Hammer----you could have Hammer, Jr take his steamer out to Silver Creek, Montana and Gary should have a drawbar hanging on the wall. Might want to get the steam whustle checked out while he is there also. DD 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iowaboy1965 2,748 Posted December 27, 2020 Share Posted December 27, 2020 On 12/25/2020 at 9:03 PM, Delta Dirt said: ?--------I am absolutey humbled to see my name associated with the likes of the elite group of great Blue Smoke "spreaders" mentioned above. ?? DD You can Blue Smoke with the best of em Anson! ? 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sledgehammer 8,687 Posted December 28, 2020 Share Posted December 28, 2020 6 hours ago, Delta Dirt said: Hammer----you could have Hammer, Jr take his steamer out to Silver Creek, Montana and Gary should have a drawbar hanging on the wall. Might want to get the steam whustle checked out while he is there also. DD That would be more fun for Hammer Sr than Hammer Jr I think. I’d love to see that country some day. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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