Alvordton, Ohio
I AM ENCLOSING A PICTURE of one of my 24-75 Port Huron Long
fellows making a one hour economy run, October 13, 1956, on the
Baker Prony brake using a 10 inch drive belt.
This is the former Avery House-knecht engine that was owned 5
miles east of Jonesville, Michigan, and I bought it from him 10
years ago. The House knechts father and sons, were great Port Huron
boosters and owned many Port Huron compound engines during their
threshing career. There was a steep hill on the highway near them
known at ‘Port Huron Hill.’
This economy run far excelled the former test made by it at the
Mont-pelier Reunion in June, 1955, or any engine we have ever
tested. This can be verified by turning to page 10 of May-June 1956
issue of IRON-MEN ALBUM.
At the time of the above mentioned test, the air temperature was
76 degrees, fuel and water was carefully weighed, and good Cadiz,
Ohio, coal used. The tubes and firebox were steam cleaned just
before the test started and firebox is equipped with a brick arch.
The boiler was fed by a cross head pump, and water heated by
exhaust steam. The exhaust nozzle has been enlarged and is a short
2 in. pipe nipple, or exactly the same size as the main steam pipe.
That gives very little back pressure.
During the test the reverse lever was hooked close to the center
notch, and steam pressure was maintained from 165 to 175 lbs. to
pull this 57.78hp. load at 225 R.P.M. of engine. The maximum hp. of
this engine is 93 at normal speed and pressure.
While the test was on, the draft door was not open more than one
notch sometimes only one-half notch, and clear down at times. In
the picture you will note the exhaust steam shows up white on the
warm day the picture was taken. It is a snapshot taken during
test.
The boiler was re-tube in June, 1955, also new piston rings and
new metallic piston rod packing between high and low pressure
cylinders.
This, being my birthday, I will not tell you how old I am, but I
was born in 1889 on the prairie 4 miles west of Minden, Kearney
County, Nebraska. Warp’s ‘Pioneer Village’, mentioned
in your March-April 1956 issue, is located there, and one can spend
many pleasant hours looking at their fine display. Just recently,
they have purchased and restored a Baldwin 4-6-0 locomotive built
in 1889 that used to run on the old K.C. & O. railroad in the
south part of Minden. No doubt I saw this locomotive many times
when I lived there.
I started threshing 40 years ago and had 3 complete steam
threshing out-fits in the field for a number of years. That made 34
years of threshing for me. After that the combine took over. I
still do my own farming with gas tractors and custom sawing with
steam.
Mr. wife (Lucile) and I really appreciate all you have done for
the many thresher associations. We meet the nicest people in the
world. Keep up your good work, and may God richly reward you.
One Hour Economy Run October 13, 1956. 24-75 Port Huron
Longfellow: HP. Load, 57.78; Coal Used Per HP. Hour, 2.25; Lbs.
Water Eva. Per Lb. Coal, 10.3; Lbs. Water Per HP. Hour, 23.3;
Average Steam Pressure, 170 Lbs.
TWO 65 CASE ENGINES
Unclosed please find two dollars for another shovel of coal for
my renewal of the ALBUM as I certainly do not want to miss an
issue.
Also enclosed is a picture of my two 65 hp. Case’s taken in
October of 1955. The one on the right is ‘Bertha’. I have
had her quite a number of years and have threshed many thousands of
bushels of grain with her. Got the one on the left about a year ago
and have been restoring it at odd times. It was certainly a wreck
minus many parts.
I thought I was all alone in my love for steam engines until I
started taking the ALBUM and went to the Reunion at Wichita last
spring (1955) but find there are many more who share the same
sentiments.
RAY BLACKWELL, Monta Vista, Colorado
