Just seems like it can’t be, but it surely is we’re
heading to the Christmas time of the year again. And I’m sure
that it is just keeping in style with this fast-paced world. Did
you ever try to buy a swim suit or some warm weather clothes for a
late summer fling and you go to the store and lo and behold all the
winter and fall items are on display oh they look nice, but it just
you are shopping for, go early or better yet, try and get in on the
sales when you go for winter clothes and go real early, you might
reap some mighty good summer sales. I’m sure you all know what
I’m trying to say BUT the main thing is the Christmas season
should not be dealt with just at the Christmas holidays, but all
the time this is the one season we should keep in our hearts and
lives all year through not just for 30 days in December. Anyhow,
just have to let you know I have a good bit of Christmas shopping
done and have 15 packages wrapped now don’t think that is
something unusual, though it is for me. But you should know our
daughter, Keli, and many of you do if you think back she used to
work for the Iron-Men Album and Gas Engine Magazine for a few years
she is a perfectionist if there ever was one and in every detail of
her life. She always has all Christmas shopping done and wrapped by
September. I was always a last minute gal due to having so many
things to get done and I never seem to have enough time to cover
all the chores (although loving ones). Last year I got a good start
but it was mayhem come Christmas time. I forgot to mark packages
what was in them, and worse, (‘Where could I have put
them?’) Not so with Keli, she is so precise she even files her
cereals and canned goods on the shelves by alphabet yes, it’s
true! She is quite a gal, and well-loved by all. And what a
wonderful mother she has three children, ages 11, 6 and 3 and none
of them leave the table without saying, ‘Please, may I be
excused?’ and ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’ whenever
needed and somehow I just don’t know too many children who have
those rules in this fast-paced world. Enough of my family tales and
on to the tremendous letters from you folks and without them, this
column would be nothing.
But first, let me relate to you a short, but true, Christmas
story taken from The Guideposts Christmas Treasury book entitled:
‘When Doctors Served as Theatre Ushers.’
Christmas was only a few weeks away one year when the Jewish War
Veterans of New Brunswick, New Jersey, mobilized volunteers for a
unique project. To further improve the already fine community
spirit, members offered to replace any Christians who would
ordinarily have to work on Christmas Day. The substitutes would
accept no pay.
‘We placed 60 persons in all,’ Herman Breitk of, Jewish
Post Commander, reported. ‘Our volunteers were men and women
from all walks of life, including doctors, dentists, nurses,
tradesmen, and the like. They acted as theatre ushers, waiters and
waitresses and one as an oil truck driver. We had many more
standing by to serve as baby sitters, so that Christian families,
who otherwise would have had to remain at home, might attend
services.’
The project advanced the feeling of brotherhood in New Brunswick
to a new high; it is a practical plan that almost any community can
adapt.
‘We plan to continue the program again this year and
annually in the future,’ Mr. Breitk of stated. ‘It is our
hope that we can serve more and more of our Christian friends each
year.’
LOYD CREED, 3504 Willow Drive, Mattoon, Illinois 61938 writes
us: ‘I subscribe to both Engineers and Engines and Iron-Men
Album both are fine publications. Lately it seems that several
people contribute the same material to both magazines. I feel like
Mr. Robert Weis (see June-July 1990 E&E page 43) and cannot
agree with him enough. I believe most of the problems could be
resolved if more people contributed to each magazine.
‘How about reviving the model builder’s column in the
Iron-Men Album? Since models are playing such a large part at each
show nowadays, there should be enough builders and owners out there
in Engine Land to make this a success once again. (Other comments,
anybody?)
‘Lastly, I would like to thank all the people at IMA and
E&E for such great publications.
‘I have been a dedicated reader of Iron-Men Magazine for
several years and have enjoyed the stories, pictures and the
information the magazine contains.
‘I own a 1915 # 2475 Port Huron engine that belonged to my
grandfather and I have restored it. Also own a #3354 Rusher
thresher. I have recently acquired a Port Huron hay press that
makes a 16 x 18 bale. I want to restore the hay press back to
working condition and need help in doing this.
