SOOT IN THE FLUES

LA VERNE M. OTT, 366 Brighton Road, Howell, Michigan 48843 sends
this: ‘In answer to Walter H. Pages letter in the Jan-Feb 1984
issue of IMA, about the Keck-Gommerman with the two kerosene lamps
on the smoke box. This engine is pictured on the cover of IMA
May-June 1958 issue. I also see that you started the ‘Soot in
the Flues’ column in the April-May 1958 issue, then started to
use the Keck Logo in the May-June magazine.

I am the proud owner of all issues of IMA, including the
fore-runner ‘The Farm Album’ starting with the first issue
in Fall, 1947.

I would like to add that it was by chance that I found the Keck
on the cover of IMA. My Dad, Frank Ott of Fowlerville, Michigan,
who is 80 years old, was staying in the hospital, so I was taking
him some older albums to read and this one happened to be with
them.

I would like to ask some of the old-timers to give us some of
their experiences, sure would make good reading.

I am a member of the Michigan Steam Engine & Threshers Club
at Mason, Michigan. We have quite a few older members who entertain
us with their ‘yarn’ of yesteryear.’

‘I received a gift subscription of the IMA from my wife for
Christmas and I enjoy your magazine immensely,’ says MARK
SCHNEIDER, Route 1, Box 182-B, Hinckley, Minnesota 55037.

‘In the Jan-Feb 1984 issue of IMA there was an article which
was entitled ‘Postcard Engine’ which pictured a large steam
traction engine. The author of the article didn’t know the
model or horsepower. I looked through my book, The Encyclopedia of
American Steam Traction Engines and came to the conclusion that it
must be a 120 HP Peerless. The book pictured one almost identical
to it except for the canopy and front-mounted water tank.

‘I also enjoyed the article about the steam show at Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa. I have attended the show once, back in 1967 when I
was only 10 years old. I can remember attaining one of my childhood
dreams at that timegetting a ride on a train pulled by a steam
locomotive. It was here I was first introduced to steam traction
engines, and have been interested in them ever since.

‘Keep up the good work!’

From the west coast comes this letter from KARL HAMMER-STROM,
Route 2, Box 290, Ellens-burg, Washington 98926: ‘A friend,
Curtis Ball, and I recently purchased a Gaar-Scott 18 HP double,
simple # 14856. If any of you engineers out there have any
information on this engine we would appreciate hearing from you. We
need to know when it was built, correct colors, if decals are
available, etc. We are in the process of refluing and restoring
this beauty and hope to have it ready for showing and working this
summer.’

JIM HALEY, 310 S. Franklin, Dwight, Illinois 60420, writes:
‘I’m looking forward to spring and time to fire up again,
but for now I can look at pictures and remember all the fun I had
at the shows in 1983. I managed to get to nine shows and related
events last year and hope to go to at least that many this year.
The smell of coal and hot oil draws me back again and again. My
high school friends don’t understand my obsession with these
old relics. They get their pride and joy from their new cars. My
pride and joy is running our 1922 50 HP Case!

‘My family also owns a scale of a 65 HP Case and I am in the
process of building a 1/3 scale Case. (See the January/February
1984 issue for a view of the Haley Cases.)

‘In conclusion, I would like to say I would rather read the
Iron-Men Album than a car magazine any day, even if I am 17 years
old!

‘Here is a photo taken at the Sellers Farm in Coldwater,
Michigan. Jim Haley and good friend, Jo Crawford, Howe, Indiana,
are discussing engineering on the back of Graham Sellers 20 HP
Nichols and Shepard.

(Well, we surely have an interested hobbyist in this young man,
don’t we fellows? And that’s just what we need, more like
him to keep the hobby a chugging along.)

‘I recently acquired my first steam engine,’ claims GREG
PREVIS, Route 1, Box 965, King William, Virginia 23086.
‘It’s a 9 x 11 manufactured by A. B. Farquhar. I was hoping
someone could tell me when it was made and what color it should be
painted. All letters will be appreciated.’

‘I am enclosing the Frick engine color scheme, which may be
of interest to Frick owners who are restoring their engines,’
states WILMER J. ESHLEMAN, 722 East End Ave., Lancaster,
Pennsylvania 17602. FRICK STEAM ENGINE

COLOR SCHEME For best results, use #769 ‘Rust-Oleum’
damp-proof red primer to undercoat the following: Engine bed, fly
wheel, steering wheel, gear housing, and ground wheels. The
following to be black: Boiler, water tank on axle, tool box, main
frame, and front axle. The following are to be orange yellow: Bull
gears and pulling springs, inside left-hand drive wheel. For the
second coat, the ground wheels are to be fire hydrant red. The
engine bed, fly wheel, steering wheel, gear housing and all pipes
are to be a rich maroon color. In order to acquire this, use 3
quarts of ‘Rust-O-leum’ red, and mix with one pint of blue
or thereabouts. The above formula was given to me by the late John
S. Kauffman, shortly before his death.’

