NEEDS HELP
We have been reading the recent issues of your magazine. In our
Museum work we find some valuable information in almost every
issue. Many times it is a matter of reference material, which
enables us to form another link in the chain of history of some of
our ancient machines.
Personally I find the letters from time to time appearing in
your magazine from old time threshermen most interesting. Having
been a thresherman myself, starting when I was 14 years old,
pitching bundles for the first two years on an old fashion hand fed
Stanley Jones combination outfit and at the age of 16 having to
take over full responsibility and operate progressively larger
outfits, as well as manage the crew, I must admit that I still like
the smell of chaff and steam.
We invite any or all of the readers of your magazine to come up
and visit us in Canada, as I guess we maybe have the largest
collection of old fashioned steam and gas tractors, automobiles and
horse drawn rigs that there is in quite a large area. We are not
boasting but we admit we are proud of our collection, although we
have a great deal yet to do to complete it.
Was wondering if some of your readers could help us. We are
reconditioning a number of gas and steam tractors at the present
time, and we are rather stuck on two of them. One is a Nilson
Senior. This tractor, according to specifications was rated as a 36
horse power. What we are stuck on is the radiator and all the
cowling, that is the engine cover, the frame work for same, as well
as the screen or whatever should go in the front end where the
radiator usually sits in most tractors. To remind you in the case
of the Nilson Senior the radiator is at the back of the hood. In
fact it is just about the centre of the engine, just in front of
the steering wheel and the driver.
We have secured some pictures from our old friend, Hal Higgins,
but we still can’t get a detailed one of the front hood, close
enough up to see how the screen or whatever arrangement was used in
the front end construction, or what type of material and what
design exactly.
The other tractor on which we a: stuck is the Pioneer Special,
manufactured in Winona, Minnesota, rate as a 15-30 with horizontal
motor. On this one we are short a radiator and the hood, in fact
all the cowling in the front end of it, as well as several of the
inspection plates that are made of cast off the motor. If any of
the readers know where we can get any of these parts or close-up
pictures of the Nilson Senior tractor taken from the front end, we
would sure like to hear from you. Maybe we have something to trade
that you could make use of in return.
Plans are progressing rapidly for our regular annual Pion-Era
show held here in Saskatoon. The dates this year are June 29th to
July 4th. How about making this a holiday trip and come to northern
Saskatchewan and see us. A hearty invitation is extended to
all.
Wishing your magazine every success
J. L. PHELPS, Craiman, Western Development Museum Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, Canada
SOMETHING TAKES PLACE
Every year about this time something takes place in my physical
make up that causes my brain to set in motion and it comes up with
the idea that I should send you a check for $2.00 to extend my
subscription to the ALBUM another year. I did not realize when I
first subscribed to the ‘Farm Album’, late in 1949 that
would be taking the Magazine so long and getting so much enjoyment
from it. Also the books you sell have meant much to me. Have
recently purchased three ‘American Thresherman’ magazines
published in 1900 in fine condition. Also two Port Huron catalogs
and a Huber published in 1901. It a real pleasure to look them over
every few weeks. Brings back the good old days of childhood.
Something like the old ‘Swimming’ Hole’. God has been
good to us, Elmer, hasn’t He?
LEONARD E. NEWTON, 1427 Elm Street, Grinnell, Iowa
THANKS TO YOU
Dear reader of the IRON-MEN ALBUM, I want to thank you one and
all for the nice response my husband (Henry Long) got from the
letter-article I wrote to the ALBUM. He has received letters from
all over the U.S.A. and several from Canada, and the nicest and
most interesting pictures. Some letters had as high as 14 pictures
in it. I have put them in a picture album and have marked each one
so we will know who they are from and what they represent. Each
picture has a story.
Henry has enjoyed the letters and pictures a great deal. I think
our children and grandchildren get as much enjoyment from them as
he does. He’s still receiving them.
I want to thank you of the ALBUM and all the readers again for
being so nice to one who is a shut-in. At this writing he’s not
very well, don’t seem to improve much. One never knows how many
good friends they have until you have something like what we are
going through.
MR. and MRS. HENRY LONG, 904 No. 9th St., St. Joseph, Missouri
(formerly of Faucett R.D.1, Mo.)
WELL PLANNED
Got a kick reading E. C. Forman’s story in the Nov.-Dec.
issue of the ALBUM. Reminding of a morning over fifty years ago, in
Kansas, where we were unloading a Case separator for a German
family.
The railroad had set the car on the siding the night before and
Jake, Sr., Jake, Jr., and Mary Ann were in hand early next morning,
to help with the unloading. Jake, Sr., put in the whole morning
telling us what a rough time the engineer and water monkey had
given him the year before.
It seemed that they would get tanked up on something stronger
than strawberry pop every week-end and would not show up to thresh
until the following Tuesday.
But Jake, Sr., says, ‘I got that fixed this year. Mine boy,
Jake, will en-shine, Mine brudder, Henry, will thresh box and I
think I will monkey water self this year.’
The old time threshing has faded out of the picture. That’s
the way of life. The wheel turns, grinds out the old and takes in
the new.
CHARLIE FAY, R. D. 4, Box 321A, Greeley, Colorado
