It doesn’t seem possible this is the Nov.-Dec. issue. At
this writing it is only the middle of September and only a few
steam reunions left on the agenda. Before we get turned around it
will be time to plan the shows for next season.
At this time I want to thank all of you who helped us out by
taking subscriptions and selling books. You did a marvelous
We made it to the Kinzer show and I helped Mrs. Elmer Schaefer
in selling and thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh yes, I enjoyed one of
those ham and cheese sandwiches.
In July we received a very courteous letter from J. N. Walton,
‘Light Steam Power’ Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, England,
writing us about his considerable embarrassment over our
advertising his book, ‘Double Steam Cars.’ He was
completely unaware of the fact and it had been necessary to
increase the price over the years but we hadn’t been notified.
He was a victim of circumstances and entirely blameless. The price
as of July 2,1970, is $7.50 U.S.A., $8.00 Canada, per copy, post
free, surface mail. I apologize Mr. Walton for the mistake but I
inherited the ad and I couldn’t find any source of information
for the ad. Both Mr. Walton and our company got irate comments.
Another letter from England Mr. J.M.D. Temple man, 58 North St.
Bourne, Lincolnshire, England, writes: ‘Is there any address in
the U.S.A. where it is possible to obtain drawings or full details
of American Threshers.
‘As a hobby I make scale working models of steam engines and
threshers.
‘If there are any details available I will pay the expenses
of same, together with postage of your kind reply, if you will let
me know.
‘Thanking you for the regular supply of ‘Iron Man’
looking forward to next issues.
‘If you wish at any time to have details of English engines,
threshers etc. for yourselves or your readers, I will gladly supply
what information I can. Again, wishing you all the best for the
future.’ If any of you readers wish to have details, write us
and I’ll see that Mr. Temple man gets the letter.
Just yesterday came another letter from England. (I don’t
have his name here at the office.) A party from Australia sent him
our Nov.-Dec. 1969 issue of Iron Men Album and he was overwhelmed
with information it contained and wanted more information regarding
our magazine. He sent a very nice picture of one of his engines
which will probably be in one of our later issues.
We are starting the 25th year of publishing the Iron Men Album.
In 1963 I started on the bottom rung (helping to put the magazine
together) and by 1966 I was up a few rungs by working part time in
the office, and in early 1968 I was offered the position of
secretary and with all of its ups and downs, have held it since. By
the continuous efforts of our dear editor, Rev. Elmer Ritzman, we
have sent the magazine over land and sea and have had many
flattering letters from subscribers of how much they enjoy reading
it.
No doubt we have made mistakes and tramped on toes but it was
unintentional, and we will try in the future to avoid such things
as much as possible.
I had better end this so I can get the book list ready for this
issue. Don’t forget to look it over you might find an easy way
to do your Christmas shopping. Let us do the walking. To one and
all a Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year.