110 HP Case: Behemoth Engine Adds to Cachet at Old Threshers Reunion

By Bill Vossler
Published on August 27, 2009
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The 1910 Case 110 HP, serial no. 24150, is a showpiece during the daily parade at the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Midwest Old Threshers Reunion each year. Mud doesn't stop this big machine.
The 1910 Case 110 HP, serial no. 24150, is a showpiece during the daily parade at the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Midwest Old Threshers Reunion each year. Mud doesn't stop this big machine.
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A rear view of the Case 11 HP engine at Mt. Pleasant. Note the high number of spokes in the wheel, needed because of the machine's great weight.
A rear view of the Case 11 HP engine at Mt. Pleasant. Note the high number of spokes in the wheel, needed because of the machine's great weight.
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Old steam threshermen would not like to see the black smoke coming out of the smokestack on this Case 110 HP. They learned how to fire their steam engines very efficiently and with a clean stack the majority of the time.
Old steam threshermen would not like to see the black smoke coming out of the smokestack on this Case 110 HP. They learned how to fire their steam engines very efficiently and with a clean stack the majority of the time.
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The Case 110 HP traction engine, as seen in a period catalog.
The Case 110 HP traction engine, as seen in a period catalog.
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Case 110 HP traction engines could develop
Case 110 HP traction engines could develop "at least 10 percent more indicated horsepower than their actual guaranteed brake horsepower rating," according to a 1913 Case catalog.
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Case built huge steam traction engines, like this
Case built huge steam traction engines, like this "Road Locomotive," which was a 150 HP monster.
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A view of the Case 110 HP steam engine's radius links, distance link and springs supporting the boiler, springs under platform and in a drawbar.
A view of the Case 110 HP steam engine's radius links, distance link and springs supporting the boiler, springs under platform and in a drawbar.
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The Case 110 HP Traction Engine could come with special attachments including a locomotive cab, extenstion rims and straw burner, according to a 1913 Case catalog.
The Case 110 HP Traction Engine could come with special attachments including a locomotive cab, extenstion rims and straw burner, according to a 1913 Case catalog.
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The mounting and gearing of the Case 110 HP steam engine was explained in text accompanying this sectional cut view of the engine in a 1913 Case catalog. Here, you can see the countershaft and rear axle, long hubs of traction wheels, and the distance links and springs supporting the boiler.
The mounting and gearing of the Case 110 HP steam engine was explained in text accompanying this sectional cut view of the engine in a 1913 Case catalog. Here, you can see the countershaft and rear axle, long hubs of traction wheels, and the distance links and springs supporting the boiler.

When Lennis Moore came to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, as administrator of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in 1978, he only wanted to stay about five years. But he fell in love with Mt. Pleasant and Old Threshers, and his wife enjoyed her teaching job, so they stayed. One of his delights at Old Threshers has been the 1910 Case 110 HP steam traction engine, which had been on the grounds for about six years when he arrived.

“It was originally purchased by the association in 1972 from the Justin Hingtgen estate, because they decided they wanted to have a representative 110 here at the show, and apparently felt they had enough money in their coffers,” the 57-year-old CEO of Midwest Old Threshers Reunion says.

At one point, the Case 110 HP, serial no. 24150, was used by a Canadian service station as a fuel oil tank. Lennis notes that the fuel oil doubtlessly helped protect the boiler.

After its use at the service station, Hingtgen, a well-known collector of old iron bought it, dismantled it, and over several trips back and forth to Canada to get the pieces, brought it down to his farm in LaMotte, Iowa, to operate a sawmill he owned. When Old Threshers bought it in August 1972, it was partially dismantled because it was too wide and too heavy to move in one piece.

No Show

In the late 1980s, the Case 110 HP was starting to look pretty shabby, Lennis says, so the decision was made to restore it. Time went on, the restoration process was slow, so Lennis decided not to show it at the annual Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.

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