SOOT IN THE FLUES

Last year’s show had over 45 antique tractors, both gas and
steam. There were over 100 gas engines, and several other pieces of
working machinery. All displays are under roof (except for the
overflow!) and are under 24-hour guard. Being held in conjunction
with the County Fair, there is the usual flea market, and
‘ladies tent’. This year’s show dates are August 21 to
27.

From JOHN W. HEDGE, 304 Glover Drive, Longview, Texas, 75601
comes a short story worth passing on to you. He calls it (Fierce
Bull Defies Steam Locomotives to do Battle). I call it (How To
Throw The Bull).

In the early part of our century I grew up in the forest area of
East Texas. A Mr. White owned and operated a lumber mill in our
community. He had quite a herd of strong oxen which were used to
haul the logs from the forests to his mill. In this herd of animals
was a fierce bull with long horns, and dark-reddish color, and
which was as mean and unruly as he looked to be. No fence was too
high nor strong to stand in the way of this bull when he felt the
urge to roam in the community. He refused to be held captive. He
could have been referred to as ‘THE BULL OF THE WOODS’ in
our section of the country. Often times he would wander onto the
tracks of the old I.& G.N. railroad and there defy steam
locomotives to do battle with him. He would stand in the middle of
the track, toss his head high, bellow loud, and throw dirt high
into the air in defiance. Due to his size trainmen were afraid to
pit their steam locomotives against him lest it wreck the train.
The only way to dislodge him was by way of throwing chunks of coal
from the train tender or rocks gathered up beside the track. But
one engineer, after having to deal with this bull in such mild
manner more than once, swore vengeance against him. On the
following day this is what happened:

This ‘brave engineer’ was on his return trip when the
old bull appeared at the usual place and in his defiant way. The
train was traveling at a low rate of speed and this engineer
decided that he needed more speed before hitting the bull. So he
threw his train in reverse and went back perhaps a half mile. Then
he opened the throttle valve in full and with a speed up to about
forty mils per hour he came forward and hit the bull right in the
face. When the train came through our farm a short distance away we
observed that there was bull scattered and splattered all over the
front of that locomotive. The engineer had been the winner over the
bull and he gave us a friendly wave of the hand and went on his way
doing some ‘fancy whistling’. He had won the victory.

DON RILEY, 21224 Placeeita Canyon Road, Newhall, California
91321 writes:

‘I have been taking the I.M.A. for years and think it’s
the best and most informative publication on steam engines that is
available. It is surprising how many different styles of valves and
engines manufacturers went thru over the years to achieve similar
results.

I have a steam engine with no name tag that has never been shown
or described in I.M.A. to my knowledge. It is a horizontal, closed
case engine with ‘D’ valve. . . 3-1/2 B x 3-1/2 S x 3-1/2
gear ratio in enclosed oil case. The connecting rod, from cross
head to crank, drives a large gear which in turn drives the smaller
gear on the flywheel shaft at 3-1/2 times crank speed.

This gives advantages, one of which is weight of engine of less
than 100 pounds. The weight of the flywheel is 10 pounds, and the
size of the flywheel, 12-inch diameter with 1-1/4 inch face, makes
for fast belt work.

This engine must have been used for driving a grinder or for
some other high belt-speed use. I’m sorry it doesn’t have a
name plate on it or some information.

The large gear runs in oil which is thrown over all moving parts
in the gear case (main bearings for crank shaft, and flywheel
shaft, cross head, both ends of connecting rod, as well as the
gears). A regular lubricator is used to oil the valve and cylinder.
The gear case has a round glass approximately 1-1/2 inch diameter
inletted into the case to check the oil level. The oil looks,
feels, and smells like regular steam cylinder oil.

There is a one-half’ hole in each corner of the lower base
casting to bolt the engine down. The steam pipe has a 3/4 inch
inlet and one-inch exhaust.

The disadvantage, of course, is that there is only flywheel
rotation, no action.

I would like to hear from anyone who has knowledge on this style
engine. Perhaps someone has one.’

Had a letter awhile back from WILLIAM C. MAUPIN, Route 1, Box
303, Arbuckle, California 95912 and he had been on a trip last
Spring as: ‘I just returned from a trip to Ohio and
Pennsylvania. Preston Foster took me through the Pennsylvania oil
fields. We saw many fine old engines still pumping oil. He showed
me other fine collections and the 1000 HP steam engine at the
Cleveland Waterworks. We were very fortunate to see them start and
run it while we were there.

That was my first trip East of the Mississippi. The country is
beautiful but the weather was cold. We rolled the windows down and
shed our sweaters as we came down out of the Sierra Mountains into
California – No kidding!’

RALPH PARVIN, 202 College Street, Holly, Michigan 48442 writes:
‘Some of the grandchildren of Robert Crouch Parvin have become
interested in the steam plow which he invented and produced in the
last half of the past century. Do you have any information relating
to the Parvin Plow?’ (I answered Ralph that I have no
information, but that maybe one of our readers could help – how
about it?).

