September-October issue already?? Yep! By the time this magazine
arrives there will be many children already outfitted with their
new duds for school and anticipation runs high as they try and
guess who the home room teacher will be and which friends got in
whose class and on and on remember? Not much different from the
days we went to school. But, one thing about it, it still is summer
and still some vacation time, so go ahead and savor every last free
summer day and its enjoyable memories. And if you are attending the
shows to make some memories, please don’t forget to share them
with me. I’ll be waiting for your letters.
With our first letter, perhaps someone could help on the
knowledge of two steam boats as ALLARD M. PETERSON, Route 1, Eland,
Wisconsin 54427 writes: ‘I write to you because your location
in the Eastern United States may be reason for someone in the
Adirondack region of New York State to read this letter.
‘In the year 1878 a little girl was born in Schroon Lake,
New York on the banks of that lake. She lived there until she had
reached the age of ten years, when because of her mother’s
illness they moved westward. Really when they settled in central
Wisconsin, the climate was very much the same as they had left.
‘On Schroon Lake a small steamboat made regular trips from
the railhead at the foot of the lake, up the long slim lake to
villages along the lake, which in season were resort towns at the
time.
‘This boat, the Effingham plied the lake for many years
until other modes of transportation became better. Just when she
started and when she finished I do not know, and would like to. An
old time engineman, I would like to know details of her power until
and so forth.
‘To the eastward, lay a small lake, and here they used a
very small steamboat called the Thayandenega or some such name
which pulled rafts of logs. Its date may not have quite
corresponded with the Effingham, but almost. Of course I would like
to know all about it. I have a couple pictures of the Effingham,
and of course the little girl who later was my mother, and still a
bit lonesome for her childhood home, told me tales of the
Effingham. Wilson Murdock, who was at one time Postmaster at South
Schroon, still lives on the old Murdock Homestead in retirement
with his wife, Edith. So, if anyone knows a bit about the Effingham
or the Thayandenega, and would like to share the knowledge, write
me and we can become acquainted.’ (If you hear from any of the
IMA family please let us know what you find out, perhaps a few
stories intertwined with the pictures you have that would be
interesting.)
Next letter comes from PAUL W. HOLTON, 10022 Marnice Avenue,
Tujunga, California 91042: ‘I would like to take a moment of
your time to tell you how much I enjoy your column ‘Soot in the
Flues’ each month. Seems that I always thumb thru and look at
the pictures first, hoping to see someone I might know, but I never
fail to come back to Anna Mae.
‘In the July-August issue there were a couple of items that
caught my attention, so I thought I would give you the benefit of
my small amount of knowledge on these subjects.
‘First of all, DICK HEAVEN of Clarksville, Mich. in
commenting on the unclassified photos in the Mar. Apr. issue of
IMA, he identifies photo #6 as being a left handed Port Huron. I
have the feeling that Port Huron never built a left handed engine,
at least not in that size. I think the fly in the ointment, so to
speak, is the fact that someone, perhaps unknowingly, printed this
picture in reverse. This is easily done, of course, by turning the
negative upside down with the emulsion on the wrong side. This
engine looks to me very much like the one in picture #5 and I would
even venture to say that it is the same engine, as evidenced by the
kinks in the edge of the roofing on the homebuilt cab. The two
little humps over the window and the bent down place on the corner
are the most prominent bits of evidence. Perhaps I am all wrong
about this, and if I am, I would like to hear from someone out
there that has the right answer. (Interesting theory, Paul a check
of our files shows that the photo we have was printed as it appears
not inadvertently reversed by our printer. However, such an error
may have occurred when the original was printed.)
‘Secondly, you asked about Ritchie’s Weeden toy steam
engines. They were built by the WEEDEN MANUFACTURING CO., New
Bedford, Mass. I’m afraid that I do not have more information
on these engines as the number built, different types, years they
were in business, etc. It would be nice if someone could come up
with some information on them, as I am sure there are quite a few
still in the hands of you fellows out there.
‘Well, that just about takes care of me for this time.