‘If there is anyone who is able to send me pictures or
drawings as to the dimensions, mechanical workings, metal, etc., I
would be most grateful and any help would be welcomed. Is it
possible that the Ann Arbor Hay Press Company built hay presses for
the Port Huron engine? ‘Again, any data will be greatly
appreciated and can be sent to me at the address printed. Thank
you!’ (Waiting for replies to this letter you can write to LYLE
H. FALL, 12303 Lake Road, Otter Lake, Michigan 48464.)
‘I NEED HELP!’ cries WILLIAM FLOWERS, Route 1, Box 332,
Adena, Ohio 43901. ‘I need a picture of a Ground Hog Thresher.
The parts that we have are the frame, the cylinder with spikes and
pad of the concave with spikes. There is no top at all. We need a
picture or drawing showing the complete machine.’
Sending an abundance of information, this letter comes from FRED
FOX, 233 County House Road, Clarksboro, New Jersey 08020.
‘In July-August of IMA and, as Mr. Milster states, there are
many variables concerning the reciprocating steam engine whether
they be large or small. The average thoughts are, when referring to
models at least, half the original piston diameter, half the power.
This obviously is not so, for a 2 inch bore engine would have a
piston area of 3.1416 square inches, easy to remember for it’s
the same as that stonehenge character n. A piston of 4 inches would
be 4 squared times 0.7854=12.566. This is three times the area.
‘In model building one comes upon various things which are
not practical, for as the great L.B.S.C. used to say, ‘You
cannot scale water nor steam.’ Perhaps you wish to construct a
boiler of a particular machine and the feed pipe of the original
has an O/D of 1’Now you are constructing in 1 scale, that’s
1/8 full size. This means your model
feed-pipe will be 1/8‘ diameter. How many
1/8‘ diameter will fit inside a 1’
pipe30 perhaps? For a 1/8‘ pipe would
hardly pass enough water through the check valve. A
3/16‘ pipe might be a little better but I
would use a ‘ diameter. I have built over 30 models in 1′
and 2’ scales and they are nearly all fitted with ‘ copper
feed lines.
‘Now reading Mr. Perkins horse-power calculations, something
doesn’t quite add up. Looking over the formula as printed, it
should read 2 P.L.A.N. Digging out my old British Naval hand
written docket book, I will give you word for word what it says:
‘The effort driving the engine is represented by the total
pressure on the piston which is deduced by multiplying the mean
effective pressure in pounds per square inch exerted on the piston
diameter. Consider the number of feet through which this effort
moves in one minute. The engine is driven by ‘N’
revolutions, each revolution being produced by 2 strokes of
‘L’ feet. The number of feet is 2 L.N. feet. Work done per
minute=Effort x Distance = P.A. x 2 L.N. This equals 2 P.L.A.N.
foot pounds per minute which equals
2P.L.A.N.
33,000
‘ ‘The mean effective pressure is found primarily from
the measurements from indicator diagrams. A card is wrapped around
a cylinder and rotated to represent the stroke by suitable lever
attachments to the crosshead. The cylinder pressure operates on a
piston against a coil spring, the movement created being marked by
an attached pencil on the card as the cylinder is
revolved.’
‘Going back to horsepower: I find what I call the New Way,
with a few less figures, amounts to almost the same thing. The
formula reads 000004, D squared times L, times N, times P.
Supposing the engine is 2 by 3, 500 RPMs and 50 E.P. we have000004
x 2 sq. x 3 x 500 x 50. Now get your calculator and punch in
.000004 x 4 = .000016 x 3=.000048 x 500=.024 x 50=1.2 HP.
‘For a two cylinder simple (not compound), and using the
same dimensions, it is a case of calculating the measurements of
each cylinder and adding the two together, then proceeding with the
remainder of the formula e.g.
0.000004 x (2 sq. x 3 plus 2 sq. x 3) 500 x 50 = 0.000004 x (4 x 3
plus 4 x 3) x 500 x 50 = 0.000004 x 24 x 500 x 50=2.4 HP.
‘Let’s again return to that mysterious Mean Effective
Pressure. As we do not have Dobbie-Mc Innes indicators and do not
wish to be bothered connecting up pipes and strings, there is a way
and a very simple one. Boiler pressure is 80 lbs. plus 15
atmospheric is 95 lbs. The remainder of the calculation, without
getting too involved, is the use of the hpy. log of 2 which equals
.6931 plus 1 equals 1.6931. From this we get
95×1.6931
2
equals 80.422 minus 15 atmos.=65,422 lbs. If the
boiler is 150 lbs. then 150 plus 15 atmos. equals 165 lbs. Again we
get
165×1.6931
2
equals 139.68 minus 15 equals 124.7 lbs.
