LETTER WITH PICTURES
I have been reading and enjoying the Album for several years,
but have noticed that you seldom show pictures of big engines so I
am enclosing a couple of an old timer that belonged to my uncle, P.
C. Knapp.
This 35 hp Buffalo Pitts was purchased from C. O. Russell who
was the Buffalo Pitts dealer at Devils Lake at the time. I’m
sorry that I haven’t a picture of the separator, however, it
was a Buffalo Pitts too with a Ruth Feeder and a Maple Grove
stacker, or blower as we used to call them here.
My uncle’s engineer was Bill McDonald who is standing beside
the front wheel in the picture at the top of the page. I don’t
know if he is the one under the flywheel in the other picture – it
doesn’t look quite like him.
This engine was refueled at our farm, also had new grate bars
put in, and the separator had a new stacker shaft and blades
installed. I don’t know what went through the blower but it
must have been a broken concave bar as both the fans were all torn
to pieces.
This engine was quite famous around here in its day and most of
the old-timers still remember it.
When my uncle, Perry Knapp, moved to Wisconsin in 1912 he sold
the engine to Ernie Gunn who operated it until the 1920’s when
he replaced it with a 110 Case. The old Buffalo Pitts didn’t
give up, it was just worn out. It ended its days rusting away in a
field by the Soo track east of town until the 30’s when some
misbegotten scavengers hauled it away for the good metal in it.
A. H. BORSTAD, Box 712, Devils Lake, N. D.
WE ARE IN CLOVER!!!
Mr. James Conrad, Waterloo, Ind., sold us a framed Poster of the
Aultman & Taylor Co., dating in the 1880’s at a very
reasonable price and then presented us with a 1900 Catalog of the
A&T Machinery. Also a 1903 Catalog of the Westinghouse
Company.
Mr. W. T. Richards, R.D. 2, Granville, Ohio, presented us with a
novel tie clasp. It is a tiny governor out of a phonograph and
makes an unusual tie clasp. I fear to wear it because I may lose
it.
Mr. Leon Olson, Salem, South Dak., has sent us a dozen copies of
the Thresherman’s Review. Some dating back as far as 1898.
These are very valuable to me and to the Album.
I consider all this for The Iron-Men Album Magazine – to be used
and displayed in the office no matter who may be the owner.
Thanks many times to you gentlemen. -Elmer
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN OHIO
Following is a newspaper account of a fire which occurred some
fifty years ago around here – just thought you might like it.
‘A disastrous fire occurred at the farm of Marion Shuler, in
New Dover, Wednesday noon, when a hot box on the separator of David
M. Crider’s threshing outfit set fire to the machine and the
high west wind quickly communicated the blaze to the straw stack
and then consumed the barn and other buildings.’
RAY WENGER, R.R. 1, Marysville, Ohio
