The Western Development Museum often claims, and so do others,
that they pull in old relics that haven’t turned a wheel for 25
or 35 years. This photograph bears out that statement. This old
time portable was made by the R. Whitelaw Company at Woodstock,
Ontario, Canada, quite possibly in the 1890’s. It stood in a
fence corner so long on a Saskatchewan farm at Creel man that a
Bruce Phelps, had to chop away with an axe before he could free the
engine. It was a case of nature losing out. She tried to anchor the
tractor to the ground but the Museum won the final round.
That’s Curator George Shepherd examining the tree rings and, as
everyone admits, it’s a good picture of the tree. Indications
are that the tree took close to thirty years to do the job you see
in the picture. What we are after is to find out if any readers of
the ALBUM could supply us with picture, cuts or any information on
the Whitelaw engines. We are working the engine over now, leaving
the tree trunk in, of course, and we would be most grateful if we
could get a head-on shot or a sideways shot or any information on
the Whitelaw engines. We appeal to all old-timers to help us
out.
On September 26th and 27th, 1959, Al Hamilton, Jack Kadinger,
and Nels Westergard presented their second annual Steam Threshing
Demonstration on the Westergard farm located 11 miles South of
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Three engines provided the steam to
thresh four large stacks of grain. In addition, several older
gasoline tractors and miniature steam engines were on display and
operating. The Horseless Carriage Club of Sioux Falls were present
with many antique automobiles, all in running condition. A parade
was held both days and each former engineer was given a chance to
show his skill at operating rigs. The rainy weather hurt our crowd
considerable the first day but the total attendance was well into
the thousands. Cars were seen from as far away as West Virginia and
Oklahoma as well as the four state area surrounding South Dakota.
Armed with the intention of keeping this part of the ‘good old
days’ alive, these three gentlemen are planning for a bigger
and better show next year.
The ‘Krueger Fan’ at Joy land Park, August 9, 1959, in
Wichita, Kansas. At the time this picture was taken, the Fan was
pulled by Harold Ottaway’s 1906 7 hp FOOS portable gas engine,
No. 23398. His FOOS engine has 40 in. flywheels, 28 in. belt
pulley, 1 cyl., hit and miss governed at 310 rpm. The power and
load balanced out at 760 rpm. for the Fan and 300 rpm. for the
engine, which had to ‘hit every lick’. Ted Krueger,
originator of this type fan, says he has pulleys 8 in. to 14 in.,
in 1 in. steps, for the Fan, which rims are quick-changing by
bolting the size desired to a master hub at one end of the Fan
shaft. To hear those little 1/3 scale steamers ‘talk’ when
pulling the Fan, will give you ‘goose pimples’. Ted also
states that the photo on page 32 of the January-February, 1960
IRON-MEN is of a 1912 Fairbanks-Morse 15-25 hp., 1 cylinder.
Oil-Tractor. It belongs to William Tichenor of Charleston,
Illinois.
Pictured is a 26 hp Advance Compound engine bought in 1909, by
Millin Brothers. We then owned an 18 hp Compound Advance and 32 x
54 separator, 36 x 56 Advance separator and 12 roll Advance
shredder, an 8 roll Deer shredder, Garr-Scott clover huller and a
Frick saw mill. I am sitting on the only one left now. I sold to
the other partners in 1915. Before I bought in with my brothers I
threshed at Brownsdale, Minnesota, and Sisseton, South Dakota, and
ran a steam plowing outfit at Hettinger, North Dakota, one season.
I am retired now, and 77 years, but still enjoy the reunions.