From ROBERT L. MATHENY, Kearney, Nebraska 68847 comes a chatty
letter and I think many of you will be interested as you will know
and remember the fellows and engines of which he speaks: ‘A
little over a year ago in your July/August issue of Iron Man, I
read the article about Wes and Dorothy Mohling’s 40 HP Case. In
the article, Mr. Lestz tells us that if you go to an auction and
you are bidding on a steam engine and you are not the last
‘bidder’, you may go away very ‘bitter’. Let me
say, I had mixed feelings, but I didn’t go away
‘bitter’, for you see, I was that second bidder.

‘I have always had a fascination for steam engines every
since I was 10 or 11 years old. It was then that I was first
introduced to the sight of a steam engine.

‘It was August, 1964 at the Buffalo County Fair in Kearney,
Nebraska. Two gentlemen from Kansas had their 1/3 scale Case
engines on display. I have been fascinated ever since.

‘These two gentlemen showed their engines for many years in
northern Kansas and south central Nebraska. I remember them both
very well. Mr. Jacobs was from Smith Center, Kansas and he was the
fellow I talked to the most. He even offered to sell me a 1/3 scale
in about 1970. I’ve wished ever since that I had bought it. The
other fellow’s name was Emil Badenhoop (spelling may not be
correct). His 1/3 scale engine can be seen at the Bird City Show in
Kansas each year. I believe the Wright family from Bird City now
own it and show it there each year.

‘I have come to know many people over the years, who have
been interested in steam and steam shows. Mr. John Stratman of
Wilcox, Nebraska, had shows for many years and I attended many of
them. John finished building a railroad locomotive about 2 years
ago. He has it on rubber tires, so he can take it to various shows.
I asked him why he built it and he said that every boy wants a
train sometime in his life.

‘About 6 years ago, I met a fellow at one of John
Stratman’s shows, named John Sanger from Franklin, Nebraska.
John had a 1/3 scale Case, which he had taken to many shows in
northern Kansas and south central Nebraska through the years. I was
in the process of having a -scale Case built by Tom Terning of
Valley Center, Kansas. I was running John Sanger’s 1/3 scale at
Stockton, Kansas this year when he said he’d sure like to have
a -scale. Through a little deal, I, now own John’s 1/3 scale
and Tom Terning is building John ascale!

‘Another fellow, I remember well was Ray Hand from
Pleasanton, Nebraska. He had a 65 HP Case and showed it at Wilcox,
Kearney, Corn-stock, and Pleasanton, Nebraska. It was always such a
monster of a thing and I remember Ray’s gracefulness, as he
handled it at the various shows. Warren Bomberger of Sargent,
Nebraska has also been an inspiration to my interest in steam. He
has owned many engines and is always interesting to visit.

‘I’ve always wanted a large engine and I’ve looked
for one a long time. I bought a 60 HP Case from Paul Squire of
Osage, Iowa last September. He has several steam engines he
displays each year just west of Charles City, Iowa.

‘I must say things in my life have really been keeping a
fast pace in the last 2 years, as far as steam is concerned.

‘This year at Kearney, Nebraska at the Buffalo County
Fairgrounds, the same place my fascination began, we will have our
3rd Steam Show.

‘About the end of last April Maurice Small comb came over
and together we advertised and arranged for our 2nd show. Since
then, we have formed an Association and are planning a very nice
show the first weekend of June. I really thank Maurice and his
wife, Peg, for the work they both have done in the past year. Peg
is our newly appointed secretary and she does a wonderful job of
it.

‘Well, I guess I’ve made a short story long, but in
closing, I want to thank all the people who have helped me keep an
interest in steam and steam shows. Enclosed is a picture of the 60
HP Case.’

Some interesting pictures and comments come from HARVEY GLOEGE,
Box 158, Glenwood, Minnesota 56334:

‘First of all, about the tractor pictured in the
September/October issue pulling a road grader sent in by Kenn F.
Gronwald of St. Peters, Missouri that he asked to be identified. In
the November/December issue, Jay Unjay from Unites, Pennsylvania
states that he believes it to be a Pioneer or Parrett, having seen
a similar one pictured in an earlier IMA issue of that make. I
looked through all the issues back through 1969 and didn’t find
one like it featured. I would have guessed it to be either a
‘Big-4’ or an Emerson-Brantingham. Perhaps someone will
correctly identify it.

‘On a related subject, I am enclosing two photos taken about
1920 (photo #1 and #2) of an Aultman-Taylor 30-60 pulling an
elevator grader building a dyke. The tractor and grader were owned
by my uncles, Herbert and Alfred Sellin. The dyke is on Minnesota
bottomland in Lac Qui Parle County, near Odessa, Minnesotaowned by
my grandfather, Emil Sellin. The dyke was built to keep the
Minnesota River from flooding this fertile bottom land. As many of
your readers of this know, this river has its source from Big Stone
Lake between Ortonville Minnesota and Big Stone City South Dakota.
The scenes pictured took place only 4 miles away and the dyke is
still there.

