The unsung backbone of America, the men and machines of "can do it" spirit on parade. I think these steam traction engines are way underrated by most people, every time I see them they show their subtle but overwhelming power, incredible torque simply astonishing. Thank you Josh for posting this video.
Ive never been interested in steam power, but im starting to get it. Its amazing how much power comes from these 100yr old machines with nothing but fire and water.
Great job keeping the water supplied. Looks like it takes a village to plow a field with steam. I can still smell the steam from a boat we used to ride in as a kid.
It was impressive to watch the steam engine ploughing. Over here when steam engines were used for ploughing, it would be with two engines one at each end of the field and the plough would be winched across the field. Great footage, thanks for sharing
wish I had a tanker drive along side me and fill my tank. Reg gas in LA is about $6.50 a gal. Sure is good to see the old iron still huffing and puffing.
I have seen some wagons with it mounted low and guys would walk on the ground and pump. It's not the best situation, I would rather ride on top and pump.
@@TopperMachineLLC I am absolutely with you. Next step would be some Amish connecting the pump to the wheels with gears. Could even be pulled by the Steam-Engine itself. Or then some Not-Amish connecting it to the PTO of the Tractor.
That was a very interesting event. It's a good demonstration of how hard life was back then and how labor intensive it would have been to plough a field. So much easier with a modern tractor. It was lucky for the old timers that there was no OH&S back then, as they would have been shut down due to all the "unsafe" machines, no guards on anything, etc. But then back then people were a lot more careful around machines like that. There are occasional smaller events with mostly stationary engines here in this part of Queensland Australia. Very interesting to see this old gear in action again, well restored and working like it did originally.
OSHA is not welcomed by farmers. I can almost guarantee if any OSHA inspector showed up on a farm, they would become fertilizer. Back in the day, people were significantly smarter than in current times. Common sense existed back then also, now it's just a fairy tale.
@@TopperMachineLLC You hit the nail on the head there. The fact that I still have common sense shows my age!!! I'm still in one piece and I use a chainsaw and power tools very regularly. If something is dangerous, you take car with it or around it.
Thanks for posting ! Did not get to see this part of the show on Saturday. The misses and I had a great time at the show! Hope to see the plowing next year.
Thanks for the cool video!!! I am glad that you had a part in the event and that your wagon worked out nice. I wanted to go but I had company on Saturday and my leg was not working so good on Sunday. It looks like you were busy anyhow.
It was fun. Not sure yet if I will be there next year to show, or as a spectator. Sucks that my wedding anniversary is during the show. Wife isn't too happy with me.
Fantastic Josh, Keith from Michigan. It was great to watch the video's. And I really enjoyed talking with you prior to getting the steam engine's for the show. Lots of moving parts. A week ago, my neighbor Al, lost half of his left Thumb. On a chain driven hydraulic pump, it got him.
Thanks for the video. It would put plowing capability of the steam traction engine into perspective by showing how long it took for gasoline or diesel tractors to have the same capability to pull the same plow. The “modern” tractor could be wheeled or tracked.
Josh, did any of the US makers make cable and drum hauled ploughs for double engines, as made for example by Fowlers of Leeds (16 Nominal HP, Cross Compound - approx 225 BHP). My father recalled seeing these in use after WW1, where many new pine and spruce forests were being planted in virgin ground in Scotland and the north of England by the then new Forestry Commission, to try and avert the timber shortage which had occurred during WW1. He said you could hear them working from over 5 miles away and detect the change in beat, when they changed from compound to simple working, if the plough looked like it was going to stall.
As far as I know, the US never did have cable plows on engines like the UK. Was a great concept and would keep hearing like new. Your engines also did some serious speed compared to our 3-5 MPH.
Josh cool footage back in the day would they used three guys on the plow or just one . could just one plow be dropped at a time . Thanks for the footage . JM
We were short a guy. Need 4 on the plow, one for each lever. 2 bottoms per lever. When you get up to 24 bottoms, it was 12 guys on the plow, 2-3 on the engine, and a lot more hauling water and fuel.
