Well, I suppose you are anxiously awaiting the magazine to check
on the reunions which are of course, scattered all over the
country, and then you can get your traveling bags packed and set
off on a trip to fulfill your desires of reliving history with the
old steam monsters, and delighting in the renewing of friendships
of those who share the same interests as you well, do have fun and
your memories will be happy ones.
I have a letter from Edwin H. Bredemeier of Burchard, Nebraska
who states, ‘I am a regular reader of your magazine and enjoy
it. I’m a collector and have purchased a 24′ x 42′ Case
Thresher, No. 68661 it is an odd size. Can anyone tell me the age
of this machine? It appears to be in operating condition. I also
have a four sweep horse power, but don’t know the name of it.
It has yellow paint on the wood under the grease. Can anyone tell
me the make??’ If you can help Ed – drop him a line, I’m
sure he’ll be glad to hear from you.
NOW TAKE NOTE This story came to us from R. G. Bender, Route 1,
Paulding, Ohio. He writes – ‘Here is a bit of news that I have.
Some of the old-timers might recall this item. The headline of the
article is as follows: ‘TRACTION ENGINES COLLIDE’. Rival
wheat threshers indulge in a novel battle. Near Lawrence, Kansas
the other night the steam traction threshing machine engines owned
by William Peat and J. Brooks came in collision at the entrance to
the farm of Mr. Earhart. Peat had been engaged by Earhart to thresh
and failing to come, Brooks was hired. They met with the machines
at the farm yard gate. A other started his engine and the collision
followed. The engines met head on. One engine reared up on end and
fell over on the other and both were smashed. A fireman on
Peat’s engine was caught between the engines and water tank and
received fatal injuries. The caption under the picture says,
‘Duel between traction engines’. This is word for word as I
have written it from one of my old papers date: Princeville
Telephone, Princeville, Illinois, Thursday, September 3, 1896.’
This story certainly amazed me, I just can’t get over it – just
think what stubborness and non-cooperation can accomplish we have
so many accidents today but just imagine those two hard-heads
running right into each other neither one thinking probably (in my
opinion) of the disastrous results. And we chastize children for
their childlike behaviour and wonder why they do some of the things
they do!
Dispute followed, both wanted the work. One started to go in,
when the National Railroad Museum – where Grandpa can be a boy
again! – Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Open daily from noon
until 8 p. m. May 1 through October 31.