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Rock River Thresheree, Inc.

Since 1955

The Thresherman's Gazette

April 1995 edition
A Word from the Editor
              Carol Studebaker
As all of you Rock River Thresheree members already know, this is the third issue of our new newsletter THE THRESHERMAN'S TRACKER. However, this issue is being sent to everyone who registered as an exhibitor at the Thresheree booth either last year or the year before if I could find a complete address and zip code.
 
We're hoping that you'll all be coming back to the show again this year. It's always nice to see familiar faces. We're putting a couple of things in this newsletter to make your visit a little easier. In this issue we're profiling our club officers and a few other active members. That way maybe you'll see a familiar face when you get here too.
 
There is an advertising flyer for you to look at and perhaps display for other people to see. If you want more of them, let me know and I'll send them to you. The new map shows to two entrances to the park (shown on the reverse side of the flyer in the bottom right-hand corner). Exhibitors should remember to use the Cox Road entrance to help eliminate some of the problems we've had at the front ticket gate.
 
There is also a registration form in this newsletter. If you take the time to fill it out before you get here, it will save you time at our booth. If you are going to exhibit more than one time, please list the rest on the back side or make copies of the form.
 
If you have questions about the Thresheree, call one of us at the phone numbers listed on the flyer or fax me at [deleted]. PLEASE NOTE -- our President is now residing at Threshermen's Park and can now be reached at [deleted].
 
The Thresheree runs four (4) days, Friday through Monday, but we begin registration on Thursday afternoon for any early birds who might be out there.
 
See you at the show! [p. 1, col. 1]
Steamers are the featured tractor this year, so if you know of anyone who has a steamer that would like to bring it to our Thresheree, call Charles Hendrickson, President, at [deleted]. Trucking is negotiable.
 
Member's Hotline
WE NEED YOU!
 
Volunteers Needed for the Thresheree!!! When you joined the association, you indicated when you became a member you would give of your time to the Thresheree. That time is NOW. Over the years, some of the same people have been doing the majority of the work that it takes to make the Thresheree what it is today. However, some of these people are no longer able to do so because of health reasons, etc. We need you to come forward to help prior to the show and putting them away after the show (see the Calendar of Events for the dates), helping to pick up trash each day after the show from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (we need at least 10 people), helping in the corn meal shed and assisting with registration of campers during the show. If you have an interest in helping, call our President, Charles Hendrickson at [deleted] or stop by the booth during the show.
 
Coal Car Banks are still available to go with your Locomotive Bank. Start building your souvenir collection now if you haven't already done so. It is a limited edition and we only have 80 coal cars and 40 trains left to sell. They make great gifts for kids and grandkids alike. If you haven't started your set or a set for that special youngster and would like, there is still time to get yours, but you must act now as they will be out of stock soon. For only $10.00 each for members ($16.00 for non-members) you can show your kids and grandkids how easy it is to save their money for something special or invest in the future, as well as enjoy a part of the past. [p. 1, col. 2]
For Members Only (cont.)
 
Pictures, pictures, pictures -- If you have any old pictures or newspaper articles from the early days of the thresheree, please contact Carol Studebaker, Secretary, so we can organize and show the history we have at the thresheree. We would be willing to make a copy of your photo so you can have your original back if you desire. Help us to archive the history in our own back yard. Perhaps you have a relative who has been coming for many years and can remember some of the activities or can relate how things have changed and grown over the years, let us know. Share with us a part of the past.
 
New Members -- The following people have become members since our last publication. They are: Ron Finster and Larry Schlender from Janesville, WI, and Terry Welch of Delavan, WI. Welcome to the club!
 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
All meetings are held at Threshermen's Park in the Pavilion for those who are new:
 
August 5 Meeting at 1:00 p.m.
August 19 Meeting at 1:00 p.m.
August 27 Pullout Day. Potluck at 12:00 p.m. Meeting after lunch.
September 1-2-3-4 SHOW TIME
SEPTEMBER 1 SENIOR CITIZENS' DAY $3.00 admission
September 10 (Sunday) Putaway Day. Potluck at 12:00 p.m. Meeting at 1:00 p.m. Update on show and nominations for the Board.
October 7 Meeting at 1:00 p.m.
 
KNOW YOUR OFFICERS/BOARD MEMBERS
 
The Following people are board members and active members who give much of their time prior to and during functions, working and making the Bluegrass [p. 2, col. 1]
Festival and Thresheree enjoyable and safe for those who come to the park.
 
