SOOT IN THE FLUES

to list all the things wrong with this nation, but I for one, still
think it’s the best country around. I don’t think we relize
the freedom we have that other countries have never enjoyed. Why
can’t we point all the good things that are results of this
land? I’m all for waving the flag and am still proud of
America.

J. M. MIKE POWERS, 309 Cabin Road, S.E., Vienna, Virginia 22180
says: ‘I would like to share a bit of useful information I
found in a 1903 Engine Guide. RULE FOR FINDING THE PROPER LENGTH OF
BELTS – Add the diameter of the two pulleys together; multiply by
3-1/8; divide the product by 2; add to the quotient twice the
distance between the centers of the two shafts, and the product
will be the required length. (Personally, he lost me after the
first two directions).

In the same publication was this advice for the preservation of
books: TO KEEP DAMP FROM INJURING BOOKS: A few drops of any
perfumed oil will prevent books from being injured by dampness;
this remedy was well known and appreciated by the Romans, who used
oil of cedra to preserve their valuable manuscripts.

I suppose your readers will have to file this with their store
of otherwise useless information since the author did not describe
the method of applying the oil. Incidentally, this 73 year old book
was in marvelous condition and the faint odor of corriander oil
could be detected when the book was opened.’ (Thanks Mike, a
little bit different talk, and note worthy).

JAMES W. CHANDLER, 54 Taylor Street, Frankfort, Indiana 46041
writes us on an explosion of long ago.

‘I have a table full of mail from Jan.-Feb. IMA. Also many
phone calls from as far away as California.

Here is an accurate account of an explosion of a boiler in our
neighborhood, 1923. You may choose to title this ‘Reeves’
also. Identical pictures were sent in by Homer D. Notes tine of
Lewistown, Ohio for the 1950 album. A scanty description was given
then.

From memory by James W. and Fred Chandler, Frankfort, Indiana.
Date: first evening August 8, 1923.

Our father, Charles W. Chandler came in early saying ‘Come
on, we are going to Piqua (a short distance) to see a boiler
explosion that just happened.’

When we arrived, not many people were there. In photo I, the
water wagon was about left edge of ‘pix,’ and was blown
toward corner of barn in photo II. That is what the attraction is
in photo II. This water tank had side caved in and had cut sod in
yard sideway so the ground was skimmed like a plow mark. The smoke
stack went up and came down directly north of the house. Photo I. .
.the boiler shell let loose at front pedestal.

The shell, then flew about in line to right of Photo I view of
firebox, approximately 400 feet, cutting off corn about head high
across lane south of house.

The heater, interceptor box, etc. were also found at this
location, a few feet away.

Photo I was taken from near lane fence, where engineer was blown
through. The owner of the farm was sitting on the ground by the
water tank with other members of the crew.

They had planned to thresh the next morning and had quit because
of a shower. Then it happened.

The fire box turned over backwards or 180 degrees, the cab under
it. The front flue sheet with flues, still clinging to it is
visible in both photos.

Charles W. Chandler was a steam man of some renown, in several
states. Both he and his brother-in-law, B.H. Colon, concurred on
the analysis of cause of explosion. . .that the Reeves 20 HP
compounds had been stored with front end low. This never drained to
dry, causing deterioration and subsequent failure of boiler shell.
This is my position today, yesterday and tomorrow.

It is most difficult to get performance out of a machine that is
not built into it.

And today, I have a personal horror of Reeves as such, U.S.
style.

The ratio of boiler trouble, as to other makes speaks for
itself.

I received another letter from JAMES CHANDLER about a month
later – it follows: (And let me hear state, I do not think for one
minute that James wants to start an argument – these are facts that
folks are bringing out as they know them – so please don’t
write me and complain about it. I think they are interesting and
many of you will dig into the situation and find out for
yourselves, if these are the items that interest you. I don’t
believe anyone purposely sends us false information on engines – I
believe at the time they send the data, they feel it is authentic –
I do hope you are all broad-minded enough to look at it in this way
also. We, as speaking for the magazine staff, try to be fair in
presenting the material sent us, and we appreciate the opinions,
BUT if it causes hard feelings or heated controversy, then the
letters will not go in the column. So far, we have had no bad
comments Herewith the second letter of Mr. Chandlers:

In reference to Mr. Hussong’s phone call to you. . .your
column ‘new’ March-April IMA. Mr. Hussong called me, but it
wouldn’t matter anyway. . .Ed Peacock was a millionaire
(perhaps twice over).

He told me ‘he owned the engine, Reeves #6660’. . .that
was good enough for me. But to add weight to my words, Steam Engine
Directory of June 1959, compiled by Mrs. LeRoy W. Blaker of
Alvordton, Ohio, lists E. M.

Peacock of Fulton, Mo.; (1) 32 (simple) #6660; (2) 20 HP Reeves
#4098; (3) 16 HP Reeves missing number.

I showed how to locate number of this type (Canadian special).
It was #7909. (4) 13 HP Reeves #1635.

There are 16 additional engines included in the Peacock
collection.

I believe Mr. Hussong was some surprised to learn, I knew
Peacock. I am not arbitrary, but just giving you background. . .and
am not given to much ‘Bull,’ or remarks off the top of my
head. This is why it grieves me some, to see printed, something,
that is not approaching fact. Example Case 80 #35,824 being 3rd
from last engine built. There were 20 or 22 after that.

A New IMA 25-85 HP N & S #12,577 being one of the last of N
& S. There are many in #14,040’s around. On even number
alone, there is 1,463 engines to #14,040. At the rate of N & S
production, this would hardly be near end of production. The same
problem shows up in the ‘Brant Huber ‘ going to Smithsonian
Institute.

