BiggIron Metalworks of Reeder, North Dakota

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

Case Old Abe Eagle statue sold for $30,000 CAD yesterday ($21,558 U.S.) on EP Farms LTD auction for Eugene Pidwerbesky in Radisson, SK by Ritchie Bros.

04/10/2026

BiggIron Metalworks in Reeder ND.

04/04/2026

The snow won’t last long here today, highs in the upper 40s forecasted. 😎

04/04/2026

I got really interested in these early four wheel drive tractors. There were about half a dozen or so company's in the late teen and early 1920s that built a four wheel drive tractor.

Farmers just weren't ready for them. They were more expensive than two wheel tractors and with the additional drivetrain, there were more parts to break, adding costly repair bills.

The industry tried it again in the early 1960s, with Minneapolis-Moline leading the way. These are referred to as front wheel assist tractors, where the front axle was removed and replaced with a powered drivetrain.

It really wasn't until the 1980s when four wheel drive tractors really hit the market. Bigger farms meant bigger machines with more horsepower. Now I think almost every farmer uses a four-wheel drive tractor.

This photo is of the Fitch Four Drive Tractor, one of the first four wheel drive tractors. The inventor started experimenting with this tractor in 1910, when he couldn't find a tractor that could easily maneuver the sandy soil on this farm.

This was a common promotional photo featured in numerous tractor publications from the period. I would have loved to been on site while they were setting up this shot.

If you want to learn more about the Fitch, check out my new blog post, link in the comments.

Antique Tractor Life, it's not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle.

04/04/2026

A little early spring wet snow. We definitely need the moisture. 

04/03/2026

Snow!

03/21/2026

Gooood morning everyone! 😎

03/14/2026

Good morning everyone! Still winter here in ND!

02/16/2026

What a great day!