Thanks again, Anna Mae, for your wonderful column and keep up the
good work.’ (Glad you enjoy our magazine so muchit’s
because all of you who contribute to it make it so
interesting.)
Thomas Wm. Diehl, 34 South Main Street, Navarre, Ohio 44662
sends this letter which contains a good deal of information
you’ll enjoy it: ‘I was reading your article in the
July-August 1982 IMA concerning the C. Aultman and Co. I always
enjoy reading Iron-Men and especially about the C. Aultman and Co.,
since Bill Rees of Canton, O. and myself own a 12 HP Aultman Star
built in 1904. Despite the common misbelief that the C. Aultman and
Co. became part of the Aultman-Taylor, this is not correct.
‘Cornelius Aultman, founder of C. Aultman and Co., in 1859,
incorporated according to the laws of the state of Ohio, in the
fall of 1865. In 1867 C. Aultman and Henry Taylor who had
previously been a salesman for C. Aultman and Co., founded Aultman,
Taylor and Co. (changed to the Aultman & Taylor Machinery Co.
in 1891).
‘About 1875 Mr. Aultman sold most of his interest in C.
Aultman & Co. and withdrew from its active management, in favor
of his partnership with Mr. Taylor. Dec. 26, 1884, Cornelius
Aultman died of a heart attack at the age of 57. The C. Aultman
& Co. ran into financial hard times in the 1900’s. By 1905
the company’s assets were sold to satisfy creditors at a
bankruptcy sale on Tuesday, May 9, 1905. Interesting enough, the
court appointed superintendent Heggen, of the Russell Co. of
Massillon, O. to appraise the Aultman Co. For all general purposes,
this ended the corporate history of the C. Aultman & Co.
‘The above information was found in a booklet written by
Lorin E. Bixler, titled ‘Cornelius Aultman, C. Aultman &
Co. and the Aultman Co.’ and published in 1967 by Stemgas
Publishing Co. No doubt they are out of print by now. Information
in the Stark County Historical Society in Canton, O. agrees and no
doubt was the source of much of Lorin’s original
information.
‘In Lorin Bixler’s closing remarks in his book, he
says:
It is regrettable that even though many Aultman engines were at
one time in use in Ohio, often leading to the remark that there was
one in every fence corner, yet not one is to be found today in all
the Buckeye State. It may be asking too much that a turn in events
might occur which would make possible a return to the Buckeye State
for safe keeping a Star, a double Star, or a Monitor engine.
‘With this in mind and having already purchased a 13 HP
Russell, we thought it might be nice to have a Russell and Aultman,
the only 2 traction engines constructed in Stark County, Ohio.
Further research showed that only a hand full of steam models have
survived in North America; a 10 HP Star, two 12 HP Star traction
engines, a 16 HP Phoenix engine, a 12 HP Phoenix, one or two
Monitor portables and 2 undermounted Double-Star engines. I would
love to hear from any Aultman owners and their whereabouts.
‘In July of 1975, my brother saw the 12 HP Star owned by
Harold Blair at the Meadville Show in Pa. It was previously owned
by Arthur Young of Kinzers, Pa. It was not until Ja. of 1982 that
we were able to purchase and bring the Star back home.
‘We plan to fire up the Aultman for the steam show hosted by
the TWD RR at the Navarre, O. Autumn fest on Sept. 18 &
19,1982.’
Taking some information from you and giving some data on boats
are the subjects of a letter from PETE LaBELLE, 313 Sheridan, Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783: ‘I need some information and have
some to pass on. First, I’ve owned a 5 HP Fairbanks Morse
‘Z’ gas engine now for six years. Having been to most of
the shows in Michigan and watching the IMA, I’ve found no other
like it. Is this a rare engine?
‘This next bit is for you nautical buffs. Living in Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan for the past two years, I’ve watched two
pieces of history closely.
‘The first is the tugboat, the ‘Dolomite’. Built in
1927 at 95 feet in length, it was the last steam tug on the Great
Lakes still in commercial use. It has been dieselized and still is
hard at work.
