NOTES FROM THE NORTH

with their cars. Mr. Westling has a nice 50 HP Case steamer which
has been in the family since it was new in 1914. Floyd had a fine
crowd and a lovely day. It was hot as blazes, as my job was to
operate the 50 HP Case and I sure did lose some pounds from the
heat.

Oscar Westling had his 25 x 75 Case steamer there and Mr. Glen
Crandall of Ponoka brought his 28 x 80 George White plowing engine,
also his plow which added a nice attraction. Mr. Crandall usually
threshes about 60 acres on his farm with his steamer belted to a
Rumely separator.

I have some unhappy news for those of you who know Walter Spree
man at Olds. He was severely injured while spraying crops by aero
plane, however he is coming along fine and says he will be running
his own 65 HP Case as soon as he is able.

I own two engines, a 40 HP Case, in mint condition with a butt
strap boiler; also a 16 x 48 Rumely double cylinder. With the butt
strap boiler, this is a very powerful engine and also in mint
condition, but not painted yet. This engine really belongs to my
wife but I try to claim it once in awhile, as it is such a
beauty.

I am a Pressure Vessel Welder and Boiler Maker by trade. I enjoy
very much the discussion on boilers that appear every once in
awhile. If I may say a few words on the subject, it will be this. I
am never half as scared of a boiler with ‘reasonable’
pressure on it, as I am of an incompetent engineer. You could take
a boiler with a proper ‘safety valve’ and put an iron plug
in the fusible hole and then build a fire in it and boil it dry and
melt it completely down without any danger to anyone from an
explosion as it will not explode as long as the safety valve works
and once the water is boiled out all that is left is to melt the
boiler down. So much for that.

Pressures to operate at some inspectors say if the engine has a
lap seam boiler, it should not operate over 100 lbs. P.S.I. This
makes sense provided the inspector is capable of a proper cold
water and hammer test. If an inspector cannot find the weak spots
with his hammer then he should not be an inspector and I don’t
mean that he should beat the boiler to death. Most inspectors fear
lap seam boilers to have channeled or grooved but very few
inspectors allow or demand various tests that can be made of these
seams.

My helper on engine is John Kvill, New Norway, Alberta. John is
a fine engine man and very capable with an engine. That’s me
bending over chopping wood. At right is my wife’s 1916 16 x 48
Double simple M. Rumely, 175 Ib. This is a beautiful engine and in
fine shape. Don Brownell is operating here. Courtesy of Fred
Freschette, R. D. 4 Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

1.You may drill holes through the boiler shell along the seam
for metal thickness test and pipe thread these holes and put plugs
in when these tests are made. This can be done without damage or
danger to the boiler.

2.Also the Ultrasonic testing equipment available at any boiler
or pressure vessel plant can be used to test the metal for
thickness and any cracks. This is absolutely accurate if these
machines are operated by a proficient operator. I have noticed
there is a considerable difference in inspectors also. So it is
wise to listen to them as many of them are very good tradesmen and
know what they are talking about.

But once more I tell you I am more afraid of a poor quality
engineer or a show-off who rough handles these wonderful old
machines, than I am of an old boiler that will stand a reasonable
test. So use common sense and you won’t have to learn too much
to become a good engineer because you have started with the best
foundation-COMMON SENSE.

I threshed 1,000 bushels this spring for my neighbor, Orville
Gehrke. He has a 28′ IHC separator and I used the 40 HP Case.
It was a lovely day and everyone enjoyed themselves.

I have been a subscriber to your magazine for quite some time
and am always pleased with it.