SOOT IN THE FLUES

have attended a number of the American Threshermans Shows at
Pinckneyville, Illinois and southern Illinois is Keck-Gonnerman
country. The below picture (which was taken on the fairgrounds
where the show is held). We see two good-looking Keck-Gonnerman
engines right up front Number 1787 and Number 1788. Coincidence?
Not only that, but Ole 1788 which has been Coat of Arms you might
say for ‘Soot in the Flues.’ Now, might we sometimes have a
picture of the Gentleman peering into the smoke-box of Ole 1788?
Show, de man widde big cigardare ya-How about it, huh?’

Don’t dare us too far A. L. sometimes it’s better to let
things as they are-thanks for your interest anyhow and for
recognizing the engine. You might be surprised if he (?) turns
around.

And NOAH WENGERD, R. D. 1, Box 237, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania
15552 wrote: ‘The Nov.-Dec. issue is so interesting I can
hardly quit reading it-and such good pictures someone still has
good ones. But the old-timers never write enough go until it is
real interesting then quit. Keep up the good work. One thing nice
about your magazine-no quarreling like some have of course you have
to have different views and so on.’

Thanks Noah, we understand your interest.

There were quite a few more letters praising the Nov.-Dec.
issue. And we all thank you for taking the time to tell us you like
our ALBUM.

Which brings me to this little paragraph on PRAISE A noted
editor once noticed a particularly fine achievement by a friend,
also an editor. He thought he would write immediately a letter of
congratulations to his friend. But he didn’t. There was a day
or two of delay, and then he said to himself, ‘Oh pshaw! He
will get hundreds of other notes about it, so I shall not bother
him with mine.’ Then he met his friend and told him how it
happened he had failed to send his letter of commendation. ‘How
many do you think I did receive?’ asked the friend. The editor
guessed many scores. But the real answer was, ‘Not
one.’-John T. Faris

Isn’t this above story true, many times we mean to write a
person a letter or call or visit but soon it escapes our memory and
like the man in the story we think they’ll get many calls from
others or etc. I think the moral to this is when you have an
inspiration to do any of these little good deeds do them right away
don’t put it off it will be too late.

And now on to the letters from your fellow readers.

ROBERT R. JOHNSON, 1108 E. Forrest Hill Ave., Peoria, Illinois
61603 would like to know if anyone could fill him in on the
biography of the author, William T. King who wrote ‘History of
the American Steam Fire Engine’.

I’m sorry I know nothing more than he is the author of the
book could anyone out in the states send Mr. Johnson any
communication on this subject?

MARVIN CAIRNS, 1603 Husted Ave., San Jose, California 95125
would like to have the name of a company or person who sells scale
model steam engines or engine casting she would like to build a 1/3
or scale model traction engine. Now I know we have some folks who
have all kinds of steam parts and etc. and H. Eltz, Juniata,
Nebraska 68955 sells little model steam engines, but they are not
the traction engines do you know of any?

G. M. BENJAMINSON, Edinburg, North Dakota 58227 writes us:
‘According to the statement on page 19 Nov.-Dec. I. M. A. you
people did not know that the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers
Association has a C. O. D. tractor at Rollag, Minnesota. This
tractor is owned by Mr. Elmer Larson of Moorhead, Minnesota and was
completely restored and rebuilt in his machine shop in Fargo, North
Dakota. Evidently the people at Culbertson, Montana did not know
about this one.’

I guess not, Mr. Benjaminson, and I still don’t know what C.
O. D. means do you?

NEWT HOWELL, 739 North Main Street, Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160
wants to know the colors the Frick Eclipse traction engine was
originally painted. How about dropping him a line fellows and let
him know I’m not sure.

A letter from JOHN A. HOWE, R. R. 5, Trenton, Ontario, Canada
states: ‘We have located and bought an oil engine very close to
home, dating back around the 1900’s. The make of the engine is
‘The Blackstone’ Carter’s Patent 89256 246-11-03 Oil
Engine British Patent Nos. 19640-00. Sold in Canada under
Blackstone Oil Engine Agents, Canadian Foundry CO-LTD.