Charles Hendrickson (Charlie) -- President
 
Charlie, formerly from Chilton, WI, now lives here at Threshermen's Park with his wife Dawn and family. They recently became our new caretakers. Charlie is a machinist at Elkhorn Machine and has been coming to the Thresheree all of his life. He became a club member in 1988 and is in charge of maintaining and running our Rock River Cannonball train. He became a Board member in 1990 and served as Vice President before taking the position of President this year. During show time, he exhibits a 1/2 scale Case steam engine built by Walt Durst in 1963, but most of the time you'll find him on or near the Cannonball. The Thresheree has always been a big part of his life and he values the hands-on experience and firsthand knowledge gained from the elder members of the club. The most interesting thing that has happened to him at a show was the time he took the front bumper off a brand new VW Rabbit with the train. The thing he remembers most about a show is the coal smoke! Charlie has two pieces of advice to give all of you -- first, "Get involved with the Club! I personally invite you." Second, "Don't park too close to the train tracks."
 
Don Lux -- Vice President
 
Don is from rural Janesville, WI. He is semi-retired, but works in maintenace for Select Inn, Janesville. At the present time he is recuperating from two knee surgeries. He has been coming to the Thresheree ever since they started in 1955 and holds membership No. 12, joining in 1964. Don previously served as President for eight years, Vice President six years prior to that and also has served as Secretary, having done a little bit of everything else. During show time, Don is our Parade Announcer, a job he does very well. He and his family exhibit several tractors and machines at the show, most of which are Farmalls. He has a special fondness for this thresheree because he saw it start and watched it grow to what it is today. The most memorable show for him was the year we paid tribute to International Harvestor. He has a "funniest thing that happened at the show," but he just starts laughing and won't tell what it is. His advice to everyone is, "If you want something done, say 'Please' and 'Thank you.'" [p. 2, col. 2]
Know Your Officers/Board Members (cont.)
 
Todd Ligman -- Treasurer
 
Todd is from Janesville and is employed as a Supervisor with Edo-Angi, Milton, WI, and also has his own business, Wizard Welding in Janesville. Todd was previously the caretaker here at the park for seven or eight years. He joined the club in 1989, and has been a Board member and our Treasurer for the past three years. He is a certified welder and so is able to do much of the welding at the park on the engines and boilers, train tracks and machinery. Very rarely do we ever have to call in an outside welder for anything. Todd puts in some very long hours during Thresheree keeping track of all the incoming moneys and making sure it is counted and deposited. He put all the records on computer a few years ago which makes record-keeping and check-writing much faster and easier. He enjoys rebuilding and riding motorcycles, photography and loves the outdoors.
 
Carol Studebaker -- Secretary
 
Carol has lived in Milton, WI, all her life. She keeps the books for her husband's plumbing business and also works at General Case Co. in Milton. She is a past board member of the Milton Historical Society and is presently on the board of the New alumni Association of Milton College where she keeps track of their huge mailing list. She is also interested in genealogy and this summer will put out the third book of her family history. Carol got a computer, at her brother's urging, and in three years has become from being totally computer illiterate to the point where she can get around in there pretty good. She started coming to the Thresheree in 1962, but didn't join the club until 1993 when she became Secretary. She has put all of the club membership and exhibitor records on computer and this year has started to edit a club newsletter, THE THRESHERMAN'S TRACKER. During the show, you can find Carol spending most of her time in the Thresheree Booth registering exhibitors (about 700 of them), providing information and selling shirts, hats and sodas. This year she was chosen to be Thresheree Queen. In August, she will be speaking to the Kiwanis Club about the Thresheree. When she has any spare time, she enjoys antiques, auctions, furniture refinishing and photography. The things that excite her most about the Thresheree are the people, the noise, the smells -- she loves it! This year she'll even have her own exhibit as she bought two gas engines from Syl Henry last summer. [p. 3, col. 1]
Syl Henry
 
Syl is from Janesville, WI, and has been retired for five years. Except for a few of the early shows, he has come to them all. He became a member in April 1972 and seved a term as Secretary. He has his show headquarters in the gas engine shed where he is in charge of the small antique engine group. In past years, he had an extensive exhibit of small engines, but he has been selling them off in the last few years. He says when you're 81 years old, you don't need quite so many to take care of anymore. This year he also resigned from another job he'd held for 15 years... that of Sunday morning worship services coordinator. He always made sure there was a priest available for services and set up the seating for worshippers. Syl has had quite a few interesting and amusing exhibits in the engine shed over the years. I'm sure everyone has seen his "Maid in the Shade" -- the lovely lady who rocks back and forth under an umbrella. One year he had a cage of Bantam chickens with a sign identifying them as "Polish eggplants." One year, there was a display of four-legged ducks (real ones), and he always has a lot of stories to tell. His advice to members is -- "Do whatever you can, especially at show time, so we can keep the show going."
 
