Well, by the time this issue of I.M.A. arrives, the shows
will be in full swing around the country and I know many of you are
out there enjoying every minute of the Reunion Season. Hope you
meet many old friends and make some new ones too. Don’t forget
to give us the little stories that make for good reading you know,
things you probably wouldn’t think would be interesting for the
magazine; but we are interested in those little details and fun
things that happen.
I have a letter from WESLEY J. TRATHEN, 3025 N. Dayton, Flint,
Michigan 48504 and he writes: ‘I am able to identify the
unclassified photo #4 on page 27 of the May-June issue. This photo
shows the dedication of the monument to the first steam engine show
and was on the Leroy Blaker farm at Alvordton, Ohio.
The person on the left is Merle Newkirk who funded the monument
and on the right is Leroy Blaker on whose farm the show was held
for several years and then moved to Montpelier and then again to
Wauseon.
This monument is a Port Huron drive wheel on which is mounted a
bronze plaque. With a reading glass the plaque can be read
‘Site of the First Steam Traction Engine etc.’ (Thanks
Wesley for the information am sure many will enjoy the description
of picture.)
From HARRIETTE C. BLACK, Librarian and Curator at The Newcomen
Society of North America comes this information which will be of
interest to many of you folks: ‘This is a letter to the Editor:
I’m sorry I didn’t get to read this March-April issue of
The Iron-Men Album until today as it will arrive too late to be
included in your next.
It is in reference to ‘WHAT WATT DID,’ on page 29. Much
as I dislike arguing with a man who has written ‘An
Encyclopedia of World History,’ i.e. Mr. William L. Langer, in
this case I must. Thomas Newcomen invented the first workable steam
engine and demonstrated what it could do in 1714, a generation
before Watt was born. When Watt was called in to repair a Newcomen
engine there were 900 of this type engine in use not only in the
British Isles, but as far a field as Hungary. Two years later, Watt
invented the separate condenser. I do not deny that Watt was an
inventive geniusbecause he was, but let’s give credit where
credit is due.
I enclose a pamphlet giving a good background on ‘our’
Thomas, as well as information about the Newcomen Society in North
America. We are a branch of the Newcomen Society, for the study of
the history of engineering and technology, housed in the Science
Museum, London SW7 2DD, England.’
BURT DILLON, 359 N. 29th Street, Battle Creek, Michigan 49015
asks: ‘Have you any information about the largest steam tractor
ever built? I heard a man at Dowagiac, Michigan had this tractor
several years ago. He bought and rebuilt steam and gas tractors. I
thought maybe you had pictures about this one.’ (Sorry, Burt I
can’t help you out, but maybe someone in Engine Land can answer
you.)
DAVID WEYAND, R.D. 3, Box 51, Rockwood, Pennsylvania 15557 says:
‘In the edition of the March-April I.M.A. Magazine, I have
found a match for one picture under unclassified photos. The
picture was in Jan.-Feb. Vol 18, No. 3 of the 1964 edition. As it
read courtesy of Rolland Buslaff of Route 5, Waukesha, Wisconsin.
It is Herman Colkentine’s outfit taken at Edd Kolhas in 1915.
It is a 15 HP engine-whole Case outfit. I hope you can find the
missing information for the remaining pictures. (Thanks Dave, and
we’re finding this is a very interesting page for the readers –
we will print all letters we receive as describing them.)
HAROLD BEDDINGLER, 4480 Winding Circle, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80917 would like to know where to write for plans and
castings to make a Case threshing machine as he has a 3′ scale
Case 65 HP engine. (Anyone know?)
More information on the unclassified photos come from SCOTT
SOMERVILLE, 3366 W. Harper Road, Mason, Michigan 48854 as he says:
‘In the May-June issue of I.M.A. photo 4 looks familiar. I
found the story in the 25th Anniversary of the National Threshers
Assn. Inc. book.
The photo is Merle Newkirk and Leroy Blaker shaking hands over
the final installation of a bronze plaque bolted to a Port Huron
drive wheel. The plaque reads: Site of the first steam traction
engine reunion in U.S.A. June 30, 1945 by Leroy Blaker and the
organization of the National Threshers Assn. Inc. June 26, 1948.
Photo was taken by Leroy Blaker himself.
