SOOT IN THE FLUES

our troubled nation and torn world. Help me put aside selfish
interest and become a more responsible citizen. Give to the
President and all our national leaders Your directions for the
nation. Give them eagerness to listen to Your wisdom. Give them the
ability to do right, as You give them grace to know what is right.
Give them courage to be humble, wisdom to be efficient, stamina and
patience to pursue peace at home and abroad in spite of every
obstacle. In the name of Our Lord. Amen.

This is usually a big issue what with the shows and ads,
therefore I will go directly into the few communications we have
and may I wish you all well at the reunions, which all of you
enjoy. Each year I’m sure you find out something you didn’t
know and therefore as you gain in knowledge and share with your
fellow enthusiasts, it makes for great fun and adventure while
learning.

‘I’m writing this time to make a comment about the
Pawnee, Oklahoma show,’ writes DANNY E. BLACK, Route 1, Box 16,
Seneca, Missouri 64865. ‘A lot has been written about it and
the superb demonstrations. Of course, the biggest pleaser had to be
the Case incline, for what could be better than one Case on the
incline, but of course, two has got to be better. So Chady
Atteberry, Tom Terning, and Helen Case Brigham pleased their crowd.
But the real heart stopper, for me, came later.

Everyone has heard about Chady Atteberry’s 40 HP ‘Elgin
Watch’ Case. Well, nobody knew about his 65 HP Case, until he
pulled it up to Amos Rixman’s Prony Brake late one evening at
last year’s show.

‘I would have given anything if this had been video taped.
People, I know, are going to doubt me. There were lots of witnesses
but few in the crowd realized the awesomeness of it!

‘Chady backed that beautiful 65HP Case into the belt of
Amos’ Prony Brake. He pulled fiddle string tight. I thought to
myself at the time that maybe he might have it a little too
tight.

‘Anyway, they proceeded on with the demonstration. Amos
would put on a little load, then he would check with Chady to see
if he was ready to go a little more, plus, each time Amos would
give Chady a bit of time to make adjustments or throw some more
coal in if he wanted to. But, each time Chady elected not to do
anything. He was watching his steam gauge and checked the water
glass a couple of times. But he gave the old girl her head and she
just kept working harder. Well, the horsepower didn’t stop
until she reached 120HP. But the old girl wasn’t through
showing off. She started lifting her safety. So Chady gave her a
drink of water. But she still lifted her safety and all this time
pulling over 120HP. Amos was grinning and shaking his head, and
saying, ‘What a tractor! What an engineer! That Chady really
knows how to build a fire!’ Chady was still on the tractor with
a serious grin on his face. He finally climbed down and walked
around to the side where he could really hear the stack talking
very nicely. Then the serious grin turned into a full ear to ear
grin.

‘That belt that I mentioned that I thought might be too
tight, well at 120HP load, that belt started to slip.’

FRANK BURRIS, 1102 Box Canyon Road, Fallbrook, California 92028
is a name you are all familiar with and he sends us another one of
his interesting letters and comments: ‘After seeing the cover
on the May/ June IMA, and then reading the wonderfully descriptive
relative article on page 12 of this absolutely remarkable and most
highly praiseworthy model of the Idle fire engine, as beautifully
crafted by its most patient and skillful master, James Lockhart, I
simply had to take time off my 85-year-old 30-hour day to humbly
express my most astounded admiration.

‘The superlative merit in this work arises not only from the
finished wonder, but from the fact that every item of its
constitution arose from only the cast-off bits and pieces from
various junk piles! It is one thing to turn out a precisely
accurate model of engineering elegance from a kit of castings and
related components made on production machines; but to be expert
enough to fashion all the necessary molds, make the castings, and
then form all the intricacies from various pieces of scrap metal
and fabric, wood, etc., really separates the men from the boys; the
Gods from the Plebeians, so to speak.

‘I believe that all mechanically inclined persons admire
creations from the model world. Therefore, for those of you who may
find it more difficult to express your appreciation for the efforts
of the likes of Mr. Lockart, I am going to presume that I speak for
you also. A bit of praise where it is so richly deserved, may help
inspire others to put forth that utmost bit of energy and steady
concentration which is so essential in the creation and production
of such splendid works. Carry on, James, and let your crowning
jewel be added to those of others which have earned a seat in the
display museums throughout our country.’ (Ah, and you say it so
well FrankAnna Mae).

ELWOOD G. MATEER, JR., 7324 Three Chopt Road, Richmond, Virginia
23226-3753 sent us a clipping from the newspaper of Richmond, Times
Dispatch, Saturday April 2, 1988 regarding ‘Hay bale, grain
silo among risks to farmer’s respiratory system.’ It points
out all the risks and trouble that can come from the farmers jobs.
If you are more interested, perhaps Ellwood could inform you
more.

Following are some pictures with captions from the late HASTON
L. ST. CLAIR, R.R.#1, Box 140-A, Holden, Missouri 64040:

#1) This is a picture of Les Wager’s 18HP Woods Brothers
engine and Case separator on the way to the threshing show at
Herman Watson’s farm. I don’t remember the name of the
young man on the engine, but I ran Les’s engine at the
show.

#2) Morris Hamlin is standing by the engine he built. In March
of 1983 he asked my help in building an engine. We started
gathering material for the boiler, the wheels and other things to
put the boiler on wheels.

