Red Emery-Huber

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R.J. Hartwig
Red Emery of Hadley, Michigan with the 12 Hp Huber. Courtesy of R.J. Hartwig, Route 3, Box 3722, Grayling, Michigan 39738.

Route 3, Box 3722, Grayling, Michigan 49738

Red fired up the Huber the other day – ran it out in the yard
behind the barn so I could make a snapshot. I developed the
negatives and made a print – but have been awful slow about writing
something and sending it to the proper place.

Now, here we are, about 40,000 feet in the air, heading for
Oregon to visit a bit and, hopefully, to get a look at some of
their logging and mill operations. Just finished brunch and
we’re over Utah. Beautiful ride on this DC 10 – first time on a
big plane for me.

Huber story goes back to Lloyd Birklebau, lately of South Lyons,
Michigan, who was a great collector and mechanic. He kept a good
many tons of antiques from ending up in the scrap heap. I’m
told that Lloyd was an important part of the Greenfield Village
Engine Club at Dearborn, Mich. during his collecting years. A few
years ago he decided to sell a few items. I ended up with one of
the stationary engines that I think may one day turn our sawmill,
and give the old Rumely Oil Pull a rest. The 12 HP Huber was more
or less of a basket case – in the process of attaining a new
boiler. Most parts were there, but not all. I certainly thought a
long time about purchasing it but a foreseeable lack of time made
the answer a ‘no’. So, I got hold of Red Emery. Red was
retired, didn’t lack for time and had the inspiration. He has a
small farm a couple miles north of Hadley, Mich. in case any of you
folks want to visit him. Was an easy job to winch it onto a Low-boy
and deliver it to a workshop that Red had fixed up at the end of a
barn.  

They had about all the ‘fun’ that is usual. Chasing
parts. Welding in holes that were for one reason or another in the
wrong place. Then boring and re-tapping where the new boiler
wasn’t quite the same. And leaks. Red wasn’t without help
though. Dan Max field has a farm right across the road from our old
family farm. He threshed for years with a return flue Huber. In
fact, he still has it and a couple separators and a mill. My
brother, Gene, did quite a bit of the welding. Gene has the old
engine and tractor ‘bug’ too. Ernie Broecker is another
‘old’ steam buff in the community and has a couple steam
engines and a good separator. Lots of other folks helped in one way
or another. Runs good now- threshed a bit and entertained many.
Painted and pretty- and the sound can’t be beat.

Snack bar is open now- and I want to read something in the
Popular Science Magazine about heating with wood. Might be
something new. And it won’t be long before San Francisco and
then Medford.

  • Published on May 1, 1976
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