Steam Threshing Bee, Sycamore, IL

[altivo]

After a quick stop by the guild meeting to drop off show entries (three handspun skeins for my boss, who couldn't attend due to a funeral, and eight for myself) we dashed down to Sycamore, Illinois for the 51st Steam Threshing Bee. We met quickcasey there by prearrangement, and proceeded to tour the stationary engines, steam tractors, conventional Diesel and gasoline engine tractors, hit-or-miss engines, and flea markets, as well as watching the parade of equipment, enjoying a thresher's luncheon (grilled chicken and pork chops, baked beans, cole slaw, cottage cheese, applesauce, bread and butter, and cold beverages) and [mostly] resisting the urge to buy toys and junk.

	Altivo and Quickcasey At the Steam Threshing Bee, posed with a Minneapolis-Moline that was being raffled by the Future Farmers. Note carved walking sticks we purchased in the flea market. Mine has a horse head, while Casey's has a wolf. Casey and Gary each bought a ticket on the tractor, though neither has any particular idea what he'd do with it if he won.
	Illinois Thresher Co. steam tractor Made in Sycamore, Illinois, this one got the honor of being the first steamer in the afternoon parade. There were a huge number of steam threshers by different makers in the show, and my limited bandwidth only allows me to show you a couple of them.
	Port Huron Engine Co. steam tractor These were made in Port Huron, Michigan and featured a dual cylinder that made use of the steam twice, if I understand the design correctly. Most of the steamers in the show were very well-restored and painted. They made smoke, but were amazingly quiet compared to the Diesel and gasoline engine tractors. Also, much of the mechanism is on the outside and visible, so you see valve sliders, cams, and governors in operation as they go by.
	Porsche gasoline tractor Did you know that Porsche once made tractors? I didn't. There were two at the show, both carefully restored like the one pictured here. Note the streamlined styling of the engine cover, unlike anything else of its era (the 1940s I believe.)

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

But I wanted toys and junk. I've really been behaveing lately. I'm worried about me.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, we all got a dose of soot. I'm as gritty as if I'd been to the beach. And I did buy a toy, a horse marionette with wooden hooves on his hind feet but soft paffers for hands. He stands erect on his hind legs, so obviously he's a furry. I'll be bringing him to MFF of course.

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

Ah, a twofer. (Toofer?)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. A twofer.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm sure you'll be spending all your money on junk soon enough ;)

[rrwolf.livejournal.com]

I wanted to head up that way and join you guys there for that but had too much going on here between work and trying to get much much needed rest or sleep.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I understand they're running you ragged. It's an annual event and this is the 51st repeat, so probably you can count on it for next year at least. Maybe that time you can get free. We'd have enjoyed seeing you, but there'll be other times.

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

Cool. I've not seen a Porsche tractor. I have seen the Lamborghini tractors though. But none of them hold a candle to the old steam tractors. They're really neat. Put some water in and light a fire, and they go. And they go quiet too. No racket or fuss, just a quiet "chuff-chuff-chuff". So quiet and simple.

: D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Lamborghini? That's amusing too. I'll have too look them up for a photo.

I agree. Steam power is underrated and probably more ecologically safe than today's popular means. Trouble is, it won't mesh with today's impatient people. You can't just turn a key and stomp on the gas. You also have to be a little more aware of safety: not just avoiding collisions, but preventing steam explosions.

They had a real steam shovel, restored to working condition though we didn't get to see it operating, and a sawmill run by a couple of the tractors using long leather belts. What I found most interesting though was a large stationary engine built by Vilter. It must have been made to run compressors for refrigeration, because it had a couple of disconnected gauges for ammonia pressure. It was up and running, beautifully clean and powerful, and almost silent. What a contrast with today's bang and clatter of noise that seems to impress people so much.

[keeganfox.livejournal.com]

Vroom! Hee hee!

http://www.samedeutz-fahr.com/lamborghini/

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Holy cow! I thought you were referring to some historical thing from the 30s, but they are still making tractors now. I had no idea. Even Ford gave up on the tractor business in the 1950s. I think the problem was that tractors last so long they couldn't depend on repeat business for a decade or two. Consequently, once they saturated their market they had no business plan to keep them going. Typical short-sighted American management.

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

Ford started palling around with New Holland in the '70s. You could still buy a Ford tractor in ther late '90s. After that a complex and confusing series of mergers, the Ford name was gone from the farm scene.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*bows* I stand corrected then. I know I've never seen a Ford tractor made later than 1959 or 60, even though I grew up in Michigan. Everything there seemed to be International or Massey-Ferguson.

