Hi! Can you believe as we get this May-June issue ready in
February for printing that the winter is just about past??
Don’t know whether or not you’re interested in our weather,
but we were very fortunate in this way as far as snow storms, etc.
We didn’t have to shovel any snow we had a few flurries and it
did lay on the ground for awhile, but not much concern to anyone
and not enough for sledding and snow mobiling which of course,
called for a lot of disappointments for the snow lovers. Can’t
believe we are into another year already of shows and reunions.
But, we are and so here we go with the letters:
CARL B. ERWIN, 106 South Elm Street, Newkirk, Oklahoma 74647
sends this: ‘The picture at the bottom of the first page of
unclassified photos, brings back memories to me. The engine is a 13
horse Gaar-Scott. Back in 1906 I began my career in a swamill,
firing one exactly like it. My father and my uncle were using it to
operate a sawmill cutting oak and hickery into wagon lumber.
The crew have their threshing rig all loaded on the car ready to
go (up the country); probably farther north. This model of the
Gaar-Scott came out about 1897. It looks fairly new, so the picture
must have been made around the turn of the century. It is unlikely
that any of the men in the picture are still living. Maybe some of
their descendants can tell us more.
When I used to attend the steam engine shows in Indiana and
Ohio, which would be Gaar-Scott country, I always looked for one of
this model, but never found one.
Our next letter comes from CHARLES L. CHANDLER, Box 207, Ashkum,
Illinois 60911: ‘I saw the picture of that thing in Iron-Men
Album, page 13 of March-April 1980 issue and Louis Miller is right
it is a picture of a Case steam engine tender. About 1910 my father
and my uncle each had one on their steamers. The axle of the thing
swiveled; it had chains run from its axle and crossed under the
engine, to the front axle of the engine. It guided from the front
wheels and worked real good for threshing etc. but wasn’t too
good for drawbar work. It was a water tank up to about a foot from
the top and a solid floor and the rest of the way up was for coal.
I scooped many loads of coal from one of these things into the fire
box of a Case engine.’
J. J. LESIUR, 703-55 Nassau Street N., Winnipeg, Manitoba,
Canada, needs some help: ‘We have a 1904 Reeves double compound
steamer. Currently, this is being restored for us by the Canadian
National Railways. If you could put us in touch with some other
Reeves owner, we will appreciate it.’ (Sounds like pen pals are
needed hereReeves owners, please write.)
ELDON HELD, R.R. 1, Rock Lake, North Dakota 58365 writes:
‘In regards to unclassified photos in the March-April 1980
issue. No. 1 is a 30-60 Aultman Taylor gas tractor. No. 2 is a
Gaar-Scott separator and a Conqueror steam engine built by Robinson
and Co., Richmond, Indiana. No. 3 is of a Frick, No. 4 the last
plow is a John Deere, I am sure of the make of engine. The negative
must be reversed. No. 5 is a Minneapolis and No. 6 I believe, is an
early George White.
I would like to see someone write some articles on boiler
repairs, type of steel for boiler plates and stay bolts, etc. I
would also like to know if anyone has built up a gear by welding
and how it turned out. The pinion gear on my brother’s
Minneapolis is worn pretty thin.
Enclosed is a photo of my 80 HP Case in the Centennial Parade at
Egeland, North Dakota, with my son, Mike, at the steering
wheel.
A long informative letter comes from MELVIN R. GRENVIK, Box 171,
Kenmare, North Dakota 58746: ‘I’m sure that many readers
are curious about the identification of the engines in unclassified
photo section of March-April issue and here is how I read them. No.
1 is a 30-60 Aultman Taylor. No. 2 is an early Gaar-Scott, rear
mounted cylinder. No. 3Frick double cylinder. No. 4this was printed
with the negative reversed, but I believe it to be a Nichols &
Shepard 25-85 single. No. 5 – Minneapolis single, 20 to 22 HP. No.
6 – this is a real cutie, took a lot of study to figure it out.
This engine is a Lang and Button, about 13 HP, built around
1909.
Also, the Soot in the Flues letter from Lawson W. Zaring from
Shelbyville, Kentucky, asking about the odd grouter arrangement on
the Case drive wheel. These special drivers are listed in my 1918
Case Catalog as a special extra cost option when ordered with the
engine and are called freighting wheels. They were considered to be
essential on engines used continuously for freighting work on rocky
roads. For reasons not clear, they have left out every other
grouter in the outer row only. In their factory literature, Case
calls these road cleats. Hubs, spokes and tires of these wheels are
extra heavy. I hope this has been of some help. I continue to look
forward to each new issue and I think our magazine is the best in
the business.
Also, I would like to offer an answer to the letter from Louis
Miller, Georgetown, Texas, asking about the identity of the
two-wheeled engine tender in his photograph (Mar-April issue). This
is indeed the tender offered by Case in their 1909 catalog.
