This is a photograph of a Kansas threshing crew and the ‘New
Giant’ steam engine they are using. The engine was built by the
Northwest Thresher Company of Stillwater, Minnesota. This
particular engine was probably built in the late 1880s or early
1890s before bevel gearing had been perfected for traction engines.
If you look between the second and third man from the left you can
On this page and the next three, you will find material
submitted by Larry G. Creed of R.R. #13, Box 209, Brazil, IN 47834,
pertaining to the Northwest Thresher Company and their ‘New
Giant’ engine. On the next two pages are excerpts from a
company catalogue, followed by two additional historical
photos.
All New Giant steam engines had 40 inch flywheels, and the
boiler diameters were either 42 or 44 inch. All engines produced by
the Northwest Thresher Company were fired and steamed up for four
consecutive days at the factory during which time they were
inspected by state boiler authorities. Apparently the 100 gallon
water tank which was put on at the factory was more trouble than it
was worth, as you notice it is gone from this engine
At the base of the smokestack is the round flywheel of the Clark
Independent steam pump which was put on every Northwest Thresher
Company steam engine built. These pumps could be operated by steam
to fill the boiler or could be operated by hand to wash out or to
test the boiler. The ‘New Giant’ simple 20 HP and 25 HP
steam engines were exactly the same boiler, bore and stroke; the
difference being the 25 HP engine carried 150 lbs. of steam rather
than 120 lbs. which the 20 HP carried. This 30 lbs. of extra steam
pressure gave an additional 5 HP
