President, Blackwell, Oklahoma
Friday, August 17, saw the efforts of many people come to
reality in the form of the organized program of the Antique Engine
and Threshers Association. At 1:00 P. M., Mrs. Stroud brought the
group to attention by playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ on
the Caliope and Bill Arnett gave the invocation. The show was
officially started. The many events were staged as scheduled. Big
Mac of course went up the famous Case incline with his ‘Elgin
watch’ 40hp. Case. The Prony brake was used liberally. The cord
wood saw got a lot of use even the model engine sawed wood.
Threshing of oats and rye was done with Ottaway Bros. 32′
Avery Yellow Fellow and the Case 20′ hand feed. Various engines
powered the Avery while Knapp’s 6hp. Russell usually powered
the hand feed. Mr. Varney’s model pulled the Case once also.
The whistle code was under the supervision of Bill Merhoff of
Newkirk, Oklahoma, and Everett Rohrers of Engle-wood, Colorado, who
brought a Union Pacific locomotive whistle with him to use in the
railroad code. Later Mr. Rohrers donated the whistle to the
Association.
The Martin Bros., of Fairview, Oklahoma, brought their Baker fan
to the meet. This fan has four blades 24’x32′ that swing on
a 36′ radius. This proved to be very interesting and with a
24′ pulley would load the 20 to 25 hp. engines nicely. The
Trego 20hp. Advance and Ottaway’s 24 Minnie were the stars on
this with 410 and 435 R.P.M. Our thanks to the Martens for the use
of their fan. Case engines from the little 9hp. of R. D.
Yoder’s to the giant 110hp. of Ottaway’s were in action.
Several old time gas tractors were operating.
Knapp’s 6hp. 1890 model Russell was the teeter-totter
engine.
In the Model section Mr. Varney of Little River, Kansas, had his
model there. Chas. Bolton of Reese, Kansas, and Jack Kauer of
Wichita had Case models. Bill Jones of Wichita had his upright
model in action.
Sunday morning, August 19, we awoke to the patter of a light
drizzle and the temperature had nose-dived to 49 degrees. The need
for a coat was evident, and many coats were worn all day. We found
the buffalo grass turf in the Joyland Park Athletic field soaked
down somewhat from the drizzle and our big tent had collapsed in
the mud. So we were busy. The show was an hour late getting
started, but everyone seemed to enjoy it that much more. It proved
to be our best day yet.
The Association owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. Robert Burke and
Claude Shriver who are chief and deputy State Boiler Inspectors for
their untiring efforts inspecting the mam boilers used. And in that
connection I wish to thank each and everyone who helped to make
this 6th annual meeting the success it was. Thanks to you, Irvin
Anderson of Detroit. Michigan, for your efforts.
That seems to be about it Elmer. We missed you this year but of
course you were well represented by Hal Ottaway and many people
have now seen and heard of the IRON-MEN ALBUM out here that never
dreamed of such a thing before.
Sending $2.00 for your ALBUM which interests me immensely. I
have many antiques: 1912 Advance, 26hp compound; a Case separator
built in 1891 this has never missed a season threshing. One Port
Huron corn shredder built in 1905 with self-feeder, a 1915 model
‘T’ Ford roadster, 1920 Overland ‘4’, a 1923 Dodge
pickup and many antique clocks.
My father was a commercial thresher man in a big way. Last
summer we put on a steam engine day program and had a big crowd. 11
you would like to print the history of this equipment I will send
it to you with some pictures.
LESTER F. MAUS, Minnesota City, Minnesota
