CANADIAN NOTES

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With the demand for more power for threshing and heavier engines for ploughing the American-Abell firm developed a line of sturdier engines of their own design. Familiarly known as the 'Cock o' the North', these side mounted engines were built in the 16, 18 and 20 hp sizes with simple cylinder for the east and in 22, 26 and 30 hp simple and 28 and 40 hp compound sizes for the west. The dropped crown sheet on straw-burning boilers was discontinued after a few years but the John Abell patent idea of aiding combustion by admitting air through openings in the sidewalls was retained. Spring mounting was omitted id heavy gearing and flat spoked drive wheels used on all models. The Woolf single eccentric reverse gear and plain slide valve were adopted. Later a. balanced valve was designed and the steam chest raised at an angle to give the valve stem and rod a straight line motion. Three experimental double simple engines were built and all compounds were of the cross-compound type with one side and one center crank set at right angles. The exhaust from the high pressure cylinder passed through a re-heater in the smoke box before entering the low pressure cylinder. Front or side tanks were mounted on ploughing engines if ordered.

Straw Burning Boiler

In 1908 the first rear mounted engine was built, a 36 hp simple with drum type drivers so that water could be added to make more weight. Named after F. R. Kenaston, . President of the Minneapolis Threshing Company at the time, it was shipped west and shown at the Winnipeg- and Brandon Exhibitions then on to Regina where it was stored until the disastrous fire in Nov., 1911 cleaned out the American-Abell branch there. It was rebuilt the next year and sold. This experimental model was followed by many more rear mounted ploughing engines built in two sizes. A 28 hp simple and a 32 hp cross compound. The latter being one of the heaviest of North American traction engines having a shipping weight of 24 tons. Both these models had a novel steering arrangement designed to steer easier and relieve thin boiler from the strain of jerking steering chains. Both standard front wheels were mounted close together in a yoke and the steering rod moved the roller bearing turntable by means of a, worm and segment running in oil. Another feature was a power feed pump mounted below the level of the water tank for positive gravity feed and driven from a crank on the intermediate gear.

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