Route 1, Box 13 Steinauer, Nebraska 68441
I was born January 29, 1909, and grew up on a farm. I have
memories of steam engines because my father purchased a new Case
steam engine and 32′ thresher, water tank, and Case wagon to
carry it on.
Looking back, I think the literature on threshers and steam
and studied all the steam engine and thresher books and literature
that came to our house.
I used to study the designs of the different makes. Some had
front wheels mounted at the front of the boiler barrel and others
part way back. On some, the boiler barrels rode lower on the front
axle assembly than others. Some had the cylinder to the rear of the
crank wheel and others to the front. Then also, some had the
smokestack at the rear of the boiler, others to the front.
At that time I could not understand the difference but by now,
at 88, I’ve had it explained to me many times. It doesn’t
make any difference, I like to watch them all.
At one time I was buying surplus earth moving equipment, using
it and reselling it. I had Allis, IHC, Cletrac and Cat. I’ve
been asked many times which brand was the best. I always said the
operator was 90% and the equipment was 10%.
To get back to steam engines and threshers, I have this to add.
My father, at one time in his life, was half-partner in the
following makes of steam threshing outfits: Buffalo Pitts, Gaar
Scott, Aultman-Taylor, Huber, Avery and Case. He always said he
thought the Reeves engine was his first choice.
