R. G. LeTourneau, Inc. was no stranger to building huge machinery. However, it wasn’t until 1952 that R. G.’s son, Ben LeTourneau built the tire mold that would help shape a critical component of the Overland Trains story – the monstrous tires! From this custom mold came the Firestone 120x48x68 tires that would support the Crash Pusher, the Swamp Buggy, Marsh Buggy, Sno-Buggy, the Thompson Trailers, Gold Digger, and several of the Overland Trains.
In 1952, R. G. LeTourneau entered into contract with the Firestone Rubber and Tire Co. to build the 10 foot tall and 4 feet wide tires. However, they did not have a mold for them. At the age of 18, Ben LeTourneau helped build this mold for Firestone.
The BETTS Vertical Boring Mill (BETTS) had a 12’ diameter table and was used to build the custom tire mold. The table “rotated with tools mounted on a bridge over the table, while the table rotated under the bridge.”
After the two-halves of the mold were built and placed on the BETTS 12 foot diameter table, Ben “mounted it onto the rotating table and, after making a basket which I attached to the tool bar, rode the tool down into the mold while it was rotating under me. In this way we cut a smooth mold which was used to form the new tires.”
The BETTS was still in use at the factory until 2006, when the company owners at the time dismantled and removed it. It is unknown whether it was scrapped or sold to another company.
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