Harold Biondo
Member
I am a historian, of military vehicles mainly, but I have some interest in heavy equipment, especially LeTourneaus. I'm also a truck driver, and wherever I go I always watch out for old iron sitting abandoned by the side of the road, in people's yards, at the back of industrial plants, and so on, and mark down what I find. I've seen tons of Caterpillars, Euclids, Cases, Internationals, Americans, Lorains, and a bunch of other oddball stuff, but I've never come across a LeTourneau. I am big into the preservation of old machines, it's the primary reason I started driving a truck rather than staying a full-time historian, to make enough money to buy and preserve what I want to save. My interest in LeTourneaus is partly because of how strange they are, and partly because many of them have some relation to military use. I've been looking to save a Tournacrane in the future when I am able, and I came across one for sale on Facebook at a good price. I messaged the seller about it, only to find out the engine and cab had already been taken, leaving the rest of it essentially worthless. It was this that spurred me to make this thread, to try and find out just how many of these monsters still exist. Below I have listed all the surviving LeTourneaus that I know about, I assume there are more, and I would be grateful to hear about what other you know of.
A Navy Model B-70 Tournacrane is owned by McCahill Enterprises, an earthmoving company in California, and is still in use.
Another Navy B-70 is owned by the International Artillery Museum in St. Jo, Texas. It is not part of their display and they are (were) looking to get rid of it. I tried contacting them several times but never heard back.
The Flight Test Historical Foundation acquired a Model B-70 Tournacrane for the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base a few years ago, but it may not be on display yet.
A fifth Model B-70 Tournacrane has appeared in a pair of youtube videos, but with no further information.
This Model C Tournatractor occasionally appears at the Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association. I could not find a photo showing the board which presumably states who the owner is.
There is also this individual, which I found a photo of on this article: https://contractormag.co.nz/classic-machines/the-letourneau-tournatractor/ Its owner or location is not mentioned.
Two additional unlocated Tournatractors. The latter can be assumed to be in Pennsylvania or a nearby state, as it was posted by someone who photographs machines in that area.
The heart of a Super C Tournapull lives on in this b*****d vehicle, a bulldozer built out of an M3 Stuart light tank. Seen at an event held at the Wheatlands Agricultural Museum in Warracknabeal, Australia.
A running Super C Tournadozer was sold at auction in 2022 in Ohio. Previously owned by Don Martin.
This C Pull (I think it's a C Pull), serial number GP50178CPTK, with a 6,000 gallon Klein water tanker body was sold at auction in 2021 in Washington.
Model B-70 Tournacrane
A restored Air Force MB-1A Tournacrane is on display at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands.
A Navy Model B-70 Tournacrane is owned by McCahill Enterprises, an earthmoving company in California, and is still in use.
Another Navy B-70 is owned by the International Artillery Museum in St. Jo, Texas. It is not part of their display and they are (were) looking to get rid of it. I tried contacting them several times but never heard back.
The Flight Test Historical Foundation acquired a Model B-70 Tournacrane for the Air Force Flight Test Museum at Edwards Air Force Base a few years ago, but it may not be on display yet.
A fifth Model B-70 Tournacrane has appeared in a pair of youtube videos, but with no further information.
Model C Tournatractor
The Historical Construction Equipment Association in Bowling Green, Ohio, has two Model C Tournatractors, one from 1956 and one from around 1950. The 1956 model runs.
This Model C Tournatractor occasionally appears at the Western New York Gas & Steam Engine Association. I could not find a photo showing the board which presumably states who the owner is.
There is also this individual, which I found a photo of on this article: https://contractormag.co.nz/classic-machines/the-letourneau-tournatractor/ Its owner or location is not mentioned.
Two additional unlocated Tournatractors. The latter can be assumed to be in Pennsylvania or a nearby state, as it was posted by someone who photographs machines in that area.
Model C Tournacrane
A Model C Tournacrane was listed for sale in Carbon, Indiana by someone named AJ Taylor. When I inquired about it, I learned the engine and controls had been sold and cut out. I fear this was the last of its kind, and I would like to be proved wrong.
Super C Tournapull
A 1947 Super C Tournapull, serial number C3T 4037 C1-G is restored and in running condition at the National Pike Steam Gas & Horse Association in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
The heart of a Super C Tournapull lives on in this b*****d vehicle, a bulldozer built out of an M3 Stuart light tank. Seen at an event held at the Wheatlands Agricultural Museum in Warracknabeal, Australia.
Super C Tournacrane
A 1944 Navy model Super C Tournacrane is owned by Ken McCrary and Chris Baldo and located at the Roots of Motive Power museum in Willits, California.
Super C Tournadozer
Super C Tournadozer serial number 3246 is at the National Pike Steam Gas & Horse Association in Brownsville, Pennsylvania. It is a veteran of the US Army Corps of Engineers. It does not normally run, but seems to be in "able to be made to run" condition.
A running Super C Tournadozer was sold at auction in 2022 in Ohio. Previously owned by Don Martin.
C Pull
A C Pull with Tournarocker body was restored by Goodman Contractors Limited in Waikanae, New Zealand.
This C Pull (I think it's a C Pull), serial number GP50178CPTK, with a 6,000 gallon Klein water tanker body was sold at auction in 2021 in Washington.
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