SOOT IN THE FLUES

belong. I praise the Lord every day for I give Him the credit of
leading us to our new home. Also, I thought I would be so upset
after we moved and that I would miss the old homestead and shed a
few tears but you know what? God is so good He brought us a family
that just thinks that house was made exactly for them. Every time I
see them they elaborate on another part of the house they just love
and we are even now steadfast friends and they extend an open door
to us at anytime. To me, it is just so amazing the troubles we
conjure up for ourselves and then when you look back on the problem
you can see the work of the Lord in so many ways. I must tell you
the folks that moved into the house are Bernie and Priscilla David
son they have four little girls and I thought you just might like
to hear their names Kristi, Kerri, Kati and Kylie, ages 9, 6, 3 and
5 months and we wish them as much happiness in their new home as we
had while living there 30 years.

Well, I could go on and on, but I must get to the letters from
the Iron Men Album Family.

From over the ocean comes a letter from STEPHEN MEARS, 6
Monksher borne Road, Rams dell, Basing stoke, Hampshire, England.
‘I recently obtained a copy of the Iron-Men Magazine. I have
recently purchased an old American tractor, a Huber Super 4, 40-62
HP, age 1925-1930 American. I wish to restore it to its original
condition and I cannot find any information or literature on this
tractor in England. I would be most appreciative of any information
anyone could supply.’

HARLAN H. BRADLEY, P. O. Box 898, Hayden Lake, Idaho 83835 tells
us: ‘I am interested in steam power units small enough to apply
to automobiles, both reciprocating and small turbines. If you have
or know of any information, please let me know.

I was referred to you by Lance Starkey who is a neighbor of
mine. He has a great collection of steam engines.’ (Well
Harlan, you will probably hear from one of our readers hope
so!)

H. S. (FRED) FOX, 233 County House Road, Clarksboro, New Jersey
08020 in answer to a letter in former magazine. You may agree or
disagree and you may well enjoy this information: ‘In answer to
Mr. R. Mellot of Pennsylvania, Soot in the Flues, July/August 1979.
To start I am confused with the question, but can only say the
following. It makes absolutely no difference whether we have a 1
pint boiler or whether we have a 50 HP boiler containing a few
hundred gallons, 125 lbs. of pressure can be raised in each,
providing we add enough heat, of course. It also makes no
difference whether we use a 1′ press, gauge or a 6’ one, as
they both record the amount of force pushing against 1 sq. inch of
the internal area. Be it water, gas, steam or oil. 125 lbs. of
pressure is the same amount of force.

Now as to the energy contained within these various subjects, we
have quite a different matter. For instance when we water test a
boiler (and makes no difference of size), we fill it to overflowing
with water. All holes are plugged and the pump is used. Now each
stroke of the pump will send the needle of the gauge flying for
water for all intents and purposes, is not compressible. All we do
is compress the small particles of air contained in it. While we
are making this hydro’ test and should this boiler rupture, we
would only find ourselves getting an unwanted shower bath. Were it
oil we would have the same situation, and the pressure would
quickly dissipate in each case.

As for gas formed subjects, an entirely different situation
exists for once they are released, hang on to your hat if you still
have a head to put it on. Steam contains a tremendous amount of
energy and this is the whole secret to an injector. Now don’t
get me wrong, water also has quite a force but only about 1/20 that
of steam.

In looking over the question again, had it read ‘Can you
tell me how much cold water it takes to equal 125 lbs.,’ the
answer would be simple. This would mean HEAD pressure, for the
answer would be 125 x 2.3 equal 287.5 feet. Upon looking in my
textbook I find the figure .433021b. per sq. in. at 62 degrees F.
for every foot of Static head (Height). There is also Dynamic Head
which relates to water in motion and has no bearing on this
question.

Asking the question again, ‘How many lbs. of cold water does
it take to equal 125 lbs. on a steam boiler?’ The only logical
answer is get a steam boiler, 287 feet high. Please don’t think
I am giving Mr. Mellot’s question, for I’m sure he has some
plausible reason for asking it, otherwise he would not go to the
trouble of writing IMA. Perhaps if he cares to contact me further,
I may be able to help him.’

JAMES W. CHANDLER, 1129 Cedars Court, Lebanon, Indiana 46052
writes: ‘I just received September-October issue of IMA on page
19 at the topI assume this one to be mine this is an (ancient) Port
Huron 32 HP compound, taken in the late 1930s or early 1940s. It
was in an abandoned lime kiln and owned by one Harry Gingrich. When
we moved in early June, I saw 2 or 3 negatives of this scene. The
location is Adamsboro, Indiana about 6 miles northeast of
Logansport, Indiana on the Auburn branch of the now abandoned
Pennsylvania Railroad.

