s a w ‘T
The Night That Rocked
Christmas Eve 2017 b y Sher r y Schaef er
W
hile most of us spent Christmas Eve surrounded by family or
opening gifts, the unimaginable was about to rock the foundation of one family. Ron Harmon, founder of Big Equipment and the face behind Big Bud
On Christmas Eve, Ron was in Missoula, Montana, with his wife, preparing to spend Christmas with his daughters and grandkids. He was standing in a store finishing up shopping for the kids when he got the news. Ron’s son, Tim, was spending the holiday with his mother in Phoenix, Arizona. At the swimming pool with his daughter, he received a text saying, “Big Equipment is on fire!” Initially he thought it was a compliment, but he quickly learned different. Tim called his dad, but he had already heard the news. Both men were miles away from the building that Big Equipment called home and feeling helpless. It was 2:15 pm when Ron got the call, and he quickly made arrangements to head back to Havre. It was 5:00 before he said his goodbyes
and headed down the snow packed road. The trip that normally took 3 ½ hours became 5 hours, and under the circumstances, probably seemed like an eternity. When Ron arrived at the scene to survey the damage, he was met by his insurance agent… on Christmas Eve. They went to Ron’s house to discuss the situation and to go over his policy. After two hours, Ron finally had a sense of relief knowing that he had the coverage needed to survive this devastation. When something like this happens, a multitude of thoughts run through your mind. For Tim, his first concern was the customers’ units that were in the shop. The next was the loss of personal effects in the office and all of the older files that were not backed up on
computer. “Those things just can’t be replaced.” One item of sentimental value to Ron was the first toy model Big Bud HN 250. That toy had somehow survived another devastating fire in the 1970s when Northern Equipment burned. It had been sitting on a metal desk in the office. When the subfloor of the office collapsed, so did everything in it. But somehow, this metal desk dropped straight down and the toy remained on top. Tim said it was surrounded by rubble but sitting there upright beckoning “come and get me.” At first they were going to have it restored, but now they’re considering leaving it just the way it is, to represent the past and the strength of the future at Big Equipment. On Christmas Eve, Keith
Richardson, the engineer/ mastermind behind the legendary 747 and many other projects, was finishing up his Christmas shopping at the mall. “It was about 3:00, and I walked out of the mall and saw big black smoke coming from over the hill. I knew it had to be Big Equipment.” Keith started driving that direction, not realizing the magnitude of the blaze. His first thoughts were, “It’s just a building and tools and that can all be replaced. But then it started to hit me… all the drawings, the toys, the history that is in those buildings.” Fortunately, Keith had scanned some of the blueprints in the past, so
there is a digital copy of some of the Big Bud equipment. There were only six silver anniversary Big Bud toys built, and now there are five. One went to the Williams Brothers, one went to Toy Farmer, and the other three were auctioned off. “Things like that can’t be replaced. There were only six.” There were also the little things that you don’t think about. Inside the building was a keyboard where all the vehicle keys were hung on hooks. Those are all gone. All of the trucks that were sitting in the lot, service trucks, tractors, or otherwise, were now sitting there undamaged but had no keys.
tractors, received a call that no one wants to get - FIRE.
The trip that normally took 3 ½ hours became 5 hours, and under the circumstances, probably seemed like an eternity. 40 MARCH /APRIL ISSUE 056
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Ron said the employees of Big Bud are all a primary concern and are being taken care of. “It has been hard on them, but as they see progress, they’re becoming more hopeful.” Among the long list of toys and memorabilia lost in the fire, there were several tractors. Burned were three Big Buds: Series 3 525/50, Series 3 600/50, and a Series 4 450. Also lost were a Versatile 550 Delta Track, Case 500 Quad tractors, and a Versatile RT 490. What does the future hold for Big Equipment? A shop has already been purchased at a different location, and although they’re limping along from the loss of tools and equipment, they’re up and going, taking care of their customers. An office has been rented in downtown Havre to conduct operations. An office trailer has been moved onto the original site in order to continue with equipment sales. A 5,000 sq. ft. shop that was separate from the main structure is in use to work on equipment at the original site. While not big enough to work on the big equipment, it’s a start. The cleanup is time consuming and as weather permits. However, a new building will eventually be erected on the current site of Big Equipment. Ron Harmon is not one to sit still long. A new plan is in place for the future of 42 MARCH /APRIL ISSUE 056
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All of the trucks that were sitting in the lot, service trucks, tractors, or otherwise, were now sitting there undamaged but had no keys.
Big Equipment. Previously, there were many operations being conducted all in one location. Under one roof was a Versatile dealership, an equipment business, a shop, and the Big Bud people who only worked in the parts, service, and custom side for Big Bud tractors. In the new plan, there will be a separation of Big Bud from Versatile. The large shop that they just acquired on the west side of town will become the base for Big Bud. All of the service, support, and customization will be done at that sight. There is more and more demand for the Big Bud tractors as operators grow weary of the everincreasing expense of new tractors and the downtime caused by the computerized
machines. There is something to be said about simplicity and longevity. The current site of Big Equipment will be the new dealership for Versatile and the sale of tractors and equipment. Service will be done at that location for Versatile and the shortline equipment sold by Big Equipment. The separation of the two will be more efficient and help with the flow of the operation as they are run as separate entities. The priority for Ron Harmon and Big Equipment is to take care of their customers. “Every commitment for spring delivery of equipment will be honored.” While they are cautious about making additional comments while their plate is so full, he wants the Big Equipment customers to be rest assured that this will not affect them. With no fire hydrants in the vicinity, the fire department of many districts fought long and hard to put out the fire in Havre, Montana, that frigid, fateful Christmas Eve. While spirits may have been dampened that night, the one thing they could not extinguish is the flame that lives in the soul of Ron Harmon and his Big Equipment family. Through it all, their foundation is still rock solid, and they look forward to providing the support their customers want and need for many years to come.
On Christmas Eve of 1860, a disastrous fire broke out at the Oliver foundry outside of South Bend, Indiana. The fire went through the veneer mill and rapidly moved to the plow works, destroying everything. It was a total loss, and James Oliver had no insurance. James fought the flames all night.
After returning home, cold, wet, weary, and discouraged, he sat by the fire to contemplate the tragedy that had just befallen him. His wife brought him a warm meal, then encouraged him to get some rest because they had lumber to order the next day. Before the end of Christmas day, a plan was at hand and lumber was ordered to start fresh on the same site. From that day forward, it was another 115 years that James Oliver’s name appeared on farm equipment around the world.
“There is no greater power than the human soul on fire.” MARCH /APRIL 2018 ISSUE 056
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