Port Huron, Advance, Minneapolis Brands Among Steam Engines in Our Mail

By Steam Traction Staff
Published on August 27, 2009
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A Minnepolis threshing machine sitting in a field in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dave Brown is seeking information on the machine.
A Minnepolis threshing machine sitting in a field in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dave Brown is seeking information on the machine.
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A 30 HP Advance owned by Dave Kemler on the on the separator. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast of the events at Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held near Stanton, Mich.
A 30 HP Advance owned by Dave Kemler on the on the separator. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast of the events at Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held near Stanton, Mich.
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A 21 HP Port Huron owned by Dave Kemler on the separator, threshing oats. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast on the events at Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held on his farm near Stanton, Mich. 
A 21 HP Port Huron owned by Dave Kemler on the separator, threshing oats. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast on the events at Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held on his farm near Stanton, Mich. 
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The Minneapolis threshing machine, no. 21232 bears this nameplate. Dave Brown is seeking information on the machine.
The Minneapolis threshing machine, no. 21232 bears this nameplate. Dave Brown is seeking information on the machine.
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The gang that was present for Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held near Stanton, Mich. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast of the events at Dave Kemler's.
The gang that was present for Dave Kemler's Threshing Day, held near Stanton, Mich. Larry G. Mix shared the photo with us, to keep us abreast of the events at Dave Kemler's.
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The 16 HP Advance straw burner, seen from another vantage point, offers more artistic flourishes, courtesy of the hand of owner Dave Kemler. He chose the water tank and fuel bunker as his canvas.
The 16 HP Advance straw burner, seen from another vantage point, offers more artistic flourishes, courtesy of the hand of owner Dave Kemler. He chose the water tank and fuel bunker as his canvas.
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The 16 HP Advance straw burner Dave Kemler owns features Dave's handiwork on the water tanker and fuel bunkers. Larry G. Mix, who submitted the photo, thinks that Dave is a real artist.
The 16 HP Advance straw burner Dave Kemler owns features Dave's handiwork on the water tanker and fuel bunkers. Larry G. Mix, who submitted the photo, thinks that Dave is a real artist.
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A Messinger 35 thresher, built in Pennsylvania. A reader named Nick shared the photo wifh us. He would like more information on the thresher.
A Messinger 35 thresher, built in Pennsylvania. A reader named Nick shared the photo wifh us. He would like more information on the thresher.
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A Messinger 35 thresher, built in Pennsylvania. The photo was sent to us by a reader named Nick, who hasn't had much luck finding information about the thresher. 
A Messinger 35 thresher, built in Pennsylvania. The photo was sent to us by a reader named Nick, who hasn't had much luck finding information about the thresher. 
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Part of a steam engine at Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calif., can be seen in this photo sent in by Arthur Clarke. He is looking for information on the engine.
Part of a steam engine at Angels Camp Museum in Angels Camp, Calif., can be seen in this photo sent in by Arthur Clarke. He is looking for information on the engine.
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A Reeves engine owned by the Atzinger family gets its flues cleaned by two women in the clan.
A Reeves engine owned by the Atzinger family gets its flues cleaned by two women in the clan.
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Steam engine row at the 2006 Pioneer Engineers 58th Reunion in Rushville, Ind. Brian Vaughn shared this photo of the show event with us. 
Steam engine row at the 2006 Pioneer Engineers 58th Reunion in Rushville, Ind. Brian Vaughn shared this photo of the show event with us. 
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A John Deere crawler manned by Mr. Ploeger takes part in the tractor pull at the Pioneer Engineers 58th Reunion in Rushville, Ind. held Aug. 4-6, 2006. Crawlers were the show's feature. Brian Vaughn sent in this photo from the show event. 
A John Deere crawler manned by Mr. Ploeger takes part in the tractor pull at the Pioneer Engineers 58th Reunion in Rushville, Ind. held Aug. 4-6, 2006. Crawlers were the show's feature. Brian Vaughn sent in this photo from the show event. 
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The separators offered by the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. are listed in this cut from the company's circa 1899 return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned in the image and sent it our way.
The separators offered by the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. are listed in this cut from the company's circa 1899 return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned in the image and sent it our way.