@@TopperMachineLLC Man could you imagine if our technology was still around the same as it was back then and the inflation like it is now or even half of what it is now groceries would cost a ton
Was steam cable ploughing ever practiced in the U.S? I believe this was the usual system in England - pairs of engines dragging the plough back and forth across the field using cables.
@@TopperMachineLLC Yes, fascinating to watch. Less weight on the land so less soil compaction I suppose but more expensive to set up and maybe less practical as fields get bigger.
Dependant on how far it was to water, you could figure a minimum 3 wagons. One filling the engine, one between the engine and creek, and one filling at the creek.
Awesome video, thank you.
The unsung backbone of America, the men and machines of "can do it" spirit on parade.
I think these steam traction engines are way underrated by most people, every time I see them they show their subtle but overwhelming power, incredible torque simply astonishing.
Thank you Josh for posting this video.
that ploughing was really cool. I have only ever seen the old girls in parade or being used as stationery engines to power equipment.
Ive never been interested in steam power, but im starting to get it. Its amazing how much power comes from these 100yr old machines with nothing but fire and water.
Thanks for taking the time to share! Looked like a great event!
Great job keeping the water supplied. Looks like it takes a village to plow a field with steam. I can still smell the steam from a boat we used to ride in as a kid.
It was impressive to watch the steam engine ploughing. Over here when steam engines were used for ploughing, it would be with two engines one at each end of the field and the plough would be winched across the field. Great footage, thanks for sharing
I always love watching cable plowing. It's not done here, but I can see the benefit. There is minimal wear on the gearing not pulling a plow
Always admire the dedication of the folk that keep the old iron going, especially the steam machinery that led the way...
It takes passion and deep pockets. Lol. But steam is all worth it.
@@TopperMachineLLC I can only begin to imagine how deep those pockets need to be, probably a lot deeper than the passion LOL
It's cheaper to fire an engine with $100 bills than it is to repair a boiler. Lol
@@TopperMachineLLC I cant begin to imagine the cost of meeting code on those
That was awesome to see. Thanks
Those remind me of the good ol'days, life was hard but simple. Great video Josh, keep'um coming.
That was an amazing display of old time ingenuity. Thanks for sharing.
Great video
🇬🇧😐
Awesome Machines, i like looking at them when they're not running, because they scare the crap out of me when they are.
nothing to be afraid of. They only explode when run out of water. Totally safe in the hands of a good engineer.
@@TopperMachineLLC Yes, i'm sure you're right.
wish I had a tanker drive along side me and fill my tank. Reg gas in LA is about $6.50 a gal.
Sure is good to see the old iron still huffing and puffing.
Great video Josh
Glad to see you younger guys keeping the hobby alive.
Amazing!
And now makes the Pump on the top perfect sense. In Air tanking so to say.
I have seen some wagons with it mounted low and guys would walk on the ground and pump. It's not the best situation, I would rather ride on top and pump.
@@TopperMachineLLC I am absolutely with you. Next step would be some Amish connecting the pump to the wheels with gears. Could even be pulled by the Steam-Engine itself. Or then some Not-Amish connecting it to the PTO of the Tractor.
That's good exercise working that pump.
Yes it was! Didn't do it too many times before firing up the gas pump. lol
@@TopperMachineLLC It would be very cool to have a small steam engine powering a pump on the water wagon.
Josh needs a little McCormick hit and miss powering the pump.
I have 2 LA engines and a pump to put together. The wagon is made period correct, but the engine pump could be at the water source.
Thank you! That was just great! Best regards from Dresden! 👍👏👍👏👍👏💓😎
Great stuff . 👍
That was a very interesting event. It's a good demonstration of how hard life was back then and how labor intensive it would have been to plough a field. So much easier with a modern tractor. It was lucky for the old timers that there was no OH&S back then, as they would have been shut down due to all the "unsafe" machines, no guards on anything, etc. But then back then people were a lot more careful around machines like that. There are occasional smaller events with mostly stationary engines here in this part of Queensland Australia. Very interesting to see this old gear in action again, well restored and working like it did originally.