‘For anyone who wants to get into compounds, that’s
getting further into the subject than we can do here. Since most
factory engines, stationaries and traction engines are of the
single cylinder or double simple expansion, that’s about as far
as we need to go. Need the HP of a Port Huron tandem? Look in a
reprint copy of a company sales catalog, it’s easier!
‘Besides my old Navy text book, I have a copy of AUDELS
Power Plant Engineers Guide a wonderful book that contains mounds
of information on steam. In it I found the formulas much as I have
stated, so while hunting around a flea market you could be lucky
and come across one. My copy is a 1948 edition.
‘To sum up, it is a great avocation, this brotherhood of
steam enthusiasts, and from it we all help each other. I don’t
suppose there are any schools left that teach steam theory, so it
is up to us oldies to pass on as much knowledge as we can. We of
the 70’s are perhaps the last of the common steam age. Oh,
something forgotten, L is always expressed as feet or a decimal of,
in the 2 P.L.A.N. formula. Whoo! Whoo!
‘Just a few comments that should help Chris Hamel unravel
the mystery of his so-called Mystery Engine,’ writes DURWARD
STEIN-METZ, Route 1, Box 168, LaFarge, Wisconsin 54639.
‘I have witnessed many times the vivid reactions of
youngsters when they see a steam traction engine out in real life
and perhaps for the first time; in his case, just a picture of one.
The same youngsters would pay little attention to a tractor or any
description.
‘Immediately after World War Two, steam traction engines
were at the low ebb of their spectacular march across the pages of
times. Many that had served faithfully through the war years were
being replaced by other power. The steam engine hobby was still in
its infancy.
‘Charlie Harrison of Butler, Ohio was an early, dedicated
collector with several engines already in his collection. He
learned of a 110 HP Case sitting on the prairie at the Nims
brothers’ ranch at Lisbon, North Dakota. The Nims’ were
happy to find a buyer who would preserve their faithful servant.
Charlie, with the help of friends, soon had the 110 dismantled,
loaded on two trucks and headed for Ohio which was 1350 miles
away.
‘At that point in time, pictures of traction engines were
rare in any type of magazines. This operation was spectacular
enough that when my copy of Popular Science arrived, there was a
picture of the 110 HP Case, just as it had stood on the prairie for
several years. I am sure I still have that magazine. Several hours
of searching have failed to locate it in the accumulations. The
date should be early 1950’s or late 1940’s. The picture
showed the engine to be all intact, except the steel smokestack had
rusted and fallen from its short base, giving somewhat more the
appearance of a locomotive with a short stack.
‘There is a small picture of that 110 Case #28668 in the
Heritage Eagle, Volume 1, Number 4, just as it stood on the Nims
brothers’ Dakota ranch. Perhaps the people who furnished
material for that account can help pinpoint the date.
‘Charles Harrison is no longer living. The engine has been
owned and completely restored during the last twenty years by
Willis Abel, Finleyville, Pa.
‘I do believe the Popular Science picture is the one that
made a big impression on Chris Hamel as a 10 year old boy. Sometime
I will locate that magazine. For now, perhaps someone else has
saved that issue.
‘I finally have an acceptable picture of the 18 HP
undermounted Avery engine we have owned since the fall of 1981. It
was restored to present condition during 1982 and 1983.’
BREN TURCK, 4045 Abbotsford Rd., Goodells, Michigan 48027
writes: ‘I think the IMA is a fine magazine, but there is one
thing that bothers me as I read your magazine, which is the lack of
articles that address the issue of passing on knowledge to younger
people about steam engine operations, secrets, past experiences and
dangers. Rather than have steam engine operation become a ‘lost
art’ by the passing of older steam engine enthusiasts and their
experiences as well. I suggest that you appeal to your older
readers to submit experiences and adventures that they had
pertaining to steam engines, so that the younger readers may have
some-thing to reflect on as they read your magazine. I feel it
would add to an already fine magazine.’
(The Iron-Men Album was founded in 1946 by Rev. Elmer Ritzman.
It began as a four page letter and has grown into the fine magazine
it is today. Trouble is, what you are requesting has all been in
many of the back issues. And as yet today, we encourage the folks
at all times to continue sending us articles, pictures and letters
with all their valuable knowledge maybe your letter will urge some
of them to send in more stories we hope so.)
