Halloween Holocaust

Image Gallery Clarence Angst

Clarence Angst writes......

Here is a snapshot of our threshing rig and most of the crew taken in 1912. It's a 24 Hp Port Huron Compound and 3656 Aultman Taylor Thresher. My father, David, is standing above the feeder and I am at the throttle. It was a great combination.

Dad started out in 1893 with a 10 HP Buffalo Pitts Engine, 36-56 Separator and spent some 50 years threshing, shredding, hulling clover, also had a saw mill which had quite a record. I was always glad when we could get the engine out and put it to work I loved. That: with the surfacing of the roads and the smaller machines coming in the old standby's seemed to disappear, so now it is more or less a memory. However, with the birth of the Thresher Reunions it sure refreshes your memories. I manage to take in 3 or 4 reunions every year and enjoy them very much.

Well, I guess that's enough chatter for now. Keep the old safety a popping.

Clarence Angst, Winona, Minnesota

John J. Ohms writes......

As an engineer I have had much experience running Rumely, Advance, Harris 'Jumbo'. All were good workers but this 20 HP Minneapolis was my favorite. It was owned by Fred Yakel, Evansville, Illinois. I ran this engine for 4 years, threshing, road grading, corn shredding and saw mill work. These pictures were taken in 1917. The engine was built in either 1914 or 1915. Mr. Yakel and I are on the engine. I am leaning on the drive-wheel. I don't know which I loved the most, the engine or Fred's daughter. I didn't marry either of them.

John J. Ohms, Rt. 2, Box 620, Traverse City, Mich.

E. A. (Frog) Smith writes......

Just thought I'd send you a snapshot of a little steamer that I built more or less on a dare. Last year while firing a big dredge boat, I told the Chief engineer that I intended building a live steamer, to put in the Fort Myers Steam Show during the Pageant of Light Week Festival in honor of Thos. A. Edison, adding that I had no lathe or other precision tools.

He swore that I could not make one to run without a lathe and other shop equipment. But I did, using only a ' electric drill motor and proper bits, hacksaw and file. Cylinder is cast of white 'pot' metal from old auto carburetors, as is connecting rod, eccentric butt and strap, steam chest and main bearings for the 5/8' crankshaft. Valve is slide with ports drill holes, and 3/8 stroke. Cylinder dimensions 1'' X 1 and counterbalanced crank throw came from a lawn mower engine with crankshaft and pin sawn off and re-drilled. The govern or balls are dummies, like their maker.