OSHA is not welcomed by farmers. I can almost guarantee if any OSHA inspector showed up on a farm, they would become fertilizer. Back in the day, people were significantly smarter than in current times. Common sense existed back then also, now it's just a fairy tale.
@@TopperMachineLLC You hit the nail on the head there. The fact that I still have common sense shows my age!!! I'm still in one piece and I use a chainsaw and power tools very regularly. If something is dangerous, you take car with it or around it.
Thanks for posting ! Did not get to see this part of the show on Saturday. The misses and I had a great time at the show! Hope to see the plowing next year.
Thanks for the cool video!!! I am glad that you had a part in the event and that your wagon worked out nice. I wanted to go but I had company on Saturday and my leg was not working so good on Sunday. It looks like you were busy anyhow.
Josh, This looks like it was a good event. I would have driven over from Mpls. to attend, but I had prior commitments. Maybe next year.
It was fun. Not sure yet if I will be there next year to show, or as a spectator. Sucks that my wedding anniversary is during the show. Wife isn't too happy with me.
Fantastic Josh, Keith from Michigan. It was great to watch the video's. And I really enjoyed talking with you prior to getting the steam engine's for the show. Lots of moving parts. A week ago, my neighbor Al, lost half of his left Thumb. On a chain driven hydraulic pump, it got him.
Looks like lots of fun. Hope you can have your steamer going next year. Thanks for the video.
how good was that, love it
Thanks for the video. It would put plowing capability of the steam traction engine into perspective by showing how long it took for gasoline or diesel tractors to have the same capability to pull the same plow. The “modern” tractor could be wheeled or tracked.
Josh, did any of the US makers make cable and drum hauled ploughs for double engines, as made for example by Fowlers of Leeds (16 Nominal HP, Cross Compound - approx 225 BHP). My father recalled seeing these in use after WW1, where many new pine and spruce forests were being planted in virgin ground in Scotland and the north of England by the then new Forestry Commission, to try and avert the timber shortage which had occurred during WW1. He said you could hear them working from over 5 miles away and detect the change in beat, when they changed from compound to simple working, if the plough looked like it was going to stall.
As far as I know, the US never did have cable plows on engines like the UK. Was a great concept and would keep hearing like new. Your engines also did some serious speed compared to our 3-5 MPH.
Josh cool footage back in the day would they used three guys on the plow or just one . could just one plow be dropped at a time .
Thanks for the footage . JM
We were short a guy. Need 4 on the plow, one for each lever. 2 bottoms per lever. When you get up to 24 bottoms, it was 12 guys on the plow, 2-3 on the engine, and a lot more hauling water and fuel.
@@TopperMachineLLC Man could you imagine if our technology was still around the same as it was back then and the inflation like it is now or even half of what it is now groceries would cost a ton
Was steam cable ploughing ever practiced in the U.S? I believe this was the usual system in England - pairs of engines dragging the plough back and forth across the field using cables.
not that I have ever known of. But I have seen them used in videos. Really good concept.
@@TopperMachineLLC Yes, fascinating to watch. Less weight on the land so less soil compaction I suppose but more expensive to set up and maybe less practical as fields get bigger.
Seems like the Case maybe runs a bit better than the Moline.
Minnie was running 100psi due to a safety valve issue. Would not reset until 100, so he kept her down. Case was running 175psi.
On a machine like that 80HP Case or your Baker what is the water consumption rate when working it?
A lot! The Minneapolis was using about 80 gallons a round. The Case, we weren't sure as it had 300 gallon capacity in the bunkers.
@@TopperMachineLLC Wow, that's a lot of water. I have seen a number of pictures where they had more than one water wagon
Dependant on how far it was to water, you could figure a minimum 3 wagons. One filling the engine, one between the engine and creek, and one filling at the creek.