Ed Peacock’s Threshing Bee

Another attraction this year, along with the prony brake, was
the Baker Fan. The men got a great deal of fun out of running the
Baker Fan and testing for the number of revolutions per minute they
could turn it.

Besides the big engines were the many models of different makes,
which offer not only a challenge to those who like to build models,
but also afford pleasure to those who watch them perform as the big
ones do.

Enclosed is a picture of a working model of a 1916 Reeves
high-wheel engine, built by Raymond E. Dysart, Kansas City,
Missouri. It is about two and one-half feet long.

One interesting recent acquisition of Ed’s is a very old
Peerless engine No.4057. This machine was bought originally by a
man named Harold Baumgardner at Belle, Mo.,

about 1882. Enclosed is a picture that was taken around 1885
which shows the machine ready to move. You will note the spokes and
fellows in the front wheels and the spokes in the rear wheels are
of wood. They had finished threshing at this place and their pay
was a yearling steer. I understand that in the early days
oftentimes the thresherman was paid in anything that he would want
to take at the farm; or if he chose he might take a stipulated
amount of the grain in his pay.

I am also enclosing a picture of the Peerless engine No. 4057 as
it appears today, seventy-five years later. Ed tells me that the
original owner is not living but that four succeeding generations
of the Baumgardner family are still in Missouri. Mr. Peacock came
into possession of the engine from the heirs about three years
ago.

The Reeves high wheeler is always a favorite at the meet, and
the final picture enclosed shows Cab Hanson from Leavenworth,
Kansas at the throttle. Ed is already busy planning for an enlarged
meet next year, with more engines and extra attractions.