SOOT IN THE FLUES

and written to meare you sure you don’t have some other tales
of long ago, or even recently? My column is NOTHING without you
folks please make a special effort to send some more letters and
items you feel would be appropriate for this magazine. I’ll be
praying about it and see if we don’t get more letters.

As always with a magazine, we put it out a couple of months
early and I know we probably are not as much in the
‘spirit’ as we should be, but I hope as you all look
forward to the holidays and New Year, you are planning for
homecoming, loved ones being together; I thought you might like a
short story which could effect us all to boost our morale! It’s
called FORGOTTEN WINGS.

‘One winter morning, I put out breakfast for the birds
sunflower seeds, toast crumbs, suet and then stood by the window
watching, sparrows, chickadees, woodpeckers, and most beautiful of
all, the blue and silver jays with their crests blowing in the
wind.

‘A jay lighted, picked up the largest chunk of bread and
started to carry it away. But the ice-coated platform was so
slippery under his claws that he began sliding. He was over the
edge, fluttering and falling toward a snowbank, before he
remembered that he had wings. Spreading them wide, he took off in a
wild flurry for a high branch.

‘I couldn’t help laughing at how silly he looked,
skidding and yelling when he needed only to open his wings and
fly-then I stopped laughing.

‘Because what else had I been doing? I had been depressed.
Everything seemed go wrong. Yet, I had tried to save myself by my
own efforts, when all the time, folded and forgotten, I had strong
wings the wings of prayer which are always ready to bear us up if
we don’t forget to use them.’

The story is by Florence B. Jacobs, taken from Guideposts.

And on to our first letter:

TED STEIN, 412 W. Second Street, Streator, Illinois 61364 writes
and calls for HELP! ‘I recently rescued a pair of rear steam
engine wheels and I would like to find someone who might need these
wheels. The wheels’ measurements are just under 70 inches
diameter and 20 inches wide. Note the lugs are from outside im half
way with a lug alternative from the opposite side half way cast
iron rim. The wheel down under the fire box didn’t fare quite
as well. There is considerable rust and some of the spokes may have
to be replaced. The rim fared a little better badly rusted but I
believe serviceable. The bull gear is badly pitted where buried,
but the entire teeth show no wear even a couple of spots of blue
paint on the exposed edge.

‘Someone went in and cannibalized this old engine nearly 25
years ago with a torch and took all they could handle by hand,
leaving only the boiler, firebox and two rear wheels and one bull
gear. I now have both wheels in the corner of my yard.

‘The boiler barrel is cut from the fire box so I doubt if
either are worth trying to salvage.

‘Now, before I close I want to pass on my safety tip for the
day, and my philosophy. I have noticed this a couple of times here:
people handling valuable machines improperly as they put the clasp
on their winch cable. The cable saddle should be applied to the
line of the hook or loop the U bolt over the tail end. With
improper application there is a higher risk of the U bolt cutting
the cable. If anyone doubts this, check with the clamp
manufacturer. They may have included above instructions in each
case of clamps.

‘Now my philosophy When you have lost the value of common
sense, and lost the faith and trust of others, what else do you
have to lose??

‘Keep up the good work. I’ve been reading your column
since 1975 and hope to go more than another 15 years.’
(Greathope we can all meet your expectations, Ted.)

‘I have attended shows for over 20 years and I was a
thresher at one time and know how important it is to operate
threshers at manufacturer’s recommended speed.

‘In the past few years I’ve observed a lot of over
speeding those machines.

‘At a recent show I saw a 22’ Case separator running at
about 1500 r.p.m. on the cylinder. A bystander mentioned he thought
it was running too fast. The man in charge said it was supposed to
run 1000 r.p.m. one cylinder. I observed he was using a speed
indicator without a rubber tip and evidently was having a lot of
slip. I always took extra speed of a thresher on the operator
shaft, to take into account of belt slippage.

‘At the same show a Minnesota thresher was running so slow
that they were having problems of straw not working off of the
stack rods.

‘So let’s not run speed on any machines at shows, for
safety’s sake, and that goes for threshers, shellers, grinders,
hay balers, etc.

‘Let’s have fun and keep it safe.’ (This writing
came from an old friend of IMA, EDWIN BREDEMEIER, Route 1, Box 13,
Steinauer, Nebraska 68441.)

‘I have in hand a copy of The Colorado Prospector
special edition,’ writes GLEN DIAMOND, 650 West Main,
Greenville, Illinois 62246.

He continues, ‘On page 7, it shows a wagon train of five
large wagons of pinion wood, each weighing five tons. This train
and the water wagon are being pulled across the San Luis Valley of
Colorado by a 25 HP cross compound Reeves traction steam
engine.

‘Can you tell me, or point me to someone who can tell me,
how a 25 HP engine can pull such a monstrous load on roadssandy in
places??’ (No, Glen, I can’t tell you but here is
hoping someone in the IMA family will write youlet us know
too!)

‘Recently, I ordered Rough and Tumble Engineering
from your company. It is an excellent book on operations for steam
engines.

‘On a back page there is an advertisement on the Mason Kipp
oil pump for steam engines. I have been informed by steam engine
owners that the pump and parts are still being manufactured.

‘Do you have information regarding the names and address of
the company making the MASON KIPP?? I need to contact that company
for parts. Thanks.’

I have no address for which you are inquiringhere’s
hoping one of our pals will write you. If you answer please write
OAKLEY EL-LICKSON, 1029 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907.

TOM BULLER, 12613 Fate Houck Road, Sardinia, Ohio 75171 sent a
kind letter to us recently and inquired about my husband Ed, said
he had heard he was very sick. Thank you, Tombut no, he is not very
well. Over the last years he has had five heart attacks and in
’89 he suffered a stroke, and I know many of you are familiar
with this type of thing. I don’t think one is ever the
sameit’s a very harrowing thing to go through. This year he was
in the hospital in February for 18 days and they discovered he has
gall stones and had pneumonia. He has not been well since, has lost
fifty pounds and still cannot eat but very little due to the
sickness that gall stones leave with you, and there is nothing they
can do. They cannot operate as his heart is far too bad.

Then this month I was in for nine days and just came home, as I
have many ailments. But, thank the Lord, I am still perking along.
I had quite a bout with my asthma, have different kind of puffers
to use and a Pulmo Vac which is a machine you put water and
medicine in and then sit and inhale it, sometimes four times a day.
I thank God though, for I am feeling a lot better and have many
things to watchI have lost too much weight and, of course, am an
insulin dependent diabetic, and a few other little goodies. Thank
you folks for inquiring. Hope there are better times ahead.

As I look to the end of the year, I have a prayer for
Tomorrowperhaps some of you may use it. ‘Beyond today will be
tomorrow, But what it will bring of joy or sorrowI cannot know, I
only pray, Your guidance, Lord, each hour, each dayYour strength to
bear whatever may beYour loving wisdom has for meSo sweet or
bitter, sad or gay, Be with me Lord, beyond today. Charlene A.
Wallace.

Our five greatest Blessings are our five children and their
familiesone could never believe how much they all care and show
it.

I found this too, which you may all enjoy’Most of us miss
out on life’s big prizes. The Pulitzer, the Nobel, Oscars,
Tonys, Emmys. But we’re all eligible for life’s small
pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound
bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A
great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold drink. Don’t fret
about copping life’s grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights.
There are plenty for all of us.’Perhaps you could think of many
more; if so, send them along.

Steamcerely,
With Love,
Anna Mae