In reply to your letter with reference to my 16 Hp. Straw Burner
Return Flue Phoenix water front boiler and two speed gear, link
motion balance D. valve and eccentric boiler feed pump and hand
wheel brake on counter shaft.
The serial number was brass name plate put on the fancy wood
burnished jacket and the jacket was off when I bought the engine.
was sold to them by Larane Hageber’s father who now resides in
Jordan, Minn. Mr. Hageber was an honest high pressure ‘speaking
Dutch’ through Meolunek Dutch of Praha, Minnesota in 1894.
The eccentric driven boiler feed pump is missing from the
engine. Otherwise it is in very good shape. I have a catalogue
published in about 1880, in German. Jordan, Minnesota is a German
town. There are two R. R. the Omaha and M & St. L. going
through it. Mr. Hageber used these a lot and then livery barn team
to branch out.
Mr. Hageber was given a size 18 hunting case gold watch for
selling the most threshing rigs in 1890. This is all engraved in
the inside cover of the Hunting Gold Case. The proud owner of this
priceless gold watch is Steam Engine Joe Rynda. Cornilus Aultman
was also part owner of the Aultman & Taylor Company of
Mansfield, Ohio. Therefore one reason why Hageber sold both company
threshing rigs.
The 13 Hp. return flue water front steam dome straw burner
Phoenix bought new by Johnson Bros, in 1883 and now owned by Mr.
Lang of Hector, Minnesota. This engine has the flywheel on the left
side, is chain drive and cylinder in the rear Marsh Rivers
Gear.
There were many 13 Hp. Phoenix return flue engines built but
they had the flywheel on the right hand side, link reverse gear and
had no steam dome and this one has a steam dome. All the spokes in
the drive wheels and front wheels were crossed. Bull gear teeth on
the inside.
Mr. Hageber’s big success was his German language around
here as so many people were German and from Germany at that time.
All the Bohemains that were among the German could speak
German.
Fraternally yours, Steam Engine Joe T. Rynda