A family from West Kansas came through Indiana on #1-70. They
called me on the phone and said, ‘Why was a Huber dated on
boiler 1921, labeled the last Huber built???’ They knew and had
seen later ones.

People  have their own little stories and don’t want
them upset. Huber built to #11,724 which is a far cry from Brandt
engine #11,541 almost 200 engines.

The reason they called me is I had given in printed matter, that
Huber boilers were built to 1924, in fact, to September 1924. This,
in itself, is no great secret. There was an insurance policy issued
with ‘all Ohio Standard’ boilers by number and date built.
They were in effect for seven years. My father had letter from
Huber notifying him of demise date of the last insurance policy. .
.September 30, 1931. . .which would coincide with all facts and
date put out by me.

Almost every day brings mail about the article of Reeves #6660
and the other items.

I did not intend to write a book but I believe the contributors
should be more accurately informed on their subject matter.

GERALD HAIGH, 5390 Las Llajas Canyon Road, Simi Valley,
California 93065 has written a book entitled (Straw Roads) which
has ninety pictures in showing how people lived in Simi Valley from
1908-1960. In it he mentions the Bates Steel Mule and he has
such  little material on it – he would appreciate hearing from
anyone if they could tell more about it and if anyone has pictures
he could see. I believe he would like to elaborate on this
particular engine in the next book.

GARY TUNKIEICZ, 7514 – 60th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53140
recently purchased a C and CC Case tractor. He would like to know
if the first two digits of the serial numbers indicate the year of
manufacture. He also would like to know what year the last models C
and CC were built.

STANLEY A. SCHAFFER, 737-5th Avenue, Ford City, Pennsylvania
16226 tells us: ‘I have been a subscriber to the I.M.A. for
many years and needless to say, I look forward to each new issue. I
am a Model Steam Engineer and have attended steam shows all over
the East. I have befriended people from all walks of life and made
many acquaintances in our similar hobby. We hobbyists eagerly look
forward to each new Steam Show Season and contribute to what we
think is an interesting segment of the whole steam show picture. I
can assure you that our exhibits are expanding rapidly as can be
attested to the fact that many steam show officers are coming up
with expanded facilities to accommodate the increasing number of
model engine displays.

(Stanley has an article in this issue) I have never written an
article of this type before, but I think it is time to blow our
horn, so to speak. (See Model Engineer’s Viewpoint).

An interesting story comes from RALPH BLY, 13 Mohican Street,
Shelby, Ohio 44875: ‘My father-in-law was a steam thresher and
used an Aultman Taylor steamer and an Aultman Taylor thresher,
later a 30-60 Rumely and Huber 4 cyl. tractor. That was about 50
years ago. He subscribed to a Thresher-men’s paper and in it
was a very amusing story dealing WITH EXPERTS.

A company building threshing machines sold a machine to an old
thresher. When the machine was delivered, the new owner requested
that the company send a man or help, to get the machine started. At
that time, all the field men were out. The President of the company
contacted a promising young man working in the factory and asked
him if he would advise the old thresher on how to adjust the
machine. The young anything about running a threshing machine and
did not think he would be of much use. The President told him to do
the best he could do as the old thresherman was a valued
customer.

The young man went on his journey. The job was started and the
old thresherman wanted the young fellow to do the necessary
adjusting; as the young fellow did not know about adjusting the
machine, he would ask how the old thresherman would see it, and the
old man would tell him and that was the way it was adjusted. The
machine worked perfectly. The young man returned to the
factory.

Months later, the President called him into the office. He said,
‘I just had a visitor, the old thresherman was here, that you
helped start his new separator. He said that you were the best
factory man that ever helped him. I thought that you told me that
you did not know anything about starting a separator.’

The young man said, ‘Well, I did not. I asked the old gent
how he would make the adjustment and he would tell me and that was
the way I would do it.’ (Comment-Experience is the thing that
counts).

–May be, but the young man was very perceptive and he used his
wisdom when it really counted!

R. G. JACOBY, Marengo, Iowa 47140 states: ‘In reply to James
W. Chandler I.M.A. art in Jan.-Feb. 76 issue I.M.A. 7-6-52 and
E.&E. 5-65 back cover shows Reeves 32 HP 6660 for sale by W.W.
Danuser, Tulsa, Oklahoma. E.&E. 10-58-8 says – rebuilt 6660 new
flues, front flue sheet, coal bunkers, water tank, cyl. heads,
valve cover, eccentric arms, chrome plated rods, stainless steel
eccentric arms, needle bearings. E.&E. 12-65-23 – O. R.
Aslakson says 32 Reeves brought to New Rockford, North Dakota by
Howad Pross of Luverne, N.D. I.M.A. 7-64-4 at Charles City, Iowa.
It was not under steam. It will be in 1976. E.&E. 9-56-24 shows
16 HP hi-wheel owned by Ed Peacock and I.M.A. 9-68-41 shows same
engine owned by Geo. Jackson, Fort Scott, Kansas. Ed Peacock told
me number was lost when he got it. E.&E. 10-56-12 and I.M.A.
1-59-18 shows a 16 HP hi wheel by R. G. Jacoby, 7869, It was later
cut up for scrap.’ This is in answer to James request to know
the whereabouts of #6660.

And that’s enough rambling for now, but to leave you with a
few thoughts-The life of duty, not the life of mere ease or mere
pleasure, that is the kind of life which makes the great man, as it
makes the great nation.—–Far and away best prize that life
offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing—–I desire
to see in this country the decent men strong and the strong men
decent, and until we get that combination in pretty good shape we
are not going to be by any means successful as we should
be.—–Who said these thoughts?? Theodore Roosevelt.