Was sorry to learn of Dan McCorkle’s death. I knew him,
well. We of that era are leaving fast Example my wife 7-15-79. God
bless you all!’ (Thanks James and God Bless you and our
sympathy.)

TEXAS LONGHORN, Lucky Horse Farm, General Delivery, Quakertown,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania is seeking information on modern day
steam engines. He would like to know what advances have been made
on steam engines, both straight and compound wants to use it on a
tractor and make a 200 HP engine wants to build it with a safety
factor of 12. (Can you help him?)

ROBERT MARSH, St. Rt. 2, Box 147, Chadwick, Missouri 65629 is a
new member in our I.M.A. family as he tells us: ‘I have been
reading Iron-Men Album for about a year now, second hand and have
finally decided I can’t wait the extra week or so-enclosed is
my subscription.

I have been interested in steam for most of my 23 years, but
until a year ago, never saw a steam engine, except for a few
models. I have just found a stationary engine and boiler to go with
it. It is a Samson, English Iron Works, Kansas City, Missouri, 6 x
7 with a shaft governor. My neighbor and fellow steam buff has one
in a 5 x 6 size with a fly ball governor. I have never seen
anything about these engines or the company. I would appreciate it
if someone could let me know colors, approximate age and anything
regarding the company.

I hope to have the engine running soon and hope to find other
stationary engines in time, as I have been firmly bitten by the
steam bug.’ (No remedy for that bug, Sir except to find out all
you can about the disease and also try and get your family
interested then you’ll all be happy.)

G. S. EASTON of 180 Mollison Street, Kuneton 3444, Victoria,
Australia: ‘I’m writing in the hope that you can assist me.
I have just finished a full restoration on a Clay-son & Shuttle
worth 2 HP portable steam engine, number 45511. Would you know the
date of manufacture of my engine?’ He also says he is
interested in transfers or copies of same. I’m just not sure
what he meansmaybe some of you could help him.

We have a letter from G. BOYER, P. O. Box 422, Smith River,
California 95567: ‘Here is a poem I thought some of the readers
might enjoy, entitled: ‘The Steam-Gas Dream.’

I had a dream the other night, a frightful, fitful dream

That all the old gas engines were converted into steam!

I tossed and turned but could not sleep, so I went out to the
shop,

And there set my trusty Ottawa just runnin’ like a top!

You might well guess at my surprise, at seeing that engine
run,

For I knew I hadn’t started it, since the setting of the
sun!

Many months later I still did wonder What made that engine
run?

But I said to myself that dreams, after all, are just a lot of
fun!

An interesting letter from MEL GREENWICH, 115 1st Avenue, N.E.,
Kenmore, North Dakota 58746: ‘I hadn’t planned on putting
in my two cents worth regarding unclassified photos this trip, but
I find that there is a (sleeper) here that many will not catch.

Picture Number 4 is a tricky one. Most will identify this engine
as a Port Huron, mostly because of the obvious outstanding
featurethe drive wheels with grouters cast integrally with the
tire. Indeed this is a Port Huron trademark.
However, this engine has another feature that leads me to believe
it is not a Port Huron. All of the Port Huron
engines I have seen have a larger spotlight type of center
medallion on the smoke box door, similar to that on the Russell
engines.

I’m certainly not infallible, but I believe this engine is a
Robert Bell, manufactured in Canada under license agreement with
the old Port Huron Company.

I couldn’t state the horsepower of the engine in picture
Number 5but it is definitely Aultman-Taylor.

Unclassified is a very interesting feature of this fine
magazine. I hope you never run short of material for it. My best
regards.’

Here comes another letter and has another opinion about No. 5 as
LYLE HOFF MASTER, 1845 Marion Road, Bucyrus, Ohio 44829 writes:
‘The unclassified photo #5 of the July-August ’79 Iron Men
Album is of a Napoleon engine. They were made by the Morning star
Mfg. Company, Napoleon, Ohio. The top valves and double cylinders
were a combination of features unique to these engines.

My 1907 Napoleon catalog shows round spoke wheels. The general
appearance is similar to the old single gear Reeves except the gear
train was on opposite sides. A friction clutch was used. The sizes
were 16 and 18 horsepower;.’