‘My father, George Gloege, helped run the engine many days
on this job. He owned two 30-60 Aultman-Taylor tractors. Photo #3
is of him standing by one of them. The other, a 1912 model, was
pictured in the 1983 July-August IMA issue.

‘Photo #4 is a photo of my 30-60 Aultman-Taylor standing by
our Gloege Chevrolet-Olds Dealership building in Glenwood,
Minnesota in

1960, which I still haveboth the engine and the dealership.

‘Photo #5 is of the same 30-60 Aultman-Taylor pulling the
elevator grader on photos #1 and #2. On it are my two uncles
mentioned earlier and my aunt, Edyth Sellin. This photo was taken
in about 1922.

‘My people have had a love affair with Aultman-Taylor
Machinery for many years. It still flourishes in me and others
today!

‘Thanks for the enjoyment old timers like me are given from
your interesting publication. I feel I know you people quite
wellespecially you, Anna Mae.’

HERBERT H. COMBS, Box 2503, Panama City, Florida 32401 has an
interest in building a steam launch or boat and would appreciate
any information you may be able to supply.

‘I have subscribed to both the Iron-Men and Gas Engine
magazines since 1976 when I purchased my 1920 15-ton Buffalo
Springfield Roller #4648, and I sure do enjoy the magazines very
much. I also have several engines, tractors, threshers and related
farm items,’ writes VERNE CROUT, Box 34, R.D. 2, Watkins Glen,
New York 14891.

‘I wonder if anyone in Engine Land would know of the correct
colors that these rollers were painted and if I could get a picture
of same. I would also like to hear from other owners of
rollers.’

Seeking your comments, the following letter comes from HARVEY
APPLEBURY, Box 122, Dawn, Missouri 64638: ‘I purchased a
Robinson engine #2577, 12 HP or 14 HP? There is some confusion here
that I hope the readers in Steam Engine Land can answer. I think it
is in the 1900 to 1904 model range. It has a 7′ bore and
12′ stroke, 8′ wide, 38′ diameter pulley wheel, and the
drive wheels are 60′, 29-2′ flues, 72′ long. The
governor pulley 1.65 (420 RPM) and 3.95 on crankshaft would give
engine speed of 175 RPM. What steam pressure would this run?
Original colors? Other owners or previous owners of this engine?
Here’s hoping for some Robinson owners listed in your new
book.’ (There was only one Robinson in our Where Are the
Engines booklet. Unfortunately, the owner, Pat Trenary, has since
died and we don’t know what has happened to the engine.)

This comes from RONALD COOPER, 3210 Aitken Road, Route 3,
Marlette, Michigan 48453: ‘I have enclosed a post card I found
in some old cards from an estate I was in and I saw the same thing
in your Nov/Dec IMA pages 20, 21, 22. They tell about the Case
company putting on incline stunts at fairs. The post card has the
same thing on it. I don’t know what fair it was or year but I
think it had to be in Michigan (Anyone recognize it and know where
it would have been?)

‘I get the Iron-Men and Gas Engine magazines and have sold
and bought things from your ads. I like both magazines. Keep up the
good work!’

DENNIS SHIMMIN, Ash Hollow State Park, Box A, Lewellen, Nebraska
69147 is looking for information on stationary steam engines that
were made by the Oil City Boiler Works in Oil City, Pennsylvania
around 1900. He needs to know the color they were painted, what
kind of governors they used and any other information about them.
Says he is anxiously awaiting some kind reader to help him.

A tip for you interested folks comes from ERLYN IVERSON, Route
2, Box 162, Byron, Minnesota 55920: ‘A note to steam engine
operators! I get around to a lot of steam shows and you would be
surprised at the engines you see running without cylinder
lubrication.

‘First of all, see that your oil pump is working and then
see that the right oil is being used. Steam cylinder oil is what is
known as a compounded oil and is made by mixing a mineral oil with
an animal oil a pure mineral oil will not form an emulsion with the
water and hence will not adhere to a moist surface for this reason
it is useless for steam cylinders. It has however a high flash
point, which the animal oils spoil in the oil.

‘I also have gotten good results with GLI pure mineral oil
Sale 140-mix in one pint tallow per gallon with few ounces of
bubble soap the kind you buy for kids to blow bubbles with it’s
a great emulsifier.’

Just a few closing thoughts and then this issue will be on its
way One way to get ahead and stay ahead is to use your head Better
to try something and fail, than to try nothing and succeed Our
responsibility is RESPONSE to HIS ABILITY.You’re always in the
wrong key when you start singing your own praises. Character is not
made in a crisis, it is only exhibited. Take care have fun at the
shows and write me Love you all.