We know nothing about the picture except that it is a retouched
photo. It is a true to life scene in the early threshing days. That
is just the kind of an old log barn we had at home. I am sure you
will look at it long and often. Fact is, I never tire of it.
Elmer.
Mr. Miller says, ‘ I am expecting to have partially restored
spline casting. Shown in the picture. The only part I could find at
the site of its installation in 1865. This mill furnished lumber
for the homes of homesteaders in a section of Washington Territory.
A log was fitted in the spline and an overshot water wheel was on
the other end of the log. The crank operated the saw. The first
known installation was in 1865, Washington Territory.
This rig was operated in 1914 at Estivan, Sask., and I believe
that owners are Willette Bros. The engineer standing on the
platform is Lewis Ponton, now residing at Riverside, Washington.
The engine is a 25 hp. Double Simple Nichols and Shepard straw
burner and a 44 inch Red River Special separator with a 14 stake
team crew. I believe the interest and demand for steam engines has
become great enough to warrant some company putting them on the
market again. Say in about two sizes, the only changes I would
suggest would be in the drive wheels being equipped with some kind
of hard rubber lug that would not bar them from the highways. I
realize to get all this started would take some doing and I would
like to hear some of the other steam fans express their feelings
about this. Perhaps one way to raise money for such an undertaking
would be for all the members of the various steam engine clubs to
organize a company and buy shares in the company. Another plan
would be for prospective buyers to pledge 50 per cent of the cost
in advance, balance to be paid when engine was delivered. There
would be a lot of effort put forth to make all this possible but I
believe there are enough farmers and mill operators who. would
still like to use steam for power. Let’s hear from some other
boosters.
The number two picture taken last October 1956, is the same
engine and the same man, ‘the writer’. It’s on the same
farm here at Raymond, Minnesota. I am wondering if some of the
readers would be able to guess what my age is. Incidentally this
43-year-old steam engine is still in good condition. We steam it up
almost every year for the pleasure we get out of it. Lately we
haven’t used it so much, but whenever we need a lot of power
for pulling trees and to move buildings we steam it up. You have a
very fine magazine. Everybody grabs for it when it arrives. I hope
you keep it coming as long as I live. Henry Gerken, Raymond,
Minnesota
Case 60, new in 1919, engine with wet feet. Fred Bollig,
Mayomanie, Wisconsin, was crossing this stream at night and ran
into a hole caused by a flood. This engine was pulled out by a team
of horses and a stump pulling machine plus 7 or 8 men pulling on a
rope which was wound around the flywheel.
