REPORT OF THE ANTIQUE ENGINE AND THRESHER ASSOCIATION,Inc

Image Gallery Mr. Lyman Knapp of Blackwell, Oklahoma, sends us this picture and says, Beware! Rev. Mr. Ritzman at the throttle of the 1919 Stanley Steamer. Mr. F. J. Wood in the front seat and Helen Wood and Mrs. Ritzman in the rear seat. The editor says, That was the Mr. Lyman Knapp

President, Blackwell, Oklahoma

At 1:00 P. M., August 13, 1954. Professor V. H. Stroud stepped to the microphone and asked for everyone's attention and for all machines to come to rest. He then asked Reverend Elmer Ritzman to give the invocation. This opened the program of the 4th Annual Reunion of the Antique Engine and Threshers Association, Inc.

Every person, as he or she entered the grounds, was given a copy of the days program. The events included prony brake tests, Case Incline exhibition, threshing, teeter-totter, pyramid, tug-o-war, setting contests, parade and sawmilling. Each event was scheduled at a certain time and the event was staged at that time. Several men and committees had made careful preparations for the various events without which the program schedule would have failed.

'Big Mac' of Hoisington, Kansas and his 'Elgin Watch' Case 40 re-enacted the famous Case Incline Exhibition at 1:20 and again at 4:00 P M. Big Mac also did the pyramid stunt with this same engine. It seems a person never tires of watching this pair perform these stunts.

Yoder's 18 hp. Avery Under mounted engine powered the 32-54 Avery Yellow Fellow for the threshing events.

Lyman Kanpp's excellenty restored 6 hp. Russell did the teeter-totter event as well as the tug-o-war event. The tug-o-war was manpower pulling against the steam power of the Russell.

Bill Merhoff of Newkirk, Okla., and his 25hp. Illinois engine gave the 'Plain and Fancy Whistling' Calls at 2:00 P. M.

The Grand Parade was well attended by 20 steamers and nearly as many early model gas tractors. Sawmilling was the final event each day using a 20 hp. Minneapolis engine belted to a Reeves 54' sawmill. Harry Trego was engineer and N. J. Knapp was sawyer.

Saturday, August 14, saw the program opened by Rev. Ritzman at 10 A. M., and the various events were staged as scheduled by program. The highlight, of the day was the presence of Mr. F. J. Wood and Helen Wood, of Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Wood is the only surviving manufacturer of steam traction engines in the United States. Miss Mabel Luti, who was the first lady employee of the Wood Brothers firm, flew from Oklahoma City to visit with the woods and renew old times with her former 'Boss'. It was truly a happy reunion of close friends.