We've looked briefly at the smaller offerings from New Holland and Kubota, but the prices are too much for us. We did buy a White garden tractor about three years ago, but ended up returning it because it was so poorly designed and built. The entire experience was so unpleasant that we've resisted looking any further. Cub Cadet is the same maker as White now, I believe (MTD) and that leaves only John Deere. New ones are really expensive unless you just want a lawn mower you can ride on. We'd like something that can pull a small chain harrow, rake, or aerator without voiding the warranty. It seems the choices are a new John Deere in the $5K to $10K range (ouch) or find something older that we can keep running without too much difficulty.

5-10K??

[bladehorse.livejournal.com]

OMG Thats like 1/2 the price of those in cali!
If ya know how to wrench alittle, look into getting a used tractor. Knowing you as much as I do, I think youd get allong with a fordson. Dual fuel and very simple to maintain. Start on gas, and run on 1/2 price kerosene. The fordsons typically run 3-4k out here beat to death:p
Yup Cali sucks like that.

Re: 5-10K??

[altivo.livejournal.com]

California emission standards are probably a good part of any price difference. A Ford 8N would be more really than we need. The Fordson would be overkill. The main advantage to a real tractor would be a three point hitch and front end loader. Except for the front end loader, even an old farm tractor would be too large for us to deal with. We know basic mechanics, yes, but neither of us really has time to be working on a tractor constantly, or the inclination.

When I said $5 to $10K, I was talking about the "garden tractors" from John Deere. Those are little guys, but with gear and shaft drive instead of rubber belt drives like the lawnmowers have. They are rated to pull a harrow or disc, and some have hydraulics for a small front end bucket that can be good for snow or light stuff (like dry sheep manure, of which we presently have a large pile that needs moving.)

[farhoug.livejournal.com]

Back at home our neighbor had a Porsche, I'd guess it was around the same age too since that one in the picture looks a bit familiar. It might have been a bit bigger though. But the most distinctive about it was the sound, didn't have to look to recognize who's tractor it was out there.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Air cooled engine I think. ;p

Other than the fact that all the infernal combustion machines were much noisier, I wasn't paying attention to the distinctions between them. I was more impressed by how quiet the steam engines were. The tractors don't exhaust steam through the stack to draw more air through the firebox and increase efficiency the way railroad locomotives do, so they don't have that firebreathing dragon quality about them. Instead they just make quiet chuffs and hisses, and sometimes a little clatter as the metal wheels roll over the ground or the steering is actuated (usually it has chains in it.)

On the other hand, many of them had steam whistles and some of the operators seemed to love tooting at each other. At noon the whistle on the stationary engine was sounded and all the others joined in, like howling wolves. You had to cover your ears, and they kept it up for much too long in my opinion. ;p

[bladehorse.livejournal.com]

Actually most Do exhaust in the smokebox. but most of the time you wont hear them Working, because they Arnt. If they are going up like a 10% grade, theyll wake up allot.that, or if theyre running a belt drive accessory, near hp rating, like a planing mill, or sawmill. Most operators will use as much cutoff(like advance on a gas engine) as possible to save steam, and be more efficient on water too. This quiets down the exhaust allot. And on the Port Hurons, since its a dual expansion engine, their already more quiet, and only bark at full load, in the hole.(referring to the cutoff with no cutoff)
I really wish I could afford to get one of thosee and restore it. Their a blast(hopefully figuratevely only) to run :p

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well yes, but aren't the railroad locos built with an intentional sort of venturi thing so that the steam exausting actually sucks air through the firebox? I thought the tractors usually just dumped the waste steam up the stack without any special action.

Yup the port Hurons are a compound engine

[bladehorse.livejournal.com]

I got one running at the historical musem in San Jose Ca. Lots of fun. And Porche started out with farm impliments from what I understand.
I do miss not going to the old Threshers Reunion in Iowa.Soo many things to see and wish I had the time and money to tinker with:p

Re: Yup the port Hurons are a compound engine

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It would have been fun having you here for this show. Maybe someday you can make it.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Hehe :D I loved this post, I was talking with QC about it but I picked the wrong people >.< I thought QC would've had the suspenders being a railfur, how wrong could I get XD

Love the Porsche tractor, all this talk of tractors reminds me there's a turbo Daihatsu charade around here that has John Deere Valves in it ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Valve surgery? o.O

The suspenders were almost an accident. I started out to put on other clothes because of the heat, but changed my mind midstream.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

He runs a higher turbo boost and the JD valves withstand a higher temp in this case I'm told.