I am 13 and my family owns a 22 HP Advance Rumely. We get I.M.A.
and I read it all. I think you do a good job so I thought I would
give you a little help.’ (Thanks Scott, it’s so good to
hear from the younger generation.)
Looking for help is GREGOR F.P. DIETMANN, 9801 Seaman Road,
Middleport, New York, 14105: ‘I am restoring an Ottawa Log Saw
and would like some information on this saw. I have been to several
steam and engine shows and nobody has ever seen one of these saws,
like I have. The plate on the engine says Ottawa Log Saw Number
C27945, made in Ottawa, Kansas. It is a two flywheel hit and miss
engine, but this one has a circular saw blade hinged to the motor
belt driven. It must be original as everything is green with yellow
striping. I would like to know how this saw was set up and used.
When I got it, it was mounted on a concrete base and used as a buzz
saw to cut fire wood.’ (If he’s getting any help, it will
have to be from you readers let him hear from you.)
WALT THAYER, Box 2175, Wenatchee, Washington 98801 gives us some
more data on unclassified photos: ‘In the March-April 1978
I.M.A., Bruse Goss of Coldwater, Ontario, Canada asked about
antique boat mags and builders of marine engines, so gave him the
address of S & D Reflect on 121 River Street, Sewickley, PA.
its a steamboat magazine. American Steamwheel Assn., 4600 Lexington
Drive, Oak Crest, Stubenville, Ohio; Ed Jan Di Carlo Waterways
Journal, 21 Union Street, St. Louis, Missouri. All have names and
address of builders of marine engines. There are other publications
about steam boats, but I only subscribe to S & D Reflector and
American Steamwheel Assn. Both are very good publications.
Also in reference to unclassified photos, I.M.A. March-April
1978 #1 is a separator (in the drink); 2 looks like a very old
Case, Avery, Minneapolis or Aultman-Taylor; 3 probably an old Case
steamer; 4 threshing in the barn I’ve helped to do lots of this
in Wisconsin 50 years ago; 5 sawing hardwood logs into lumber.
Maybe building new house for teacher of nearby school. I got my
‘larnin’ in a school like this the tractor might be a
Russell; 6 mechanic working on what looks like a Russell; 7
pitching bundles from stock to separator. (Thanks for all the
suggestions on the pictures, may get some others thinking and
writing.)
WALT THAYER also sent along some information on an old depot
that was being renovated by some old train buffs – as follows:
NORTH LAKE, Wis. (AP)-Dressed in work clothes and wearing a
conductor’s cap, Richard Hinebaugh proudly toured his latest
project recently.
It was a wooden train depot built in 1889 and that he had moved
to North Lake 60 miles from Trevor, Wis. After 2 years of
renovation, the bright yellow depot is ready for passengers.
Hinebaugh, whose regular job is a tool room machinist, is
president of The Kettle Moraine Railway, Inc., a summer excursion
line that runs 3 miles from here to Merton and back.
In 1972 a group of railroad buffs, including Hinebaugh,
purchased the line from a railroad. The group also acquired several
cars, including two steam engines. ‘We wanted to see this kind
of equipment saved and operated,’ said Hinebaugh.
A hobby-turned-into-a-business, the railway gets volunteer help
from Hinebaugh’s family and fellow railroad enthusiasts.
Two letters came from DONALD A. COPPOCK,1408 S. Lea, Roswell,
New Mexico 88201 beginning: ‘Threshing along the Stillwater
River’ ‘Enjoyed reading Ed Freehammer’s letter in 1978
Jan. -Feb. I.M.A. about using a (bucking pole). We called it a push
pole to maneuver a thresher or separator into, or through tight
places. It takes skill and lots of practice to become proficient in
the use of the push pole. I have watched my father many times make
the swing with a Port Huron engine and Aultman Taylor separator
into the barn lots to make sets, in all types of barns including
bank barns.
This kind of barn is very common in Miami County, Ohio and has
the separator in line with the driveway of the barn. In this
position, with a push pole and the tongue of separator chain to the
push pole, push the separator into the barn, guiding the separator
with the engine. Most of the barns had either a wooden or a cement
floor and we made the final set by hand.
Many times I have ridden on a separator through a driveway of a
barn guiding the straw blower, through the rear door of the
barn.
