Birk completed his 1/4 scale 1908 Case 65 hp steam tractor in 1982. The boiler was tested to 475 psi. It took over three years to build. Birk started with a set of castings and plans, and proceeded to do all the machining, assembly, and painting himself. He operated the model at many tractor shows over the years.
Mr. Petersen created a vast array of projects over his lifetime, ranging from miniature engines to hand-cranked animations and more. He built functional miniatures like a 1/3 scale Gatling gun or a 1/4 scale Case steam tractor, but he also built mechanical creations for the fun and enjoyment of his family. When Birk passed away in 2015, his family graciously donated over 150 items from his collection for display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum, where they are currently on display. We thank the Petersen family for sharing his extensive collection, which demonstrates the broad interests and many talents of Birk Petersen.
