Oliver 770 Brought Back to Life

This Ollie was built in Charles City, Iowa and sent to Brighton, Michigan. It was then sent to a dealer in St Johns, Michigan who must have leased it to our Lake Odessa Canning Company where we assumed it remained for several years as my wife’s brother and their father purchased it somewhere in the mid to late 1960s.

Larry farmed with it up into the 1970s when he purchased a larger White. Their father did not want it sold so he bought it from his son and kept it for odd use around the farm. Before he passed away, he gave it to his daughter Kathy who I married.

The tractor was left in the upper area of the barn and pretty much remained until we decided we needed to get it running and bring it to our barn where we could fix her up. One thing turned into another,…..first front tires weather checked,…which means clean up the wheels (sandblasted and powder coating to get it down from the upper level of the barn). Cleaned gas delivery system, started her up,….we drove it to its new home.

Fall was setting in so we power washed it and parked it in our barn for more going over. Long story short,……I worked on it most of Winter 2019 and we could see it was now more of a restoration than simply getting it working. We started back in the Spring when COVID rolled in. Lots of phone calls and parts trips to several Oliver junkyards,…..sanding and painting,….gas tank renewal,…..new gauges, many hours wiring we eventually parked it in our yard to remove back wheels and tires,….THAT WAS A BIG EXPENSE! But now all new tires and powder coated wheels,…..NICE!

By the Clarksville Steam and Gas Show she was ready to make her way to visit the public. Grandson Ben Scobey drove her the 6 or so miles to the show and she sat for others to check her out. We still have a couple items to work on yet,…front axel bushings need replacing and the clutch could use some help. It has the Power Boost so that may be a major job.

Mike Scobey
Lake Odessa, Michigan