Bibliography


 FDTC Homepage

The Four Drive Tractor

FDT Company

Tractor Models

Research & Questions

Tractors Sold

Existing Tractors

J.H. Fitch


contact webmaster


  • Brant, Arlene. Personal letter, December 1981.

  • Bruskotter, M. James, "Four Drive Tractor Co.", Pioneer (Big Rapids, MI), 2 December 1992, p. 6.

  • Cassen, Ethel and Alice Chinnery. "Fitch, J." Historic Mason County, Michigan 1980. Mason County Historical Society Ludington, Thomas A. Hawley, chairman. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1980. p. 362.

  • Chinnery, Alice. "Fitch, C." Historic Mason County, Michigan 1980. Mason County Historical Society Ludington, Thomas A. Hawley, chairman. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company, 1980. p. 362.

  • Denney, Jason. "Four Play". Gas Engine Magazine, Ogden Publications, Topeka, KS. June 2005, Vol. 40 No. 6, pp. 17-19.

  • Dixon, Chris. "The Four Drive Tractor". The Midland Antique Engine Club 15th Annual Show, 11-13 July 2003, p. 18.

  • "The Four Drive Tractor Co.," Tractor Operating Book & Directory, C. DeSparks, 1919, p. 66.

  • Four-Drive Tractor Company, Big Rapids, MI. 1929. 40 pages [sales manual].

  • "Four Drive in 100-Acre Non-Stop Effort", Pioneer (Big Rapids, MI), 18 July 1918.

  • "Four-Wheel Drive Tractor Co. will go to Big Rapids", Ludington Daily News, January or February 1916.

  • "Goes Abroad For Four-Drive", Mecosta County News, 13 September 1928, p. ?.

  • Gray, R. B. The Agricultural Tractor 1855-1950. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. 1974 reprint. USDA 1954.

  • Hamilton, Bob. Personal letter, 23 October 2005.

  • Harvey, Robert, "Robert Harvey Remembers Four Drive Tractor Company", Pioneer (Big Rapids, MI), 1 July 1992, p. 6.

  • Harvey, Wells F., "Big Rapids Industries 1919-20", The Big Rapids Pioneer - Herald (Big Rapids, MI), 1920, section 5, p. 1.

  • "Incorporate Co. to Manufacture Fitch Tractor", Ludington Daily News, 1915.

  • "Invention May Become Great Farming Help", Ludington Daily News, 2 March 1915, p. 1.

  • "John Fitch Dies Suddenly at Big Rapids Saturday," The Ludington Sunday Morning News, 19 November 1916, pp. 1 & 8.

  • Johnson, C.F., Waukesha Engine Division, Dresser Industries, Clinton, IA. Personal letter to Jim Spall, 4 May 1976.

  • Johnston, Ian M. "Chapter 9  Fitch No. 1640", The World of Classic Tractors, Roseville, Australia, [ISBN: 0864178727]. August 1998. pp. 73-82.

  • "Ludington Farmer is Inventor", Ludington Daily News, 31 October 1915, p. 1.

  • Mecosta County, Michigan. County Clerk. Death Certificate. D-250 80-5786.

  • "New Tractor Drives On All Four Wheels," Motor Age, Class Journal Company, Chicago, IL. Vol. XXIX, No. 11, 16 March 1916. p. 42.

  • "Power on All Four Wheels", The Four Drive Tractor Company. Big Rapids, MI. 1916. [brochure]

  • "Power on All Four Wheels", Tractor & Gas Engine Review, January 1920, pp. 14, 76-77.

  • "Riverton Man Invented 4-Wheel Drive Tractor", The Mason County Press, 31 July 1975, pp. 8 & 10.

  • Robinson, Ruth. "John Henry Fitch." Mason Memories, Winter 1976-77, pp. 3 & 4.

  • Spall, Jim. Personal letter, 25 February 2003.

  • Stillwell, W.A. "Four Drive Tractor Plant, Big Rapids", Big Rapids, MI, #18308. [postcard]

  • "Stock Certificate #1198: Wm. Addison," Four-Drive Tractor Company, Big Rapids, MI. 5 January 1918.

  • "Stock Certificate #51: M.D. & Martha Fox," Four-Drive Tractor Company, Big Rapids, MI. 8 February 1918.

  • "Story of Four Drive Tractor and Inventor Fitch Reads Like Romance With Happy Ending", Pioneer Herald - Progress Edition (Big Rapids, MI), 1916, p. 1.

  • "Test #165: Four Drive Model ‘E' 15-25," University of Nebraska Agricultural Engineering Department, Lincoln, NE. July 1-17, 1929.

  • ‘The Cat' Model E 15-30 H.P., Four-Drive Tractor Company, Big Rapids, MI. 1929. [brochure]

  • "The Four Drive Tractor", The Four Drive Tractor Company, Inc. Big Rapids, MI. 1918.  15 pages [brochure]

  • "The Four Drive Tractor", The Four Drive Tractor Company, Inc. Big Rapids, MI. [brochure]

  • "The Tractor Field Book 1929", Chicago, IL, Farm Implement News Company. 1929. pp. 41, 42 & 178.

  • Thoms, Bob. Personal letter, 22 November 2002.

  • Wendel, Charles H. Encyclopedia of American Farm Tractors. Sarasota, FL; Crestline Publishing. [ISBN: 0879386797]. 1992. p. 118.

  • Wendel, Charles H. Standard Catalog of Farm Tractors 1840-1960. Iola, WI; Krause Publishing. [ISBN: 0873415132]. September 200. pp. 228-229.

  • "What Is It?" Davis Enterprise, Davis, CA, 13 May 1966, p. 3.

  • "Yesteryears", Pioneer (Big Rapids, MI), 4 September 1991, p. 4.

  • Dunning, Larry. Ultimate American Farm Tractors Data Book: Nebraska Test Tractors 1920-1960. Osceola, WI; MBI Publishing. 1999. Chapter 34, p. 146.

  • Vossler, Bill. More Orphan Tractors. Rockville, MN; Bill Vossler Books. 2003. pp. 79-82.