SOOT IN THE FLUES

Keep up the great magazine as I love every issue and can’t
wait for the next one to arrive.’ (Hang in there, Joe,
you’ll probably get some letters of help from this fine group
of readers.)

A letter of interest for many of you comes from WAYNE L.
McCLELLAN, 1014 E. Maple Street, Horicon, Wisconsin 53022:
‘While on vacation this past April we visited the famous and
expertly developed Mud Island of Memphis, Tennessee. It has quite a
history.

‘Today it is a living history with a scale model of the
great river from the Gulf to Cairo, Illinois. One 30 inch stride is
one mile. The points of interest are keyed to legends and expertly
done. Much river history is shown, most all of which has steam
origin. There are many full size action displays.

‘This photo for you is a fully restored water pump engine
raised from a great old paddle wheeler from the Mississippi.
I’m sure our readers would enjoy a trip to Memphis Mud Island.
Full attention has been given to the handicapped, or less agile
folk. A monorail whisks one to the island where it all begins.
Three or four restaurants are in proper motif. Tour at your own
speed. Memphis is to be saluted for this fine landmark and tourist
attraction.’

A communication regarding a former letter comes from CARL M.
LATHROP,108 Garfield Avenue, Madison, New Jersey 07940:

‘The May/June issue of IMA has just arrived. I was pleased
to see my article, The Injector and Perpetual Motion’, was
included. Reading through it, however, told me that the little
Gremlins that infest every print-shop were hard at work.

‘The middle paragraph of the first column on page 25 should
have read as follows: ‘We can, however, look at the diagram and
talk our way through from supply to boiler drum. Steam from the
supply pipe A through valve B enters the steam nozzle where it
expands thus reaching a high velocity at C

‘I had a lot of fun researching the history of the injector,
which reminds me of something I have wanted to mention. There are a
number of readers of Iron-Men that have ever so much interesting
backgrounds and stories to tell if they would only put them on
paper. They should not feel intimidated in any way. After all, they
are not writing for the Scientific American. They would be telling
a story in a family oriented down home publication. It will open
all manner of interesting doors.’

MERLIN D. STOGEMEYER, 23869 Highridge Drive, Lake Zurich,
Illinois 60047 sends this: ‘Is it possible, or has it ever been
done to convert a steam-driven tractor, from coal and/or wood fuel
source to LP gas as a heat source? Also, what was the largest steam
powered traction tractor that J. I. Case Company in horsepower
produced and what was the largest horsepower steam tractor built
and by whom?’ (According to Jack Norbeck’s useful
Encyclopedia of American Steam Traction Engines, J. I. Case’s
largest engine was 150 HP, and there are no longer any of these
engines in existence. Anyone know of a larger engine?)

A call for help comes from ROGER GROSSER, RFD, Sutton, Vermont
05867:

‘I have enjoyed being a subscriber to your magazine for only
a few years. The pleasure it provides is great. The help extended
between like-minded readers reflects a spirit so refreshing today.
It is for some assistance that I write.

‘I hope a reader can help me to identify the make, age, HP
and RPM of this steam engine. It is a 5 by 5 with a 2′ piston
valve. The height is 35′ with a base of 12′ x 16′.
There is not a serial, model, part or casting number to be found
anywhere. The very old paint is black on the cylinder and head with
the remainder a dark gray. The 1′ inlet is on top of the piston
valve and the I’ exhaust is on the side. I have removed the
belt-driven governor and the steam lubricator for clarity. This
engine has been run at shows in Vermont and New Hamp cut to date no
one has ventured identify him. Any assistance would be well
received.’

Two old-time photos of interest to many come from KENNETH F.
GRONEWALD, 804 Birdie Hills Road, St. Peters, Missouri 63376 with
this short notice: ‘I had these pictures in a frame in my work
area. I know you need these kind of things to keep up a great
magazine and I am glad to help. All I know about them is that I
purchased both from a Minnesota antique dealer at a show here in
Missouri. The dealer could not help me on any information on them.
I hope some reader sees himself.

‘The photo with the thresher crew says on the back: Will
Donner, Audubon, Minnesota perhaps the photographer. I would also
like to know the make of tractor pulling the grader as this is an
early road building crew.

‘I’ve been a subscriber of IMA for several years and
enjoy every issue, trouble is I get through it so soon!’

TED WORRALL, Route 1, Box 62, Loma, Montana 59460 says that on
page 12 of Jan.-Feb. 1983 issue the wooden separator back of the 75
Case is a Buffalo Pitts. I’m sure you will be glad to hear
this.

‘I enjoy your magazine very much,’ says BASIL FOX, Route
1, Washburn, Maine 04786.

He continues ‘I need help! I own an engine made by
Associated Manufacturers Co. 3 Mule Team, Chore Boy Line No.
503883. I would like to know the original color. The engine is
presently painted green but it doesn’t appear to be original. I
certainly will appreciate advice.’

Concerning a letter in May-June 1983 IMA page 4, someone with
the address of MUNKO, RD #1, Box 339, Vandergrift, Pennsylvania
15690 asks: ‘How do hot bulbs work? Can I build one? Any more
information on this type engine which burns crude oil will be
appreciated. What is the compression of the cylinder?’ (If you
can help him, I’m sure he will be glad to hear from you.)

Another letter from CARL LATHROP, 108 Garfield Avenue, Madison,
New Jersey 07940 tells us: ‘Last December I sent you a
manuscript, ‘EFFINGHAM, And the Summer People’. I had done
the story after researching the history of this old steamboat. Now,
the town of Schroon’s historian’s office sends me a letter
with information that corrects some of my data. (This article was
in March-April 1983 issue.)

