We received a nice letter last December from Wes and Dorothy
Mohling about their 1915 40 HP Case, and asked for more information
by letter. Not having heard, we telephoned one April afternoon and
were lucky enough to talk to Mrs. Mohling.
She said she would prefer to have us talk to Wes, but he was out
making preparations to plant corn. So she was kind enough to fill
us in.
Among the questions we asked was one that can bring some unusual
answers ‘How did you happen to get this engine?’
‘He’s always been interested in steam engines, and hoped
he would find one. We went to a sale at Sargent, Nebraska, when
this was offered and he happened to be the last bidder.’
We agreed. That’s the way we do it. And if you really want
an engine and are not the last bidder, you may go away from the
sale very bitter.
The sale was held at Warren Bomberger’s on August 16, 1980.
The Mohlings knew nothing of the engine’s history but started
an effort to find out what they could. The engine had either been
restored or was well preserved; it was painted and in working order
when Wes made that memorable bid.
Wes found out that it had belonged to the city government of
Cheyenne, Wyoming, and wrote to ask if there were any official
records. He had the serial number, 31196, but the Cheyenne people
said they had checked the records and found nothing. So he is still
seeking.
Last summer the Mohlings planted three acres in oats. They went
out with the binder and shocked it, then threshed part of it with
the Case and their 28′ ‘Red River Special’
separator.
The Case can be converted into a road roller. The rear wheels
have cleats that can be removed; the front end is made so that the
wheels can be taken off for installation of a roller. So far, Wes
has not been able to find a roller. The engine also has power
steering.
Wes obtained some advice from Forrest Pence, of Harvard,
Nebraska, who has several engines. ‘He helped Wes when we
threshed our field,’ Mrs. Mohling noted.
The couple went to shows at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and Bird City,
Kansas last year, but thus far have not taken the engine with
them.
The Mohlings plant mainly corn. Son, Steve, farms with them, and
has a 200-sow unit, in which the parents have an interest.