Another letter concerning the unclassified photos comes from
WALT THAYER, Box 2175, Wenatchee, Washington 98801:
‘September-October, pictures1. looks very much like a
David-Bradley upright boiler and vertical pump could be some other
make. 2. A Russell with identification tag on front axle. Belongs
to Lyman Knapp of Blackwell, Oklahoma. 3. Nice looking barn and
windmill, like it was a prosperous farm. Engine looks like an under
mounted Reeves or Avery and has Locolite type headlight using oil,
kerosene or carbide; nice looking crew and separator might be a
Case or Rumely. 4. Looks like a Russell (compare with #2). Also
looks like it has been idle a long time. Looks like an artillery or
anti-tank shell hit it! 5. Might be a Case or A very and has a
spark screen on the smoke stack. Looks like hardwood or (Eastern
U.S.) logs.

I’m not an expert on steam tractors, but have traveled
thousands of miles on Fairmont, Woolrey and Casey Jones railroad
track section cars and box car pullmans.’

An interesting report for many of you folks comes from M.E.
LANG, 1743 Oconto, Wabeno, Wisconsin 54566: ‘The letter by J.
K. Ledbetter, 108 Sunset Drive, Black Mountain, H.C. 28711 to
Brooks Jones concerning Holts steam traction engine No. 77, page 13
of IMA January-February 1979 issue was of considerable interest to
me in as much as I was one of the two men who restored the Phoenix
Log Hauler shown on page 13 of IMA March-April 1979 issue.

During our restoration of the Log Hauler I contacted the factory
where they were built at Eau Claire, Wisconsin. That was when I
first learned about the controversy of the Lombard Company and the
Holt firm.

In an article about the Lombard Steam Log Hauler in the October
1975 issue of the Live Steam Magazine they printed the following,
in part, about the Lombard steam Log Hauler, ‘Lombard arranged
with the Waterville Iron Works to build the first Lombard Log
Hauler and his application for a patent was filed Nov. 9, 1900.
Patent No. 674737 for a logging engine was issued on May 4, 1901.
The description, claims and drawings of their patent are restricted
to the traction and method of support.’

The article further states that the Caterpillar track built by
Holt and Best was covered by the Lombard patent over which there
was considerable litigation.

A patent was issued to Holt in 1912 but only covered a method of
suspension and stabilization of the tracks but does not cover the
fundamental of traction through trucks running on a movable track
as covered by the Lombard patent. That was confirmed in
correspondence that Life Steam Magazine obtained from old files of
the Alvin O. Lombard Traction Company.

Patent No. 23853, dated May 3, 1859 was issued to Warren P.
Miller of Marysville, California, for a locomotive machine for
propelling plows. The specifications and drawing are a quite
accurate description of the traction system described in
Lombard’s patent.

On page 7 of Floyd Clymer’s Album of Historical Steam
Traction Engines, is a picture of a 15 HP 2 cylinder crawler type
steam engine built at Erie, Pennsylvania dated 1868. It probably
was impractical as it had crawlers on all four axles.

On page 25 of the same album is another traction engine patented
by Charles H. Stratton of Mascow, Pennsylvania that is propelled by
endless tracks dated March 23, 1893.

Lombard’s patent of a logging engine included the endless
track system as did all previous patents. But, there is where they
each differ from the other.

Phoenix made improvements after their purchase of the Lombard
patents, Holt and Best made improvements when they built their
Caterpillar.

The improvements in each case had to do with the suspension,
stabilization, drive and control of the tracks, and not the
principle of Mr. Warren P. Miller’s patent of 1859 when he
proposed and invented the crawler type drive.

It is quite evident that Mr. Holt did not invent the crawler
type of traction, nor was he the first one to put them to practical
use.’

A second letter arrives this month from JAMES W. CHANDLER, 1129
Cedars Court, Lebanon, Indiana 46052: ‘I wrote you recently,
but now the reason for this letter. I believe you know me, at least
by record of some years. Today, I wrote Mrs. Elmo Mahoney of
Dorrence, Kansas. My uncle, by marriage, was a test engineer for
the Avery Company of Peoria, Illinois for some years, even to their
end, 1923 or so. The fact is ever present with me that the
originals of us dwindle every year. I personally, have some good
memories of the Mahoney tribe, as we called them. Even though my
father was a (trouble shooter) for Huber Mfg. Company, he had most
cordial relations with Avery, Baker, Case, Advance Rumely and
others.

The story of the’ Lincoln, Nebraska Steam Test (similar to
the event at Wichita, Kansas) would be a most interesting tribute
to the memory of Elmo Mahoney, Fred Kiser, Ray Earnst, Lyman Knapp,
Roy Kite, LeRoy Blaker, Munzie Kemmerly, Frank Keck, Dan Zehr, Joe
Rynda, Elmer Ritzman and a few others. Sorry, I know I’ve
missed naming some other names in the aforementioned group. This
was similar to an event described in March-April 1958 issue, page 5
of I.M.A.