‘Another boat to mention is the 351 foot ‘Chief
Wawantam’. Built in 1911, this is the last hand-fired steamer
on the Great Lakes. It is a railroad ferry bridging the upper and
lower peninsulas of Michigan. Having to break ice in the winter for
itself, the boat was designed with an engine and propeller in the
bow (front) along with the two at the stern (rear). This bow
propeller basically sucked the water from under the ice to make it
easier to break through several feet of ice. Due to decreasing rail
traffic and shortage of funds, the ‘Chief is being laid up the
end of April until its owners decide what to do with her.
Don’t get me wrong, there are still many steamers on the
Great Lakes, but they are all oil-fired.’
Logging in Northern California in the early
days.
Earliest type of logging Steam Donkey with
engine belted to boiler. Photos courtesy Walt Thayer
‘Peterman’ Manufacturing Co. #23Early day logging truck
at company mill yard, Tacoma, Washington. The forerunner of the
‘Peterbilt’ truck.
Raymond L. Norton’s Crepaco engine.
‘There is an Advance Rumely traction engine being restored
at Berryville, Arkansas. It’s about ready to the Hydro. It is a
1918 or 1920, #15132.’ (Do hope Ken finds time to write about
his Case encounter!)
A short note comes from DELFORD WORLEY, 1919 Tamarack Lane, Apt.
8, Janesville, Wisconsin 53545 as he renews his subscription:
‘I enjoy my Iron-Men Album very much. My father used to thresh
years ago, so I have steam in my blood. I especially like the
pictures. Ask around and see if anyone has seen a McVicker engine.
My dad had a 4 HP once.’ (O.K.I imagine there’s someone out
there ready to drop Del a line.)
A note comes from GERALD DARR, 215 Oaklawn Avenue, Fremond, Ohio
43420 and he says: ‘I really enjoy IMA and especially how some
men write in and identify persons and engines in some of your
pictures. They sure had some narrow escapes as one picture shows in
July-August issue.
‘We will have to miss the NTA show in Wauseon this year as
we are leaving on a train trip via CNR across Canada. We take a
local train from Windsor, Ont., then on to Toronto where we board
the Canadian, the daily train from Montreal to Vancouver, B.C. It
is a 4-day trip and we have pull man berths something new for us.
We will be going to Butchard Gardens in Victoria, go to Calgary and
have breakfast in the space needle, just hope to enjoy ourselves
and will do a lot of things that will suit our fancy. Another steam
buff and wife are going along.
‘Carl Lathrop came through with another superb article.
I’ve got to finish reading the rest of the magazine.’
(Well, you all have a good trip and maybe you’ll find something
of steam interest also write us if you do!)
DALE O. MILLER, 444 Waddington Road, Birmingham, MI 48009 says
that two years ago we ran an ad for Heat Engines made in Gault,
Ontario. He ordered two of them and would like to get in touch with
the company as he wants to ask them something, but it seems he does
not have the address of the manufacturer. Is there anyone out there
who knows which company he is seeking? Please let Dale know and
notify us also. Thanks!
I’m sure many of you members of the Iron-Men Album Magazine
family will miss Pauline Schaefer at the shows this year. Many of
you have probably seen the announcement of her death on March 9,
but perhaps many of you did not know this. Someone had mentioned
her to me the other day in a phone call, so I thought I would tell
you again in my column. Many of you I’m sure remember her and
know who I mean as she worked for many years for Stemgas Publishing
Co. taking your subscriptions and handling our materials at the
shows. Pauline was an interesting person and a joy to know. She did
a terrific job! She thoroughly enjoyed it as I’m sure you know
if you ever talked with her. She will be greatly miossed at the
forthcoming shows. I know you share with me in extending sympathies
to the family and friends of Pauline.
And that winds things up for this time except for a few quotes
The way to avoid great faults is to beware of small ones…Learn
from the mistakes of others, you cannot possibly live long enough
to make them all yourself…If you confer a benefit, never remember
it. If you receive one, never forget it…Every day is judgment day
use a lot of it!…Where God guides, He provides…Love Ya