When the separator was not in line with the driveway, using a
push pole with a man on each front wheel of the separator, it
guided the separator into the barn. In the early years of my
father’s threshing days, Delmer Coppock, my father’s
brother, was the engineer. Uncle Delmer has told me and the story
was verified by Jim Robbin, many times with a double Garr Scott
engine. Delmer Coppock, as the engineer, and my father, Harley
Coppock, on one front wheel of a separator would make sets in all
types of barns.
In 1927, my father purchased a new Huber tractor and the push
pole was soon discarded, because we found out the separator could
be maneuvered with the Huber to almost any position, eliminating
most of physical labor in setting a separator.’
(Second letter) ‘In the early 1920s, the A. D. Baker Company
built an experimental model of a steam driven traction engine, used
for threshing called a Steam Tractor, using some type of a
condenser on the exhaust and engine was fired with crushed coal.
Mr. Sam Rapp, a thresher who lived east of Covington, Ohio, tried
this experimental type of steam driven engine, but it wasn’t
successful. Several years later, Harold Loury, who lived in
Pleasant Hill, Ohio, and worked for the Banting Machine Company,
told my father the A. D. Baker Company was still trying to perfect
the engine. If any I.M.A. reader has any information on this
engine, I would appreciate hearing from them.’ (Now, there is
information, and a request for some data – help him if you
can.)
PROJECT 1225
We received information from a paper put out called
PROJECT 1225, Michigan State University Railroad
Club, MSU Museum, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
PROJECT 1225 is published by the Michigan State
University Railroad Club, which is restoring Pere Marquette steam
locomotive 1225 for excursion service. The club is open to anyone,
and dues are $5 a year. Write the M.S.U. Railroad Club, M.S.U.
Museum, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
The following is taken from the February, 1978, Issue
No. 38 of PROJECT 1225:
Despite another Michigan winter, some progress is being made on
Pere Marquette 1225 here at East Lansing. It’s almost all
indoors, though, where some of the engine’s smaller parts are
being repaired or remade. Maching continues on the equipment for
repairing the throttle. The value stems, shown here being removed
along with their spools, will be refinished. One winter project
that slowed because of the appalling weather is the renovation of
1225’s cab interior. The cab will continue to be a bit draffy
until the weather improves enough to let us continue welding the
new sides in place, and to reinstall the sliding windows.
Just a newsy letter came along with subscription from
MARVIN GREEN, R.R. 1, Boyden, Iowa 51234:
‘Dear Anna Mae Yeah I know I should send dues to Helen but I
don’t know her, so I’ll send it to you. It’s wet here
and still raining, not much snow but cold, over 60 days below
freezing and mom and I took off January 30 for Texas in a 30′
Cobra trailer. Got it a year ago we went to Texas once and other
trips. It’s a dream home on wheels. What it didn’t have we
put on it. Even have a 300-300 Watt Honda Plant stored in trunk.
Was to Dalton and Albany, Minnesota shows and no hook ups, so
battery was down and had to use jump cables (too dumb to unhook it
from car). Farm was sold in 1976. July 23 and 27 had a heart
attack, so guess I’m over the hill. Got our first grandchild
April 9, 1976 and we’re married 45 years August 27, 1977.
How’s that? Put on a 16 x 24′ family room, has big window
and window seat, Franklin stove, clothes closet and made bedroom
bigger and closed in it too. Never had one downstairs before. When
it was 20 below and more it felt good, looking out. We sure enjoyed
Texas but from 22 below to 92 above in a week’s time?? So much
fruit and other things to eat all around us. Truck loads going by
all the time. We’ll try and get to as many steam shows as we
can.’
It’s with deep regret we announce the death of
MAE BABER, R.R. 2, Brandon, Wisconsin 53919
just received the notice when we were expecting to receive her
column. Many of you folks, I’m sure have enjoyed her
‘Country Echoes’ as she has written many years for the
Iron-Men Album. Her column in May-June issue was quite typical of
Mae, you knew she knew God personally and had him first in her
life, and also, next to that was her family of which she spoke many
times. She was quite a writer and author of poems, that she entered
many times. We will miss her writings and we send our deepest
sympathies to all the family. And, I think that about winds up the
column for this issue will leave you with a few mind tuggers There
is no better looking glass than an old friend A friend loveth at
all times Better friends can no man have than those whom God hath
given Love is the clue to human love; love is the clue to the love
of God. Bye bye and God Bless.
