SOOT IN THE FLUES

By Anna Mae
Published on March 1, 1998
1 / 14
2 / 14
Gerald Darr's smaller photo.
Gerald Darr's smaller photo.
3 / 14
22 HP Keck Gonnerman with 5-16 '' bottom trip plow.
22 HP Keck Gonnerman with 5-16 '' bottom trip plow.
4 / 14
George Derting, age 3. He likes steam engines!
George Derting, age 3. He likes steam engines!
5 / 14
Miller picture #1.
Miller picture #1.
6 / 14
Miller picture #2.
Miller picture #2.
7 / 14
8 / 14
9 / 14
Automobile Trade Journal, March 1912
Automobile Trade Journal, March 1912
10 / 14
11 / 14
Miller picture #3.
Miller picture #3.
12 / 14
Miller picture #4.
Miller picture #4.
13 / 14
In the photo are Ed Corson, Bud's father, and Ivan Corson, Ed's son.
In the photo are Ed Corson, Bud's father, and Ivan Corson, Ed's son.
14 / 14
Gerald Darr's photo.
Gerald Darr's photo.

Once again, we have quite a lot of letters this month, and
we’re very pleased about that. In this issue we also have
several stories about the various ‘Steam School’ operations
that are popping up at clubs around the country. These schools
offer hands-on instruction to the steam engine novice, and
hopefully help the clubs to build on the number of capable
volunteers in their ranks. We think you’ll be interested in the
stories and the comments from some of the students. Maybe this is
something your club should start doing!

Well, on to the letters:

GARY JONES, 576 Murray Street, Owatonna, Minnesota 55060 writes,
‘This is just a little mix up at our house that some readers
might get a chuckle out of.

‘I have two steamers, a 65 HP Case and a 19 HP side mount
Keck Gonnerman. I have a recipe for cylinder oil which I mix up
myself for my two steamers. In making this I naturally need to add
tallow and lard to make my oil. The cylinder oil is probably one of
the most important components in having an engine perform well, but
unfortunately, is one of the last things I think of making before a
show.

‘Since you can’t buy rendered tallow and the lard you
buy often has salt in it, I usually end up rendering tallow and
lard out in my driveway about midnight, a few days before we start
to saw in the spring. A year or so ago, I spent an entire evening
rendering out a few pints of tallow. It was clear and perfect and I
was delighted with the fruit of my labors. Anyway, I put it into a
little saucepan, covered it, and stuck it in the refrigerator to
cool overnight before starting on my lard the next evening. The
next morning I checked my tallow and it had solidified into a nice
orangey-brown. I patted myself on the back and left for work.

‘Quite often my wife and I will make little treats for each
other and leave them in the refrigerator or in the kitchen with a
note saying, ‘Enjoy your treat.’ Well, my wife is usually
still in bed when I leave early for work, and when she looked in
the refrigerator and took the cover off that pan she thought it
looked like butterscotch pudding. (It looked JUST LIKE butterscotch
pudding. I can see how she made the mistake.) Delighted with her
husband’s thoughtfulness, she took the pan over to the kitchen
table, picked up our Chihuahua and sat down at the table to read
the paper and sample her treat.

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-624-9388