‘The EFFINGHAM was built in 1870 by Waters of Whitehall, New
York for the Schroon Lake Steamship Corporation. It was named for
the financier Effingham Nichols, a summer resident of the Leland
House.

‘Near the end of the article I tell of a scuba diver finding
the boat’s propeller. The date of the discovery was Labor Day
1972. It weighed 900 pounds and was cast iron unique in itself as
most propellers are cast bronze.’

BILLY M. BYRD, 369 S. Harrig Street, Madisonville, Kentucky
42431 would like to know if anyone who takes the Album knows when
his Nichols & Shepard engine was made. It is No. 13577. Says
Billy: ‘I have a 1917 Nichols & Shepard Repair Price List
and the last engine numbered in this book is No. 13301. Or, does
anyone have N & S engine numbers and the year they were built?
Also, would anybody be interested in forming a Nichols &
Shepard Club for owners and ones interested in this make of
engine?’ Then Billy encloses a poem written by Tom Appell, a
brakeman, about the time Billy ran his engine from Clarksville,
Tennssee to Adams, a distance of 21 miles. It was 9 hours actual
running time, taking time out to eat and clean flues.

THE BILLY BYRD SPECIAL

On a highway out from Clarksville
Ran an engine puffing smoke
People passing could but marvel
As it made each powerful stroke

Billy Byrd was at the throttle
Sam Baird sweated, shoveling coal
Building steam up in the boiler
So the heavy wheels could roll

She was called the (Red River Special)
From the days when steam was king
As she ground along the highway
You could hear her whistle sing

Down through Red River Valley
She was talking like a friend
Billy Byrd was pulling throttle
Sam Baird was sucking wind

At three miles per hour she lumbered
But to move was not a chore
She was geared to pull a payload
And you couldn’t ask for more

She was made by Nichols & Shepard
And has been around for quite a spell
Yet to look you couldn’t tell it
For she wears her years so well

Into the Adams School Yard
She rolled amid the cheers
Billy pulling on the whistle
As he reversed the heavy gears

People lined the sides and listened
When they hooked up the Bakers fan
The Special puffed black smoke
And rumbled as she ran

As you watch these monsters working
Hear their steady puffing ring
You are taken back in time
To the days when ‘Steam Was King’
Tom Appell

Here are two more pictures from A. L. Rennewanz and wife. They
have written us of their travels at times and sent pictures. They
finally ended up in Alaskabrave and adventurous in their seventies
letter from them is in the Nov.-Dec. 1982 column.

The picture of the small engine is a 2′ scale belted to a
little fan. It was taken at the Wauseon, Ohio show about 1966.

The other picture was taken at a Montana show. A. L. says this
is his favorite engineer, but he didn’t give her name. By the
way, he says he met Mr. and Mrs. Lestz at this show.

CONRAD MILSTER, 178 Emerson Place, Brooklyn, New York 11205
writes, ‘I would like to add a word to what Carl D. Bean said
in reply to the question about power output available from Mr.
Valdovino’s engine. Mr. Bean, I believe, has misfigured his
math by assuming that the pressure of 100 lbs. acts on the piston
for the full 14’ stroke. The actual total effective pressure
would depend on what the engine valves point of cut-off is. If we
assume a cut-off of 1/3 the stroke, which is an average figure, we
would probably have only about 55 p.s.i. average pressure during
the stroke. (See page 12 of the May-June ’83 issue.)

‘Thus, line 8 of his calculations becomes 2764 lbs. x 2.333
feet=6439 ft. lbs. continuing 6439 x 250 r.p.m.= 1,609,750 ft.
lbs./minute. However, we have to subtract losses due to friction,
condensation, etc. and we can guestimate this at 5% 1,609,750-8048=
1,601,702/33,000 ft. lbs./min. or roughly 46.3 HP available at the
engine instead of 88.8. This figure is as I said only a rough guess
as the cut-off is not known at this point.’ (I hope you fellows
understand this because I surely don’t and I don’t want
anyone getting angry at each other as this is just friendly
communication through the column.)

Milster works in the computer department at Pratt Institute in
Brooklyn, where he spends his days running the power plant and
maintenance department. In response to our essay carried recently
about ‘The Cow’, he sent a computer-type instruction sheet
to accompany a M.C.P. (Mouse Catching Person), more familiarly
known as a cat! It was most amusing, but unfortunately we
didn’t have room to include it in the column!

We took a few days’ trip last week with a senior citizens
group from Perry County. Went to Norfolk, Virginia and also visited
Williamsburg for a few hours. It was a lovely trip but not near
long enough to see all the interesting places. While in
Williamsburg, we visited the Bruton Parish Churchthat’s where
all the presidents go when they visit there. AND we sat in the same
seat that President Reagan sat in just about two weeks before and
so did George Washington sit there when he attended church. Now, I
can just hear some of you saying, ‘Big deal so what?’ and I
can hear others saying, ‘That’s great, thanks for telling
us’ as for me I thought it was sort of neat I’m sure the
closest I’ll ever get to a U.S. President.

And I was very impressed with Norfolk. We’ve never traveled
much and I had no idea how large Norfolk was and the Naval base32
square miles! We had a cute sailor board the bus and conduct the
tour on the base what a joy! He was well informed and very
humorous. His last name was Duncan and he was from California.
Enough of my ramblings but I must leave you with a few thoughts…
People look at you six days in the week to see what you mean on the
seventh… The secret of life is not to do what one likes, but to
try to like what one has to do… To every man opens a high way and
a low way and every man decides the way that he shall go…. Make
the mistakes of yesterday your lessons for today. That’s it for
now, Bye bye, see you next magazine!