Hawley, Minnesota
I AM ENCLOSING a clipping from a local newspaper describing our
Second Annual Western Minn., Steam Threshers Ruunion, 1955.
We were blessed with the most beautiful Fall weather one could
ever wish for. I must say we all had a wonderful time.
I read with much interest Mr. William R. Benda’s letter to
Advance Rumley thresher and Advance side mounted engine Models.
I was somewhat amazed that Mr. Benda is not aware of the fact
that Advance built a 22hp. side mounted engine. Here in Western
Minnesota, Advance enjoyed a great deal of popularity. I am 47
years old and in my time I remember more than 20 Advance engines
that were used to power threshing machines in and around this
community. Out of this group of engines, 6 were 22hp. Simple, the
rest being 26hp. tandem compounds, 30hp. simple and a 35hp. tandem
compound. All these engines were side mounted and built in Battle
Creek, Michigan.
The 22hp. was often referred to as being one of the snappiest of
all Advance engines. It was also noted for its clear cut and sharp
exhaust.
On a still morning when belted to a large thresher the
‘bark’ could be heard sometimes for miles around.
Thanks a lot for allowing space in your magazine for the poem,
‘The Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion’, by William
A. Nelson, of Hawley, Minnesota. We have had a lot of response from
different parts of the country commenting on this poem. The last
letter received came from Mr. Geo. W. Cooper of Framlingham,
England.
