R. R. 13, Fort Wayne, Indiana
The Old Time Threshers and Sawmill Operators held its 20th
annual Reunion in August 1970 on the Jim Whitbey Farm near Fort
Wayne, Indiana. We had ideal weather throughout the five days of
the show. We had an ample supply of logs for the sawmill which were
furnished by Wally Liechty. The sawmill was operated by a very
efficient Crew consisting of Frank, Newt Miller, Chas. Winebrenner
of Ligonier, Ind. Maurice Lewallen, Larry and Denny Lewallen and
Bill Cochrean. Engines used on the sawmill were Percy Sherman with
his Russell, Frank Miller with his Nicholas Shepard.
There were 6 loads of wheat and 2 loads of oats to be threshed.
The grain was grown on this farm and was shocked by John Arnold,
Fort Wayne. An added attraction this year was the different methods
of cutting grain in years gone by.
1. 1st was Harry Woodmansee using the cradle.
2. 2nd was Wilson Wells with his ponies pulling the
reaper.
3. 3rd was Jim Whitbey pulling the binder with his tractor
and Wally Liechty riding the binder.
4. 4th The combine operated by Phil Liechty.
This exhibition took about an hour. We expect to repeat it again
in 1971 if the weather permits. Six wagons drawn by steam engines
were used to haul people to the field to witness this feature of
the show. Plowing with steam engines was another attraction. Also
Melvin Lugten with his veneer machines and Jack Egbert with his
shingle mill. The Case Engine No. 25-100 years old owned by the
Brindle Bros, of LaOtto, Ind. Engineer Chas. Barker of Lexington,
Ky., threshed grain every day with a Model threshing machine owned
by Jack Egbert of Botkins, Ohio. John Nahrwold was there with his
Model Port Huron Steam Engine which he used on his Corn shredder to
shred seven shocks of Corn which was stored on the farm.
Among other attractions was the hill climb, teeter-totter and
the fans, and The Elkhart county 4-H Saddle Club with their square
dancing etc.
The Sunday Morning Church Service was enjoyed by all.
The 1971 Show will be held August 12,13,14 and 15 – Same
Place.
GABEL’S THRESHING BEE
By Asel A. Gabel, R.F.D. 1, Box 193,Sharon Road, Bridgeport,
Ohio 43912
We held our 3rd Threshing Bee on October 3rd. Every one seems to
enjoy them and wants another next year.
We had three steam engines. 15 hp. Peerless running the Ann
Arbor Stationary
Baler, a 15 hp. Huber running the Birdsell Clover Huller. The
Peerless and Huber are owned by Mr. Herbert Holmes at Moundsville,
W. Va. Then my 20 hp. Reeves ran the Case Thresher.
I have quite a few things in the way of Antique Farm Machinery.
A case separator, Ann Arbor stationary baler, a Birdsell clover
huller with a self-feeder and blower built in 1893, a Birdsell
clover huller hand feed and drag stacker built in 1899, a 1927
McCormick Deering tractor, a 1934 Huber tractor, ensilage cutter,
hay loader and my 20 hp. Reeves double cylinder steam traction
engine.
Everyone brought a covered dish or picnic basket and we put all
the food together and had a thresherman’s dinner. All the
fellows working on the engines blew their whistles at 12 noon and
everything stopped for dinner. People came and went all day long.
135 signed the register but quite a number just sat up on the bank
and watched and took pictures but never came down where the action
was.
We live on Sharon Road near Colerain, Ohio, which is just 8
miles from Wheeling,
W. Va., or as a writer on the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote about
our first threshing bee ‘Out there, about one ridge and a hoot
west of the Ohio River, not far from where little Eva was supposed
to have dodged across the ice flows while the bloodhounds bayed
after her in Uncle Toms Cabin’.
It really surprised us how many people had never seen a steam
traction engine before let alone see one working.
Our Threshing Bee is always the first Saturday in October.
Everyone is welcome as we really do have a good time.
DOBLE STEAM CARS
Buses, Lorries, and Railcars
By J. N. Walton
Kirk Michael, Isle of Man, England
203 pages $7.50 in U.S.A.,$8.00 in Canada
This book is so complete it seems like a catalog, instruction
book, a historical write-up as well as a biographical write-up of
the characters involved, rolled into one book. It is a must for
anyone who wants to build, repair steam cars or just talk
intelligently about them. I think if you would know the Doble, you
would know all steam cars. I am sure the quality points were found
in all of them.
The book is well illustrated – a picture on nearly every page –
and the details are clear and understandable.
It is printed on good paper and the pictures come out well. You
will be glad to have this book around and refer to it many times if
for nothing else than to settle an argument.
E.L.R.