Capacity is listed as about 8 barrels of water and 1000 lbs. of
coal and available with wheels of three different diameters for use
with different sized engines. It was also available on special
order equipped with a rack for handling straw instead of coal.
I hope this information has been of some help to Mr. Miller and
I hope he gets the engine to go with it.’
From BILLY M. BYRD, 369 S. Harrig Street, Madisonville, Kentucky
42431 sends this letter: ‘I’m sending you two pictures that
I would appreciate you printing. These engines were on the George
Boddie farm, nearly 7000 acres at one time. Fort Campbell got half
of it during World War II, and the two bachelor sons, the only
survivors died several years ago. There was a sale held last year
with four steam engines being soldthe Case that is in the picture,
a portable Gaar-Scott, a Huber and a 40 HP Geiser built in 1907
that sold for $18,000.00.
The photo of the engine that is unknown was found on the place.
I cannot identify it and have found no one that can. Would you see
if any of the subscribers can and if they will help me. I don’t
even know what years the Boddies had the engine or when it was
disposed of.
I had my Nichols & Shepard in a Christmas Parade at
Henderson, Kentucky and then put it to bed for the winter. I’m
in the process of putting all new double strength piping on her so
she will be right for the Tennessee-Kentucky Show at Adams,
Tennessee in July. This gas situation is getting serious. I’m
paying $1.16 for unleaded here and I’m afraid it will cut down
on attendance at the show, especially those from out of state.
Thank you for printing the notice of Kirk Donohoes death that I
sent in. I bought my engine from his brother, Carl, who is in the
hospital now for surgery. He sure does enjoy the Iron-Men Album as
did Kirk. I really do like the front covers on the magazine. I just
wish it came every month. I have every copy back to 1965 and
Forrest Cunningham of Harrodsburg, Kentucky has every one and has
let me read them all.’
N. BRADY BROWN, Lazo, B.C. VOR 2X0 sends comments as follows:
‘Plaudits to Carl Erwin on his indicator article. He is a true
engineer. This instrument provides the only accurate way to reveal
the actual pressures and, thus, valve timing and also leakage in
the cylinder of a steam engine.
I have used my indicator on stationary engines and once on my
Brooks steam powered automobile. I am ashamed to say I haven’t
taken cards off my 16 HP Waterloo as yet. It does take several
qualified helpers to operate the engine, control the load and
record the data. I will endeavor to share this project with you
some time in the future. In the meantime, let us have some cards
off engines published and showing before and after valve
adjustments or other engine work such as new rings, reboring, valve
refitting, etc.
Oh yes, Carl Lathrop’s article shows superlative knowledge
of steam boilers and engines very well explained.’
This writing comes from HARLEY NOFZIGER, Route 3, Box 219,
Archbold, Ohio 43502: ‘My reason for writing is that I always
converse with the lady who takes care of the subscription during
the steam show at Wauseon, Ohio and I see the display you have of
reproductions of the brochures that the companies had during the
days when they sold steam engines and threshers. I would appreciate
it immensely if I could get an advertisement of the Baker steam
engines as well as the thresher. The reason is this I have a cousin
who is a wood carver and he would appreciate if he had such
material as he would like to carve an engine and thresher so he
will need a good picture of both the machines, broadside. He has
taken four firsts at the International Wood Carvers Convention held
annually at Davenport, Iowa. (If any of our faithful members could
help with a picture, please notify Harley.)
WILMER BOURAY, Box 56, Haray, Nebraska 68943 tells us: ‘I am
enclosing a picture of the steam engine and threshing machine my
grandfather had. There are no steam engine enthusiasts close by to
identify it for me and I wondered if it was shown in Iron-Men Album
there would be hopes someone would be able to tell me all about
it.’ (If you can help him, fellow members, please write.)
EARL S. STOUT, SR., 18897 Broad Street, Broadway, Ohio 43007
sends this information and maybe it will be of great help to
someone especially interested in it. ‘I would like to say that
I enjoy both I.M.A. and G.E.M. I have taken both for several years.
Because of my health I must dispose of several items and am moving
to San Antonio, Texas this summer. Of interest to I.M.A. readers, I
have a brochure with three pictures on it. One of a Greyhound steam
engine with a description of two different sizes. Second, is
picture of a Greyhound thresher with some description and the third
is a cut-away view of the thresher. These were made by The Banting
Mfg. Co., 114 Superior Street, Toledo, Ohio. I also have a letter
written by this company to a Mr. Wm. Hancock, Evansport, Ohio dated
January 18, 1922. This is a sales letter and with it is an
application form plus a list of used machinery. This material was
found in a wall of an older home as it was being torn out for
remodeling some years ago. I would be glad to let someone have this
material that would be looking for information on this company. The
pictures are very good. Keep up the good work on both
magazines.’ (If someone is interested and would pass the data
on to us, we would appreciate it for the magazineAnna Mae.)
