1993 Central States Threshermen’s Reunion

The five day celebration was well underway and the Case Expo
tent was one place to renew old friendships and look over part of
the history of the J.I. Case T. M. Company that was on display.
Helen Case Brigham, with a host of workers, was on hand to greet
members and visitors to the Reunion and Case Expo. Just outside the
tent was an eye-catching display of J.I. Case equipment, including
gas tractors, related implements, traction engines, cars, etc.

There were other makes and models of gas tractors, other than
J.I. Case, all on proud display not far from the Case Expo
area.

Jim Haley’s 1905 18 HP Russell & Co. traction engine on
the Prony brake at the 45th Central States Threshermen’s
Reunion.

Among the 38 engines that were at the 45th Reunion were: Dennis
Christiansen’s 1893 center crank Case; Graham Sellers’ 110
HP Case; Mark Offerman’s 60 HP Case; Brian Thompson’s 60 HP
Case; Jack Oltman’s 40 HP Case; Karl Kohling’s 75 HP Case;
Jim Adams 80 HP Case; Jerry Sander’s 6 HP portable, no engine;
Paul & Sue Anderman’s 1906 Nichols & Shepard; Bill
McChristie’s 20 HP Keck-Gonnerman; Tom Runty’s 19 HP Port
Huron; Veron ‘Muggs’ Yackley’s 20-70 Nichols &
Shepard; Greg Hilliard’s Nichols & Shepard; Neal
Drummer’s Port Huron; Dick Smith’s 22 HP Keck-Gonnerman;
Jim Haley’s 18 HP Russell; John Haley’s 24 Minneapolis;
Doug Wise’s 1913 20-60 Rumely; Arland Koopman’s undermount
Avery; the Erickson family’s undermount Avery; the Haley family
half-scale 50 HP Case; Russ Logan & Peanuts, with their Case;
Clarence Eltz’s **** scale Case; Fred Badten from Dyer,
Indiana, was there with his scale Case; Vern L.

Early participants of the prony brake caught Amos Rixman, who
had forgotten to put on his ‘official’s hat,’ not quite
ready to start horsepower testing.

Neitzke of Swartz Creek, Michigan, with his **** scale Case; a
scale return flue Avery built in 1952; Smith & Sons built in
1954; Jim Coyle’s Keck-Gonnerman; Arlan Koopman’s
undermount scale Avery; Steve Farmer and family with their
iron.

Participating engineers and engine owners were pleased in having
Amos Rixman at the controls of the club’s prony brake. Mr.
Rixman and crew measured drawbar horsepower over the course of the
show. Amos also provided a historical perspective to the days of
the threshing crew.

The sawmill is located near the center of the show grounds, and
provides an ideal spot for friends, old ones and new ones, to stop,
visit and relax as they watched a variety of power that was used on
the mill over the weekend. Each traction engine provided its own
rhythmic sound to the show, as the steam exhaust echoed through the
stack.

And when the evening sun was low, workers could be seen walking
out to the field where the spark show was soon to begin. Few words
were spoken, as members found satisfaction in a day’s show well
done and watched the burning sparks as they flew off into the night
sky.

At the break of dawn workers can be seen busily preparing for
another day’s show. Engineers and firemen are busy attending to
cleaning flues and the removal of excess mud from the wheels. The
early morning is filled with the smell and sound of kindling wood,
as it crackles and sparks in the fire box.

In the nearby distance, day in, day out, from morning ’til
night, one can hear members of the Illinois Valley Blacksmith
Association as they swing their heavy sledges, with slow and
measured beats. Visitors look into the blacksmith shop and watch in
wonder at what the ‘smithy’ sees in the hot metal slowly
formed into useful and decorative items.

The large engine area was filled with old engines that were
brought out from under the workbenches and out of the barn. All
were steadily working with that musical chanting of the hit-n-miss
engines that draws individuals to hear them talk of yesterday’s
charm.

There was something for everyone to see and enjoy. Spectators
and members could stop and enjoy the free entertainment stage, walk
through the flea market and crafts area, look over the antique cars
and trucks, and visit the petting farm. Both the shingle mill and
veneer mill were kept busy making souvenirs, and a tractor pull
along with a horse show and horse plowing demonstration made for a
full weekend.

All the equipment at the 45th Reunion was outstanding. We
especially wish to take this opportunity to express our sincerest
appreciation to the J.I. Case Heritage Foundation and its members
for allowing us the privilege of hosting the Seventh Annual J.I.
Case Exposition. We enjoyed the visit from Helen Case Brigham and
all our Case friends.

We are also very appreciative of members of the J.I. Case
Collectors Association who took part in the celebration of J.I.
Case by visiting and exhibiting their collectibles with us.