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A rear view of a Minneapolis engine, from a scanned page of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned pages from the catalog and sent it our way, to support Ray Lightfoot's identification of an image in the last issue (Summer 2007) of Steam Traction.
A rear view of a Minneapolis engine, from a scanned page of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned pages from the catalog and sent it our way, to support Ray Lightfoot's identification of an image in the last issue (Summer 2007) of Steam Traction.
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A side view of a straw burner Minneapolis engine, from a scanned page of a circa 1899 Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger sent the image our way.
A side view of a straw burner Minneapolis engine, from a scanned page of a circa 1899 Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. return-flue catalog. Gary Yaeger sent the image our way.
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A Minneapolis engine that's just like Ray Lightfoot's grandfather's engine, which appeared in Steam Traction in the Spring 2007 issue. Gary Yaeger shared the image with us.
A Minneapolis engine that's just like Ray Lightfoot's grandfather's engine, which appeared in Steam Traction in the Spring 2007 issue. Gary Yaeger shared the image with us.
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Minneapolis specifications for simple and compound engines appear in this catalog cut, shared by Gary Yaeger. 
Minneapolis specifications for simple and compound engines appear in this catalog cut, shared by Gary Yaeger. 
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A Minneapolis engine with a tandem compound engine, another catalog image Gary Yaeger sent us.
A Minneapolis engine with a tandem compound engine, another catalog image Gary Yaeger sent us.
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The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. logo appears on the cover of a circa 1899 catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned the image.
The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. logo appears on the cover of a circa 1899 catalog. Gary Yaeger scanned the image.
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A gasoline-powered Froelich tractor in South Dakota appears in this photo, according to its label, but Ron Harris thinks it looks more like a steam engine running the separator. He would like to know if anyone can identify the engine.
A gasoline-powered Froelich tractor in South Dakota appears in this photo, according to its label, but Ron Harris thinks it looks more like a steam engine running the separator. He would like to know if anyone can identify the engine.
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A Minneapolis engine appears in this postcard found on eBay. Gary Yeager sent the image our way.
A Minneapolis engine appears in this postcard found on eBay. Gary Yeager sent the image our way.
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A model steam engine built made using P.M. Research plans, by Melvin Hofer, Freeman, S.D. It includes a boiler, water pump, jack shaft, Emery wheels, generator and light bulb.  
A model steam engine built made using P.M. Research plans, by Melvin Hofer, Freeman, S.D. It includes a boiler, water pump, jack shaft, Emery wheels, generator and light bulb.  
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At the Pawnee Steam School held in Portland, Ind., instructor Harold Stark gives pointers. The school was held March 24-25, 2007. Mark Corson, Crown Point, Ind., shared the photo with us.
At the Pawnee Steam School held in Portland, Ind., instructor Harold Stark gives pointers. The school was held March 24-25, 2007. Mark Corson, Crown Point, Ind., shared the photo with us.
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An Ajax model steam engine from Tony Powers Inc. plans, built by Melvin Hofer.
An Ajax model steam engine from Tony Powers Inc. plans, built by Melvin Hofer.
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Joe
Joe "Mr. Case" Graziana explains the inner workings of an engine govener to students during a steam school class during the Oklahoma Steam and Gas Engine Assn.'s Pawnee Steam School held March 24-25. The 2007 school was held at the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Assn. grounds in Porland, Ind., and Mark Corson, of Crown Point, Ind, shared this photo with us.

MINNEAPOLIS THRESHING MACHINE CO.

Dave Brown, 50 Saddlemead Way N.E., Calgary, ALB Canada T3J 4J5; (403) 273-9081 (e-mail: owlspotter@shaw.ca), is seeking information on a threshing machine. Dave sent along the first two photos in the image gallery, and writes:

I am with the Saddle Ridge Community Assn. located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The photos I’m sharing are of a piece of equipment that sits in a field in our community. My research tells me the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. went out of business in 1929. I was wondering if any of your readers might be able to enlighten us as to what exactly the equipment would have been used for. I am assuming the number on the plate represents a model number.

DAVE KEMLER’S THRESHING DAY

Larry G. Mix, 2075 Coburn Road, Hastings, MI 49058 (e-mail: crazyhorse13@hotmail.com), continues to keep us abreast on Dave Kemler’s Threshing Day held on his farm near Stanton, Mich. Larry shared the next five photos in the image gallery. He writes:

Here are some photos I took at Dave Kemler’s Threshing Day in November 2006.

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