‘I return again, in reference to my inquiry on the Cletrac
Model H Crawler tractor in the July-Aug. 1988 issue of I.M.A. ‘
writes SVEN HENRICKSEN, 572 Williams Road, Hemming ford, Quebec,
Canada JOL 1H0.
‘Since that issue I have completed the restoration of my
1917 Cletrac (S/N 7520) to a respectable mechanical and aesthetic
order except for the missing water filled air cleaner.’
‘I wish to thank the various correspondents who range from
California to England. They were all very noteworthy and helpful
with the technical and historical information.
‘Cletracs are shown at rallies in England as they were once
exported there and sold by H.G. Burford & Co. Ltd., London in
the 1920’s.
‘A Mr. Charles Doble in the U.K. may possibly have one of
the most complete collections of Cletracs, all except for the Model
100. If anyone should know of one, please advise as he would be
most appreciative.
‘I purchased my Cletrac ‘H’ for posterity and the
challenge of restoring it. Since the correspondence and
restoration, I have become much more attached to the little crawler
as it has been quite an historical traveler indeed.
‘I have enclosed a photocopy of the Manual of Operation and
Instruction; also the Parts Book for Cletrac Model H. This parts
book is dated 1920 and it may possibly be the first one issued to
the agents and dealers of the day. Please advise if I should stand
corrected on that point.
‘Also enclosed are a few photos and two advertisements, one
from the U.S. and one from the U.K. Note the pen in the U.S. ad.
How many of you can remember using, or seeing, such an instrument
when you went to school? That is, if you were fortunate enough to
go to a school in that day. ‘I hope this adds to your library
on the early Cletracs. With all this information you may be able to
answer most of the questions from your readers. Ha!! I am inclined
to agree that we are far from being able to answer all the
questions successfully.
‘Firms from the past are not any different than the ones
today. If you wished to remain competitive you obviously kept your
technical details under cover. When firms changed hands or went
under, much information and history was lost. So we hobbyists are
somewhat like archaeologists, finding old iron and putting the
pieces and history together again.
‘My best wishes to your husband for a good recovery.’
(Thank you so much Sven and to all you wonderful folks who remember
us we’ll take any prayers you have to offer.)
The following is a letter from CONRAD H. MILSTER, 178 Emerson
Place, Brooklyn, New York 11205 to Mr. Robert Perkins, 302 Fountain
Creek, Palestine, Texas 75801. I’m sure it should be in the
column for all you folks who may have read this article.
‘Dear Mr. Perkins As you probably noticed, your letter to
Iron Men Album about engine horse-power appeared in the same issue
mine did
‘The error you made was in ad-ding the factors instead of
multiplying them and in so doing you vastly underrated your engine.
Using your figures, 150 x 78.54 x 1 x 500 divided by 33,000, we get
178.5 HP over 4 times as much as the figures you arrived at.
However, the figure of 150 for ‘P’ is somewhat high and
would require a boiler pressure probably over 200 P.S.I. but as you
did not specify what type of engine it was I used it as you gave
it. ‘Indicated’ pressure usually runs from 1/4 to 2/3
boiler pressure depending on how heavily the engine is
loaded.’
An answer to a request comes from GARY Z. WHITE, 302 1/2 High
Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632: ‘ ‘In the July-August issue of
Iron-Men Album Magazine, Arlen Olson asked where he can get a
reprint copy of the Case Steam Engine Manual. It is available from
Lindsay Publications, P.O. Box 12, Bradley, Illinois 60915-0012.
The cost is $5.00 plus .75 shipping. Lindsay has a lot of
interesting reprints on steam engines.’ (I’m sure this
information will be helpful to many of the IMA folks thanks).
Now you all look forward to the Christmas Season and celebrate
in the way that means the most to you and prepare for the year that
is ahead and try to make it more worthwhile than this past year.
Meantime some words of wisdom. The best way to live in the world is
to live above it. Love looks through a telescope; envy through a
microscope. It is natural to love them that love us, but it is
supernatural to love them that hate us. It is a greater thing to
obey the Word of the Lord than to preach it. If you are a stranger
to prayer, you are a stranger to power. Do have a special Holiday
Season Blessings to all