Glenn Beedy
 
Glenn is a retired industrial engineer living in Beloit, WI. He has been coming the the Thresheree for 34 years and holds membership No. 13, joining the club in 1964. In the past, he has served as a Board member, President and Secretary. He has also been Parade Announcer. At present, Glenn is very involved in getting the large stationary and boilers in the Museum of Agriculture and Industry installed and operating. He is at the park nearly every day working on them. He has been involved in a lot of things that have happened at the park, but the most memorable one for him was the train, restoring the locomotive and building the coaches... but that's a whole story in itself, which we'll print in our next newsletter. Glenn exhibits a small horizontal steam engine at the show. This club is important to him because of the good people he has been associated with over the years. He enjoys a good visit and he's got a lot of stories to tell. His advice to members is -- "Become active in the club and be available when called." [p. 3, col. 2]
Know Your Officers/Board Members (cont.)
 
Janet Lux
 
Janet is the wife of our Vice President and has been a member since 1964. She was on a visit from her native England when she attended an early Thresheree with the Francis Reiners and met her future husband. She returned to England but came back, got married and has been here ever since. Apart from raising ten children, she finds time to take care of elderly and sick persons who wish to remain in their homes. She was the Thresheree Queen in 1981. Janet is one of those versatile people who will try her hand at whatever needs doing. She attends most of the meetings and fills in as Secretary when needed. The last few years she has spent most of the show in the Thresheree booth, always ready with a friendly word, selling shirts and making coffee. She and her family are in charge of the annual club Christmas party and she also was in charge of the noon meal at the last two work days we had. Janet is the club's Sunshine Committee, sending dards or flowers when needed. She exhibits a Farmall tractor at the show.
 
JUST FOR FUN
Sent in by LaVon Bennett; Authorn unknown
 
THE FLY
They say all things upon this earth were placed here for some good.
But one thing God created I have never understood.
I thin He made a BIG mistake and always wondered why
With all the good things that He made, why did He make a fly?
If a fly is good for anything, I haven't found it yet.
You can't eat it in a salad or use it for a pet.
They make your windows dirty, leave specks upon the walls
And when your on a picnic they crawl on the melon balls.
Just one fly can drive you crazy as they buzz around in flight.
And if one gets in your bedroom, you'll lie awake all night!
So I go walking 'round my house, fly swatter in my hands.
I'll kill that little so-and-so the minute that he lands.
He finally sits down on the floor; I lift my hand and then
Just as I go to swat him, that fly takes off again.
They're annoying and frustrating, almost make you want to cry
And I cannot help but wonder, why did God make a fly?!!
 
 
[p. 4, col. 1]
Grandpa's Tool Box
 
"Budweiser in Wisconsin -- America's First Diesels"
by Guy Fay
 
Many of know that the Club's Norberg engine/Vilter compressor set was used by Pabst Brewing in Milwaukee. But how many of you know that the club's Worthington diesel engine has a remote connection to Budweiser?
 
Adolphus Busch visited Germany often. On these trips in the 1890s, he met several people familiar with Rudolph Diesel's work. In October, 1897, he met Dr. Rudolph Disel. Busch was impressed with both the potential of the engine and the man behind it. Busch also saw a business opportunity and entered negotiations for the American stationary engine rights. Upon successful completion of these negotiations, the Diesel Motor Company of America was formed to produce the engines from Diesel's patents and Krupp's designs. It should be noted that there were several problems with Diesel's design, and several differences from American practice. The first major problem was the compressor. Early Diesel engines used air injection, unlike today's fuel injected engines. At the air pressures needed for the engine, the lubricating oil itself would combust, blowing the compressor, the engine and anything near it. The second problem was fuel. Dr. Diesel experimented [with] many fuels in the early years, including natural gas and coal dust, before an oil-type fuel was used. Americans were hestitant to use a refined fuel because of the Standard Oil Trust, which could have raised fuel prices far enough to eliminate the diesel engine's advantage of low fuel competition.
 
