I am sending you a picture of a Harrison or ‘Jumbo’
engine whoso number appears to be 234. It is of the 1890-1900 era.
The picture was taken in 1898 after it broke through a bridge four
miles west of Red Bud, Illinois. It fell on its right side but had
been pulled back on its wheels when the picture was taken. Broken
smoke stack was the worst casualty to the engine. The engineer had
a broken leg and another man was thrown into two or three feet of
water in the stream and was pinned beneath a part of the engine
which fell on his leg. Other men immediately noticed he was missing
and after finding him were able to hold his head above water to
keep him from drowning.
The information and picture was obtained through the courtesy of
E. J. (Buck) Roscow of this city. He started handling engines when
he was eleven years old and now has forty-three years experience
with engines.
I certainly like the IRON-MEN ALBUM and when it arrives I have
an evening of entertainment. I have a nice 20 hp. Jumbo engine No.
2341. It is fourth to the last made. I also have a 12 hp. Rumley
No. 3016 and a Robinson No. 3313. This engine I do not have at home
yet.
ALBERT BRANDT, Red Bud, Illinois
BACK IN 1900 TO 1915-
Find enclosed $2.00 for renewal as I really enjoy it. When a
young man I was a steam engine thresherman. My favorites were
Russell and Gaar Scott and a Birdsell clover huller.
Back in 1900 to 1915 we had a large territory to cover and put
in 100 days to finish. We threshed wheat for 3c and oats at 2c per
bushel and made money at that. Paid $1.00 a day for our help. Got
up at 4 A. M., cleaned the flues, built the fire and had break-fast
by 7 A. M., ready to thresh, and stayed with the rig all week. At
that time farmers hauled their grain in the barn, this makes the
best wheat of all. I always enjoyed the good meals which usually
consisted of chicken, potatoes, noodles, ham, eggs, pies and
cookies and the good homemade bread, which I still enjoy. In 1910 I
got married and moved on a farm south of Mt. Hope, Ohio, 135 acres.
At that time I sold my threshing rig and operated the farm until
1948 when I had a farm sale-my highest Holstein cow bringing
$357.50. Now my son-in-law operates it beside a peach orchard
having some 1300 trees-still have over 700 trees. We had 900 bushel
last summer and No. 1’s sold at $3.00 per bushel. There was
good demand. My wife and I still take care of the orchard and will
help as long as we are able.
At last my fever got high for a steam engine and in 1954 I
bought a 16 hp. Russell, 18 boiler No. 17025, new flues, well
painted and in fine shape. Last summer I hooked her up to a 28×48
thresher and had plenty of power. I have two whistles on
it-largest, 4? x 9. I built a shed for it and blew out the boiler
for the winter. Am past 71 but I still love the old steam
engine.
JACOB J. MAST, Millersburg, Ohio
-DESCRIPTION OF A TORNADO-
Mr. Frank Hamata of Schuyler, Nebraska, gives a description of a
tornado which happened last April 25th. I never saw a tornado and
this writing was interesting to me and I thought it would be to
many others.-Editor.
Yesterday, in company with three others we went to Lincoln,
Nebraska, to ‘Engineers Open House’ at the university.
About 10:30 P. M., on our way home, we heard a report of a tornado
tearing into a small village seven miles west of Lincoln. One of
the ‘guys’ insisted we drive through to see what we could.
The location should have been Milford, Nebraska, where we
eventually went and drove through the town on Highway No. 6. Some
of the houses looked like a great giant had stepped on them and
crushed them to the ground. Some had the roof torn completely off,
some the ‘extra room’ ripped away. Near the railroad
overpass a cement block garage, about 50×75, was almost completely
swept away. Trees and wreckage were strewn everywhere.
One cannot realize the viciousness and power of a tornado
without seeing the effects. Happily someone saw the
‘funnel’ and the alarm was sounded so the people apparently
took to the basements so there were no lives lost in the town,
however, there were injuries. One farmer ten miles south of town
was killed and not found until morning.
I like the May-June cover and I hope to see that outfit perform
sometime. I did see the old Hart-Parr 30 at the Michigan Farm
Machinery Centennial last year along with other Hart Parrs and
steamers.
FRANK HAMATA, Schuyler, Nebraska
THE STRIKING PAINT JOB –
I am sending you a check for $2.00 for a years subscription to
your excellent magazine.
Saw my first copy of the ALBUM the other day and decided to
subscribe at once. Wish I could have done so years ago as I am
afraid I have missed a lot of good issues.
Remember the striking paint job on the old separators? Most of
the lettering was decalcomanias, of course but the color schemes
and the panel striping was beautiful to behold on some makes. Two
outstanding jobs that I recall were the Russell & Co., and the
Reeves. A story on the master painters who made the old machines
‘pretty’ would be of great interest, I think.
All success to you! I am looking forward to receiving my first
issue of the ALBUM.
R. A. WENSTROM, Sykeston, North Dakota