While doing this we had asked the foundry to make castings for
the engine. Now Morris, being a skilled machinist and an excellent
welder, had the engine running in six months. His cousin in Idaho
liked the model so well Morris built one for him.

#3) A scene in my shop. My dog, Honey, and I are sitting on my
half-size. There are five engines visible in the picture.

#4) Threshing at the St. Clair farm July 17, 1966. Elmer Krause
pitching to the machine.

ELLSWORTH THORENE, 13277 McKusick Road, Stillwater, Minnesota
55082 says he had been seeing an ad in the Iron Men Album
advertising the Tennessee-Kentucky Thresherman’s Association
Show at Adams, Tennessee. ‘Always in the ad they use the slogan
‘Adams home of Bell Witch’. I’d really like to know who
is Bell Witch? Having seen this for so long, I am really
curious.’

(I’m sure if he is curious there may be many with the same
thought how about someone writing us and explaining the name and
we’ll put it in the next column.)

‘I wish to let you know how much I enjoy I.M.A. and have
been taking it for many years,’ writes WILLIAM HOOKS, Apt. 203,
2537 Lakeshore Blvd. W. Toronto, Ont. Canada M8V 1E8.

‘I like all traction engines, both English and USA. I love
to read about all old farm machinery. I remember a mower and binder
by Walter H. Wood. I would like to know in what city or state they
were made. Any information would be greatly appreciated.’
(Again if you want to write William Hooksfine, but do send us an
answer and I’ll enter it in the column so all can see it!
I’m sure there are many who do not know all the answers
yet.)

A picture and letter comes from JOHN W. ROPER, 217 Burr Oak,
Morton, Illinois, 61550: ‘I have been receiving IMA for only
1¹/₂ years but really enjoy it. I’ve been
interested in steam power for sometime, though.

‘I’ll probably never own my own engine, but I do have a
small float which I have made since last fall.’ (See
picture)

My wife and I are going to Kinzers, PA., for the steam show in
August this year. Also we are going to the Pennsylvania Christian
Motor Cyclist Association Rally the same week. We are bikers,
too.

I am wondering if there is anyone in the immediate Morton,
Illinois area who has a steam tractor. I am interested in learning
more about steam power.

‘Keep up the good work and God Bless!’ (Thank you John
and Carolthe same to both of you. I feel you will get some
answers).

I am not a steam fan but I purchased an old magazine at the
Tapioca, Indiana Draft Horse Sale not too long ago. I raise and
show Registered Percherons.

I did fire the stationary boiler for the heating plant at the
Ann Arbor Railroad in Owasso, Michigan for about seven or eight
winters from 1954 to the mid-60’s. We used two carloads of coal
per week in cold weather. Then they changed to automatic gas
heaters in each building. I did enjoy the work though.

I belong to the Mid-Michigan Old Tractor Club and enjoy it, but
I am not an active member. I would rather work with the horses and
don’t have time for both.

Our farm tractors are old though, from 1952 to 1967. Nothing new
but still in business. The boys and I have eight: 4 Olivers, 3
Internationals and 1 Ford.

One of my sons works my farm, but I still work the same as
usual. I am retired from the railroad. My choice is still the
Oliver.

‘Our tractor show is the 2nd weekend in August. They have
steam engines there too. They threshed with steam on a farm until
1930, using a Port Huron. Then we threshed, bought a new Huber
tractor and we threshed until 1946. Dad and I bought our first
combine in 1946. I would like to attend some of your steam engine
shows and intend to do so sometime.’

This letter came from CLARK J. RILEY, 4545 E. Riley Road,
Owasso, Michigan 48867. Clark continues: ‘I live on a
Centennial farm. They named the road after my great-grandparents.
They came from Ireland in the mid 1800’sPatrick and Bridget
Riley.’

BOB ROMPORTL, Route 1, Box 1214, Spooner, Wisconsin 54801 is in
the process of restoring a 1903, 20HP Northwest New Giant traction
engine and could use a little help. First off, he would like to
know the original colors of this engine.

He would like to hear from other owners of engines made by the
Northwestern Thresher Company of Stillwater, Minnesota. Engines
made by this company were: Minnesota Giant, Stillwater, St. Croix,
The New Giant and the Northwest.

I think it is time for another parable from Wellsprings of
Wisdom. These stories always make us think on them more than just
read them they all have a lesson. This one is called

EDUCATION:

One night three horsemen were riding across the desert. When
they came to the dry bed of a river, a voice came out of the
darkness and said, ‘Halt!’

The men obeyed the command of the hidden voice. The voice then
said, ‘You have done as I commanded. Now get off your horses,
pick up a handful of pebbles, put the pebbles into your pockets,
remount your horses and continue on your journey.’ Then the
voice added, ‘Since you have done as I commanded, tomorrow at
sun-up you will be both glad and sorry that you obeyed me.’

Mystified, the three horsemen rode on through the night. When
the sun arose the horsemen reached into their pockets and found
that a miracle had happened. The pebbles in their pockets had been
transformed into magnificent diamonds, rubies and other precious
stones. They remembered the warning, that they would be both glad
and sorry; glad that they had taken some pebbles, sorry that they
had not taken more.

A great lesson for all of us, wouldn’t you say and
especially those just getting to the intense learning of their
time.

And in closing I always like to leave you with some more words
to chew on and digest It is unreasonable to expect a child to
listen to your advice and ignore your example If you want to be
miserable, HATE somebody Don’t speak unless you can improve on
the silence! Worry comes through human interference with the divine
plan