R.D. 2, Galveston, Indiana 46932
I see on page 22 of May-June 68 issue you ask about the Bryant
steam tractor. I saw one at Indiana State Fair. They also had a big
truck and a car with that same kind of boiler and engine in all
three. They were made at Peru, Indiana in the 1920’s.
As far as I know, they quit in early 1930’s during the
powerful machine and in cold weather could be filled with cold
water and steamed up in 15 minutes or less and would not freeze
while on road. I didn’t see the tractor run but the truck was
going. No noise, no vibration. Of course, it often took me longer
than that to start my Ford.
I also notice some of the late Advance engines are on a Rumely
boiler. And the Gaar-Scott with rear mounted steel wheels are on
Rumely wheels and boilers. They are Gaar-Scott-Rumely.
I was told Gaar-Scott was the best low pressure engine known in
this part of corn belt, and they had good boilers too. The man I
worked with said the return flue boiler drew better than straight
flue. I had an old Advance. It steamed good enough but that valve
gear was only a time gear. Often I wanted more steam in cylinder
but couldn’t get it. To slow it down to a stop, it would rock
instead of stop when steam was up 1 couldn’t have any. I bought
the Aultman-Taylor no. 9178 and never wanted to bother the Advance
again.
I ran several others, but I liked A & T the best. They are
gone to the junkyards long ago.