Description of this engine is 5′ bore, 9-10′ stroke, the
two flywheels are 42′ diameter, 4′ width, 4′ web with
curved spokes with no base. Set on a cement pier. The crankshaft is
42′ in width with a counter balanced crank.

What I would like to know is what horsepower this engine is and
any information anyone has. We have to take the engine out of the
cellar in pieces as there is no outside entrance, thus we have no
pictures yet.

Please Guys, if you know anything, let John hear from you this
letter has been here quite a while and I guess I should have put it
in Gas but I know quite a few of you take both magazines.

ARTHUR A. ZUHN, 116 Hilton Court, East Peoria, Illinois 61611
pens us a letter as follows: ‘Your magazine has been referred
to me by the Henry Ford Museum as a possible source of information
about one of their exhibits. I am searching for information on a
Baker steam traction engine built around 1925 at Swanton, Ohio. It
employed a self-feeding stoker and a condenser. I am hoping to find
a late catalog or operating manual describing the machine.
Baker’s catalog No. 22, which I have, does not list such a late
or technically advanced model.’

O. K. Fellows, let’s make a showing and prove his efforts to
be worthwhile.

CLYDE S. WALTON, 4208 Old Berwich Road, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
17815 says: ‘I have purchased a Peerless traction engine,
serial number 10982. Can you tell me what year it was made,
advertised horsepower and approximate price it sold for
new?’

Three questions for you veterans and I’m sure you can help
Clyde.

MICHAEL GRABOWSKI, Box 569, Sidney, Montana 59270 is looking for
books on power plant steam boilers. He tells us he has two books
published by Audels, but if he could get better ones, he would be
happy to acquire them. Right now, he is concentrating on operation
and adjustments of steam tractors.

Any ideas, Gang?

MARK SHELDON, 1201-35th St. N. E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
writes: ‘I am interested in knowing about ‘Tiny Power,
Steam Models and Supplies’. I have not seen or heard about them
for a few years. Are they still in business? If they are, could you
tell me their address and if they have a catalog?’

I don’t know the answer to this letter either and wonder if
you fellows would drop Mark a line. Thanks!

Another inquiry from RON KRUGER, Box 1086, Stettler, Alberta,
Canada as he would like to know if the J. I. Case have the castings
for the steam traction engine. Could you help him out? I don’t
quite understand the question entirely. Oh, what would I do without
all you wonderful people?

SAM MYERS, R. R. 1, Temple Road, Brookville, Ohio 45309 had this
drawing on his envelope when he wrote us recently. He drew it
isn’t it great?

And from C. SYD MATTHEWS, Box 1300, Mea ford, Ontario, Canada
comes this RECIPE FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR-(Thanks Syd, I kept it for
this issue.)

Take twelve, fine, full-grown months, see that these are
thoroughly free from all old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate
and jealousy; cleanse them completely from every clinging spite;
pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that
these months are freed from all the past have them as fresh and
clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of
Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. This
batch will keep for just one year. Do not attempt to make up the
whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot in
this way), but prepare one day at a time, as follows:

Into each day put twelve parts of faith, eleven of patience, ten
of courage, nine of work (some people omit this ingredient and so
spoil the flavor of the rest), eight of hope, seven of fidelity,
six of liberality, five of kindness, four of rest (leaving this out
is like leaving the oil out of the salad don’t do it), three of
prayer, two of meditation, one well selected resolution. If you
have no conscientious scruples, put in about a teaspoonful of good
spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play and
a heaping capful of good humour.

Pour into the whole love; add liberally, and mix with vim. Cook
thoroughly in a fervent heat; garnish with a few smiles and a sprig
of joy, then serve with quietness, unselfishness and cheerfulness,
and a HAPPY NEW YEAR is a certainty.