I can’t make out the man’s name, but the address is
MODEL ENGINEERING SUPPLIES 23 Arlewis Street, Chester Hill, Sydney,
Australia 2162 and he says ‘I own and am at present restoring a
single cylinder Buffalo Pitts Traction engine Shop No. 9587 of
which I would like to find out the date it was made and the model,
type and horsepower’.

MRS. FLORENCE TOMLIN-SIN, Box 1213, Camp Verde, Arizona 86322
writes: ‘In 1967 my mother, (Mrs. Zelma Hallom) sold a model of
a reaper which my father (Holmer Hallom) had made, to someone
connected with a museum in Pennsylvania. I am trying to find out
where it is. We would like to be able to see it and to tell our
grandchildren of it. Zelma Hallom’s address used to be 1232 E.
Longfellow, Spokane, Washington 99207.’ (Anyone out in Engine
Land know of this reaper, or know anything about which Mrs.
Florence Tomlinsin is speaking?? – please get in touch with her it
you do).

Just a friendly word from R. I. WILSON, Blyth, Ontario, Canada –
‘I like the Iron-Men Album very much and the last one had a lot
of machinery pictured. I have run a threshing machine since 1909. I
am 81 years young in June 1976. I take in quite a few thresher
shows each year – still like to feed one’s with carriers. I
belong to Huron County thresher show and it is getting bigger every
year. 1976 will be our 15th show the week-end after Labor Day.
Blyth is going to have the Centennial in 1977.’

LAURENCE GRAVES, Route 1, Box 147A, Suisun City, California
94585 writes: ‘Last Spring, I decided to see how much steam
pressure I could raise in one of my double pancake flash coils.
They are made of black iron pipe. Pumped about a pint of water into
it. Heated it with my weed burner. About 20 minutes to reach 800
psi., 10 minutes to reach 1000, another 10 minutes and 1500 psi.
and a few more minutes and 1600 psi. Held it there a few minutes,
then turned down heat slowly. At about 500 psi. turned off burner.
Used no safety valve. Even if pipe broke, all pressure would be
exhausted in under 5 seconds. Used old 3000 lb. oxygen gauge. A
1/4′ pipe gate brass valve held the full pressure. No visible
leaks. Didn’t open it as I didn’t want to over extend my
luck!’

HERB BECKEMEYER, Tolono, Illinois 61880 sends us this article on
their club activities and he entitled it: Beckemeyer Again Heads
Threshermen.

A nice warm partly cloudy beautiful autumn day – Saturday, 8th
day of November – just another day! Oh no, the 27th annual meeting
of the Central States Threshermen Reunion, Pontiac, Illinois. A
drive from Champaign to Pontiac which I’ve made many, many
times because I am one of the boys on the board of directors.
Meeting held today at McDonald’s Restaurant, Fairbury. A group
of 80 people gathered for a delicious meal and to attend to the
business at hand.

What have we accomplished this past year and where are we going
in the year to come, 1976? Sylvester Fosdick Jr. entertained the
group with a selection of slides of past shows. The secretary’s
report was read and approved; the treasurer’s report was read
and a loud applause from the membership followed. We ended up only
$250 in the red after two days of rain and mud. I was most
delighted, but two days of rain can put a kink in any show’s
financial report. I gave my short report, thanking the membership
and especially the board of directors and committees for all their
cooperation and labor in putting on a successful five day show.
Making several recommendations towards improvement for our 1976
show which will be September 2nd through Labor Day – five action
packed days. And to that I was not a candidate for President for
the coming year. I enjoyed the position the past two years but felt
I was too far from Pontiac to give the office the utmost. (90 miles
one way is a fair drive after a day’s work).

The nominating committee presented their report and the
following people were nominated for directors:

Paul Alsip, Ogden; Ed Branz, Odel; Joe Rittenhouse, Bement.
There were no nominations from the floor and the above three were
elected to the board. With regrets, Olof Jacobson did not wish to
serve on the board any longer after serving 17 years. One can only
say ‘thanks’ for a job well done and I am sure he will be
missed in helping to make decisions at our meetings.

The board then met to elect their officers for the next year.
Carl Ogle, treasurer; Robert Kipfer, secretary; Sylvester Fosdick,
2nd vice; Art Erickson, 1st vice; Herb Beckemeyer, President. Yep!
Me again! Oh – I have appointed Brenda Koopman as assistant
secretary.

The Ladies Division re-elected Mrs. Helen Rutledge of Stanford,
president; Mrs. Logan Shaw of Blackstone, vice; and Mrs. Lee
Rathers of Pontiac, secretary-treasurer. We just cannot get along
without these gals.

We are always looking for new ideas and events. One event which
was much enjoyed at our last show was the antique tractor pull (5
classes of pullers) and something else that really hit the high
point was the mini tractor pull in 4 and 6 pound classes. These
were little model tractors that were purchased from the Implt
dealer and powered by a 0.49 model air plane engine and gear train.
These little fellows will put on a show. Anything a large tractor
will do in a pull these minis will do.