The fact remain about the same except larger engines were used.
Both myself and others have searched the entire Great Plains area
for the 25 HP Huber that was used in (that one). There were facts
and also legends, but one item stands out for sure that 25 HP
Hubertho’ said to have been (souped up) or a (customized)
product, out-pulled any and all other single cylinder engines
there, regardless of size, etc.

Note The Huber was not a nice looking piece of machinery by any
stretch of the imagination, but a (Huber) man firing her and all
things being equal, one had to step back for no one, at any
time…..’

Waiting to hear from you readers is GERALD D. PEALER, Route 2,
Box 59, 21333 Wooster Road. (Jello-way), Danville, Ohio 43014 as he
tells us: ‘While at the Ohio Valley Antique Machinery Show at
Georgetown in August, my interest in the old cast iron corn Sheller
setting in my barn was renewed or revived or whatever Cast in the
housing is: Burrell’s Corn Sheller, Waterloo, N.Y. Pat. Mar.
24, 1863. It has four legs on it and can be bolted to the floor. It
is made entirely of cast iron, except the bolts and washers. I
would like to know more about it, please!’

LOUIS H. ALTHOFF, 328 W. Chestnut Street, Freeport, Illinois
61032 has something for the readers: ‘Have information on
unclassified photo no. 3, page 18 of Sept.-Oct. 79 issue. Picture
was taken in 1918 on Althoff Farm, Freeport, Illinois. Karl
Althoff, 4th from left in picture lived on farm and owned the
threshing outfit. An Avery engine and 36′ Nichols & Shepard
machine. Others in picture: 3rd from left, Walter Otto, my uncle;
4th from left, Karl Althoff, my father; 5th from left, Gust
Althoff, my great-uncle; 10th from left, Henry Otto, my uncle. The
Althoffs have subscribed to Iron-Men for many years.’ (Thanks
for the information.)

Another steam bug writes us CHARLES GARRETT, JR., 2660 Delaware
Drive, Florissant, Missouri 63033 has this to say: ‘I just
became the proud owner of a Keck-Gonnerman (Indiana Special)
24’ wooden separator. It has the weigh bucket on the belt side
and the straw blower tube (wind stacker). I would like to know if
there is a good way to restore the belts to usable condition (both
canvas and leather) as they are quite stiff. Other than the belts
which are still installed, it is ready to go to work. It has always
been shedded and still is. I hope to pull it with my 1936 F-12
until I can get a 10-20 or similar vintage machine. I doubt if
I’ll ever be able to afford a steamer. It also has cast iron
wheels. I would like some data as to age, etc.

I was fortunate to see the Kinzers Show last summer as I
happened to be over at Intercourse for the carriage sale. I enjoyed
the show and sale very much. Also got a chance to visit a horse
sale at Blue Ball and the Renninger Flea Market. Didn’t read a
newspaper, listen to a radio or watch TV for two weeks and found I
hadn’t missed a thing.’

THOMAS J. MORRISON, 31-600 Landau Blvd., Apt. B11, Palm Springs,
California 92262 has a thought for all: ‘May-June issue
mentions a Holt with Cat tracks. There is on
display a 4 cylinder gas engine with tracks, but it is steered by a
large front wheel at Boulder Dan, Nevada.’

With deadline closing in September for this issue (Nov.-Dec.)
also means the beginning of another school term and for us a lot of
different patterns of living as we get used to our new environment.
Tommy is now a sophomore and will be riding the school bus which
I’m sure he will adapt to very readily. And it’s back to
school for the grandchildren Ryan 10, Lance 10, and Stacy 12. My
how they grow! And the newest grandchild, Kortni Lynn, is already
eight months old and learning every day some of the traits and
habits that will stay with her all her life she has two wonderful
teachers in Mum Mum and Da Da enough of family talk and with
Christmas coming up fast I’ll just leave you with a few
reminders of this forthcoming event ‘Christmas is a time for
love, A time for inhibitions to shed, A time for showing that we
care, A time for words too long unsaid.’ and a little story of
Christmas: The African boy listened carefully as the teacher
explained why it is that Christians give presents to each other on
Christmas day. ‘The gift is an expression of our joy over the
birth of Jesus and our friendship for each other,’ she
said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a sea shell
of lustrous beauty. ‘Where did you ever find such a beautiful
shell?’ the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such
extraordinary shell could be found. When he named the place, a
certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left
speechless.

‘Why why, it’s gorgeous wonderful, but you shouldn’t
have gone all that way to get a gift for me.’

His eyes brightening, the boy answered, ‘Long walk part of
gift.’ by Gerald Horton Bath from The Guideposts Christmas
Treasury.

(A Happy Holiday Season MIZPAH-and Love).