PRESERVATION ACT

The J.I. Case Collectors’ Association has almost met its
goal to secure this magnificent 12 HP ciraca-1890 Case return-flue
traction engine.

The January/February 2004 issue of Steam Traction made
passing reference to a circa-1890 Case return-flue engine and a
project to place it on display in a museum in Racine, Wis.

There is, it turns out, much more to the story. The engine, a 12
HP straw-burner, was once owned by Calvin Whitaker of Pendleton,
Ind., who bought the engine in Minnesota where it had been used on
a sawmill. It was displayed in Portland, Ind., in 1992 for the J.I.
Case Collectors convention and to celebrate 150 years of Case.

Shortly thereafter, collector Konnie Kuiper of Highland, Ind.,
purchased it and had it restored to museum-quality condition. A few
years ago, Konnie decided to sell the engine and contacted Jerry
Sanders, treasurer for the Plain City, Ohio-based J.I. Case
Collectors’ Association (JICCA). Konnie knew Jerry was
interested in the engine, and more importantly he knew Jerry wanted
the engine for the new Racine Heritage Museum, currently under
construction and slated to open in 2006. The new museum will house
the collection of Case and IHC antique machinery that was formerly
part of the old Case museum. In addition to donating the equipment
from its old museum, The Case Co. has also donated the old Case
archives to the new museum. These promise to be an invaluable
resource for researchers and restorers alike.

After talking with Konnie, Jerry went to the JICCA board of
directors and secured approval to negotiate with Konnie for
purchase of the Case. The engine wouldn’t come cheap, but given
its rarity – only three are known to exist and its stunning
condition, that came as no surprise. The problem, of course, was
raising the money to finance the $45,000 purchase price.

In the fall of 2002, and with Jerry as project leader, the JICCA
launched a fundraiser to buy the case. The planned purchase hit a
snag when another interested buyer entered the picture, and for a
little while it looked as if the JICCA’s bid to buy the Case
might get scuttled. Enter collector extraordinaire George Schaaf,
well-known for his Schaaf Truck & Tractor Museum in Frankfurt,
Ill. George generously volunteered to purchase the engine, thus
securing it and giving the JICCA time to raise the necessary funds.
The engine is now in George’s possession, housed in his museum
until the new Racine Heritage Museum is completed.