We have all ages involved in this event and that’s good. Can
you imagine a 12-year-old boy and granddad working together trying
to make these little devils run? Over 30 participants and one
tractor came 315 miles to participate.

We have a going show. There’s something for everyone. Our
show may not be among the largest but you can bet your boots
it’s one of the best. The good Lord willing and the creeks
don’t rise I’ll be seeing you all at one of the shows -or
the Central States show – why not!

DORIND. DeLANCEY, R.D. 2, Box 124, Coggon, Iowa 52218 writes:
‘The horsepower hay baler in the Nov.-Dec. I.M.A. is a David
Bradeley. They were made and sold by Sears, Roebuck Co. Chicago,
Illinois. There were four or five in our neighborhood when I was a
boy South of Manchester, Iowa. I am now 75.’ (Thanks Fellow
Member for the data). 

E. R. DUGAN, 436 Library N., Waterloo, Illinois 62298 has some
comments to pass on to Iron-Men Album, Mr. Ben Walsh and ‘my
Fellow Steam Engineers’

‘I, E. R. Dugan, the Flying Engineer and reader of the Iron
Men Album magazine for many years, have sent in many stories in the
past, but the one about the American Hobo sent in by Ben Walsh of
Courtney, North Dakota, is the best I have read in a long time. It
brings back old memories of the ten years I had roamed and worked
with the hobos and I. W. W. from the panhandle to Moose Jaw. Of
course I used to run the steam engines. I made good money and rode
the passenger trains most of the time, so I guess you could call me
one of the first-class hobos. In the early 20’s I recall coming
into Jamestown, North Dakota, and while there – a N.P. freight
train went through West loaded with hobos. It looked as if there
was more tonnage of hobos than freight. I went out on a branch line
to Pettibone, North Dakota, where I got a job running a steamer on
a thresher. The thresherman said to me, ‘We will have to get
some men.’ He told me to drive the truck and he took the car.
We drove about thirty miles to Carrington, North Dakota. There was
a government employment office there that hired out those hobos. We
came home with fourteen hobos and went to threshing. Yes, this
great country to ours was built by the Wheat Belts and Railroads
and the American Hobo did the work. Yes, Mr. Ben Walsh of Courtney,
North Dakota, has a great hobo story here condensed to two pages,
but I, having had much experience with hobos for many years could
see a book on him two inches thick and a foot square. I will have
to come later with a story on this.’

From WILLARD M. JACKSON, Eleva, Wisconsin 54738, an interesting
letter: ‘In your Jan.-Feb. issue, page 20, an article by Mrs.
William M. Ross telling of her father and his engines – I first
noticed the words 80 HP Case S/N 35824 and that made me jump, as it
was the number of the Case 80 I used to own. I wrote to Mr. Walker
and have given him details on the engine’s history. It was
unloaded at Strum, Wisconsin in 1927. It was shipped out of Racine,
Wisconsin on July 12th of that year and the price was $3510 F.O.B.
I put new flues in it in April 1953. I was using it for threshing
and sawing lumber. I have owned four threshing outfits and two
sawmills. Co-owner and builder with my brother, Clinton, of the
first Jackson Lumber Harvester.

In your March-April issue, the article on Hoboes caught my eye.
I have, rode the flats, gondolas, boxes, the ice pits on the
reefers, also the blinds on the passengers and on the tenders, but
never rode the rods. I have counted 80 heads I could see at one
time on a freight. I did that traveling because I needed the money
I made in the Dakota wheat fields to feed my wife and two children.
And talk about change! When I went to the country school, I used to
see a yoke of oxen go by to town and I’ve flown the Atlantic
five times and the Pacific once. Spent two months in Ceylon in 1961
sawing lumber. Also prospected for gold in Canada and was a guide
there for moose hunters. Worked for pipe line outfits from Texas to
Wisconsin. Sawed lumber from Texas to Carolina to Ohio and West to
Washington.

At present I saw lumber and act as tour guide in the summertime
at Hayworth, Wisconsin at History-land, an educational display of
the old time logging equipment.

I started with steam at the age of 12 on my father’s 16 HP
return flues Minneapolis and I fired with barley straw. That was 60
years ago and I’ve fired with coal and wood and also with oil
on a steam pile driver. I put in an oil burner in the Case 80 at
one time. I had made the burner myself. I didn’t use the
regular oil the contractor used on the pile drivers. I used old
crankcase oil from the filling stations. It worked too, but made
more smoke. – All this to say I like the magazine!’

I’d love to chat a bit with you folks via the column a bit,
but I’ve got to make deadline – it’s been a bit hectic as
it is busy time with all the ads, etc. and we’ve been having
our kitchen redecorated, paneled really with a paneling with
wallpaper on – it’s finished but the debris is not yet all
cleared away -have a good time – for with this issue the Reunions
are really starting to flourish