THE STEAM ENGINE COLLECTING OF GLEN J. BRUTUS
(Page 8 of 8)
January/February 2000
Dr. Robert T. Rhode
Despite the attractions of Baker, Avery, and Reeves engines,
Glen's passion was for Case equipment. Perhaps that love began
when a young Glen met a Case representative who came to see
Glen's father's invention. 'According to Purdue
University,' Glen said, 'my father was the first man in the
United States to successfully bale hay out of the windrow.'
Arba Brutus 'took the baler to the hay instead of bringing the
hay to the baler.' Glen's father placed a Model T Ford
engine in the center of his new machine. 'I went with my father
to Indianapolis to have sprockets made for an over-running
clutch,' Glen remembered.
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In 1929, the famous photographer J. C. Allen, who often snapped
pictures on the Brutus property, made a special trip to capture
Arba's device on film. In 1995, the photograph was reproduced
on page 142 of Farming Comes of Age: The Remarkable Photographs
of J. C. Allen & Son (Farm Progress Companies and Harmony
House Publishers). In the photo, Don Gephart is on the baler, and
John Cooper is on the tractor. 'You had to be a good judge of
the moisture content in the hay before you could bale hay straight
from the windrow,' Glen commented. 'That was a new thing to
have to consider and learn.'
The Case man who visited the Brutus farm studied Arba's
machine carefully. If the Brutus baler worked as well as rumor had
it, Case intended to put a similar implement on the market. Indeed,
Case soon was marketing a pick-up balerand Glen was developing a
fascination for Case equipment.
In much the same way that the Wisconsin eagle Old Abe evoked
cheers from veterans of the Civil War, the steam engines bearing
the trademark of Old Abe inspired World War II veteran Glen Brutus.
He avidly collected Case steamers and preserved many for the
edification and appreciation of future generations.
The following people deserve thanks for contributing to this
article: Pete Burno, Kim Besecker, Clarence Black, Glen J. Brutus,
John Edris, Ron Gruenke, Lyle Hoffmaster, Ken Hough, K. R. Hough,
Leo Mann, Marilyn Mann, Keith Mauzy, John McDowell, Al New, Ron
Pieper, Joseph C. Rhode, Herb Smith, and Calvin Whitaker.
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