The Diesel Engine Company of America performed its own experiments, and came up with several improvements to the diesel engine, despite the belief of Dr. Diesel that his engine was perfected. Many of these ideas were based on Westinghouse gas engine design. Relations between Dr. Diesel and the American company became strained to the point that one official said that "while I have the highest opinion of Mr. Diesel's knowledge of thermodynamics, I do not consider him to have sufficient practical ability to build a wheelbarrow."
 
Because of the heavy cost of experiments, and the failure of early engines due to the compressor problems, the Diesel Engine Company of American soon went bankrupt. In 1901, the American Diesel Engine Company was formed. The A engine was designed, mainly from the experience of the earlier experiments. However, the earlier company had performed its experiments in the shops of Hewes & Phillips Iron WOrks, Newark, NJ., which was a major expense. Mr. Busch was approached by Joseph Hoadly, who told Busch that he had an [p. 4, col. 2]
Grandpa's Toolbox (cont.)
 
excellent program to sell the engines, and that he should employ Hoadly's company in Rhode Island to produce the engines. International Power Corporation was formed in 1897 to sell compressed air equipment, and operated the old George Charles engine plant in Providence, Rhode Island. The plan was for IPC to sell the engines to American Diesel for $50 a horsepower, with American Diesel getting $55-$60 a horsepower retail. This did not leave a sufficient margin for American Diesel to support itself. Also, problems were encountered with IPC's quality, with crankshafts being an special problem that caused major expense. Yet a third problem was IPC's limited capacity.
 
IPC's stock went up dramatically after the diesel contract was announced, and Busch suspected Hoadly of being a stock manipulator, interested in pushing the stock up and making his money this way. American Diesel moved to protect itself by setting up a second source of engines. Power & Mining Manufacturing Co., in Cudahy, Wisconsin, was approached and a contract for production at $50 a horsepower was written, although shafts could be procured by American Diesel and supplied to P&MM for a discount of the total price. Other Wisconsin businesses provided parts to P&MM, including Allis-Chalmers, who did similar work for many of Wisconsin's major industries.
 
American Diesel enjoyed a brief period of prosperity from 1902 -- especially 1906 & 1907 -- until 1908. Many problems were encountered on the early engines limiting profits and, when an economic downturn hit in 1908, Busch took American Diesel into bankruptcy to rid himself of Hoadly, who had tried to sieze control of the company. The company operated under the name Adolphus Busch, Purchaser of American Disel Company, until 1911.
 
Diesel's original patents began to run out in 1911. Adolphus Busch began to suffer from illnesses and his son and Dr. Diesel saw a need to restructure the company. A relationship was formed with Sulzer Brothers of Switzerland and new engines designs were prepared from the Sulzer engines by Max Rotter, the Chief Engineer for Allis-Chalmers, who left to become the Chief Engineer for the new firm of Busch-Sulzer.
 
The factory situation was also dealt with. After Busch bought the remains of the American Diesel Engine Company, the shift of management operations was made from New York to St. Louis. At the formation of Busch-Sulzer, the need for a factory of its own was very evitdent. Rotter examined the St. Louis area, determined the site, and the factory was built. [p. 5, col. 1]
Where did this leave Power & Mining Machinery? In 1911, Worthington Pump and Machinery bought a license from Carrels Freer, a Belgium manufacturer, to build diesels. Although I have not tracked down the details, Worthington bought Power & Minig Manufacturing Co. and, no doubt, benefitted greatly from their experience in building diesels. Hopefully, I will have more details of Worthington's activities in Cudahy at a later date. Although our engine was built in Buffalo, it bears a slight resemblance to the earlier American Diesel Type A engine.
 
Bibliography:
1. Busch-Salzer Papers, State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
2. A History of the Busch-Salzer Diesel Engine Co., -- authorn unknown, 1929, in Busch-Salzer Collection.
3. History of the Busch Diesel Companies, 1897-1922, Richard Harold Lytle, Washington University. Copyright 1962, Nordberg Mfg. Co.
 