Another comment on the unclassified photos comes from ROBERT
GOLD, Box 94, Milroy, Indiana 46156: ‘Photo No. 4 in the
Nov.-Dec. 1979 issue of the Iron Men Album Magazine is a picture of
the Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana taken at a Reunion. The
engine on the right is a 12-36 HP Russell owned at that time by Ray
Jones, past president of the club. The one on the left is a 50 HP
Case. I wish I could tell you when and where picture was takenmaybe
another member has this information.’
A nice letter and a history of a picture comes to us from EL
WOOD KEMP, Hamilton, North Dakota 58238: ‘We have taken the
magazine for many years and really enjoy it. We live in N.E. North
Dakota-raise sugar beets and small grains. Sunflowers were a big
crop last yearsome 250,000 acres, more than was put into barley in
Pembina County alone. While we do not raise potatoes, many of our
friends do they can be found nationwide. Freight is a big
problem.
I’m enclosing a picture of my dad’s steam threshing
outfit taken about 1915 when I was 5 years old. It is a 20 HP
cross-compound Reeves engine and a heavy duty Rumely separator. It
had a full length chaffer under the straw walkers, plus the usual
double sieve chaffer system, and could handle four men pitching
bundles into it quite easily. There were ten bundle teams, water
tank and grain hauler teams, a total of 22 men did the many jobs it
took to thresh in those days to accommodate a sea of shocked grain
and changing winds, the threshing machine had to be moved at times.
The men timed a move or set that dad made. It took just 12 minutes
from the time the straw stopped coming out of the blower until the
straw was flying again and dad had moved of a mile.
When the 150′ drive belt came to a stop and as being rolled
up, the blower and grain spout were being put in traveling position
while dad ran the engine up to the separator. A heavy chain was
hooked onto the front of the engine with a pull on the reverse
lever the outfit was off in reverse. When the outfit reached its
new location, the chain was unhooked, the engine simply backed into
the belt and the hum of the blower was about the only pound you
could hear. The smooth-quiet power of the Reeves was hard to
beat.
Because the engine burned straw, a special rack was fitted onto
the back of the engine to haul straw for moves (note a load of
straw is being blown onto a special rack by the wind stacker).
This is a poor picture of dad’s outfit but I hope you can
use it. I witnessed many things and rode on this outfit a lot. All
of our pictures burned in a house fire, but this was sent to me by
the Smiths. Thank you for a job well done.’
Next communication comes from VICTOR J. THOMSON, P.O. Box 7,
Sweetgrass, Montana 59484: ‘Enclosed is a clipping from the
Wall Street Journal regarding 1908 steam engine still working at
U.S. Steel. Looks like this faithful old engine will soon be
retired. Perhaps you can stir up some interest among us enthusiasts
so that it can be saved from the junk dealer. Would make fine
addition to anybody’s collection, even mine, if I were closer.
(I’m not sure how soon the engine would be discarded, but this
much was in the clipping). ‘The Youngstown, Ohio, plant, while
much closer to major Midwest markets, also has inefficient
open-hearth furnaces as well as old-fashioned steel finishing
equipment, including one mill that is driven by a steam engine
installed in 1908.”
(There is no address or any specifics on how to go about getting
in touch with someone if you are interested. The only suggestion I
have is that it was a Pittsburgh article and was written by Douglas
R. Sease, Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal. So that and
Victor J Thomson are the only leads you have. Also, this was in
December that the article was written, so a lot could have happened
since then. Anna Mae.)
Many of you folks that are interested in steam are also into gas
engines and we have a request from CLARENCE L. CRISWELL, Box 709,
Lamar, South Carolina 29069. He wants us to mention the John Deere
serial number search. As a service to all John Deere tractor
collectors the Criswell Museum is conducting a world-wide search
for JD tractors and will be recording the serial numbers of all
known tractors of certain models. ‘If you have any of the
models listed below or know of any, would you please respond and
mail us the information. Models to be cataloged are: Waterloo
Boy-Model C Model P; G.P. Wide Tread – GPO – GPO-Lindeman crawler –
BO Lindeman crawler – D with serial number up to #36248 Model 62 –
AO Streamline.
When you write please list model, serial number, owner’s
name and address. We will delete owner’s name and address from
any listings when you do not want them. Lists will be compiled
through 1980. Lists will be available to all interested collectors
at cost.’ Again please write CRISWELL JOHN DEERE TRACTOR
MUSEUM, Box 709, Lamar, South Carolina 29069.
That’s it for this time friends, and following is a poem
called FRIENDS by Edgar Guest’Ain’t it fine when things are
going Topsy-turvey and askewTo discover someone showing Good
old-fashioned faith in you? Ain’t it good when life seems
drearyAnd your hopes about to end,Just to feel the hand clasp
cheery Of a fine old loyal friend? Gosh! one fellow to another
Means a lot from day to day, Seems we’re living for each other
In a friendly sort of way. When a smile or cheerful greetin’
Means so much to fellows sore, Seems we ought to keep repeatin’
Smiles an’ praises more an’ more.’
Steamcerely, Anna Mae