**For Sale or Looking to Purchase**
 
Wanted: Parts for 1948 Cockshutt Co-op E-3 Model 30. Call [deleted due to age of ad]
 
Wanted: Power steering parts, remote hydraulic parts and loader for JD 1010RUS tractor and any one or two-row 3-point JD implements for 420C or 40S. Call [deleted due to age of ad]
 
For Sale: Parts for 1927 10-20 McCormick Deering tractor Call [deleted due to age of ad]
 
For Sale: Tractor, combine and baler parts for most any make or model including Allis-Chalmers, Ford, John Deere, International, Case, Minneapolis Moline, Oliver, Massey Furgason and Harris, and New Holland. [contact info deleted due to age of ad]
 
For Sale: 1943 Allis-Chalmers, Model C tractor (Serial No. C13123) and 17-foot Layton trailer (both housed at [deleted]) Contact [deleted due to age of ad]
 
 
[p. 5, col. 2]
KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED
 
Marv Helgesen, Bernard Lux, Einar Johnson and Lewis Heller, four of our members, are now residents of Rock Haven Nursing Home in Janesville.
 
Melvin Cassels is residing in Edgerton at Long Tern Care.
 
 
Grandma & Grandpa's Attic
 
This picture was taken in 1960, the year the Thresheree was held at the American Legion Park in Edgerton. A parade was held through the main street of town. The two "ladies" in the foreground are Harold Mauerman and John Horton. Aren't they lovely? A special thanks to Mrs. John Horton for lending us this picture.
 
 
 
The Blacksmith Shop
by Carol Studebaker
 
In 1987 the Thresheree Board voted to build a permanent blacksmith shop building. The shop was to be pre-electric era, with live smithing demonstrations. The idea for this building began a few years before that. Blacksmith machinery had been in our "bone pile" building for 15-20 years. A complete blacksmith shop that had once been in operation in the LaFarge, WI, area had been donated by the son of the man who owned it and had been in storage at the park ever since. The problem was finding a person capable of putting everything together and making it work.
 
Glenn Beedy was on the Thresheree Board at the time and he knew just the person who could do the job if he could talk him into it... Paul Marx. Paul and Glenn had worked together at one time. Paul is employed with Marshall Erdman Associates as Supervisor of their [p. 6, col. 1]
structural steel fabricating shop. For 15 years, he ran his own metal forging shop and he set up and teaches the Metal Forging classes at Madison Area Technical College.
 
With Glenn's "encouragement," Paul agreed to take on the job. He felt that some of his past and current students who were interested in preserving the history of blacksmithing would be willing to help build the shop, which they were. The Board told Paul and his students that if they helped with the building, they could use the shop up to two days per year for educational programs. Paul became a Thresheree member at that time and the Board turned over to him the planning and organization of the annual Labor Day blacksmith program.
 
Work on the shop continued four seasons, with lineshafts, equipment restoration, etc. So far, he and his students have used the shop four times for educational programs. Paul says, "I have drawn on Metal Forging students for help over the past years. I believe they have enjoyed this and had some fun doing it. I know I have!"
 
During the Labor Day show Paul tries to maintain a schedule of demonstrators each day, to include blacksmithing, wood carving with blacksmith-made tools, wood turning on a 19th century wood lathe (where they make tops for the kids), horseshoe nail rings (for all kids, six to ninety-six) and plenty of big "tales."
 
The blacksmith shop is located near the model engine building, not too far from the train depot. Try to stop over during the show to watch Paul and his students in action... and maybe swap a tale or two.
 
Granny's Kitchen
by Jackie Brown
Granny used to can corn towards the end of summer, but with the new-fangled way of freezing fruits and vegetables, she's found this recipe makes the corn taste as if it's fresh off the cob. Try it!
 
Freezer Butter Corn
8 cups corn (cut off the cob)
1 cup water
1/3 lb. butter
3 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. salt
 
Cook for three minutes (start the timing after the corn comes to a bubbling boil, but not a hard boil). Stir often to avoid sticking. Cool slightly. Packacge and freeze. Do NO MORE THAN two batches at a time. [p. 6, col. 2]
 
We are featuring a coloring contest for kids from 3-13 years of age.
 
There will be three age groups: 3-5 year olds, 6-9 year olds and 10-13 year olds. The picture is included in the newsletter for them to complete. If you have more than one youngster at your house, make a copy of it for them and either send it to Carol Studebaker [address deleted] or bring it to the Information Booth when you get to the Thresheree. (NO entries will be taken after 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3.) We will be picking our winners in these three age groups and the winner will be announced by parade time at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 4. The winners will win a free T-shirt. Good luck to all. [p. 7]
[click on image to enlarge; p. 8]

[1995 Exhibitor registration form] [p. 9]

[1995 Rock River Thresheree 39th Annual Reunion flyer (2 copies)] [p. 10 & 11]
KID'S KORNER
 
"Peggy's Poetry"
by Peggy Dierickx
 
 
"That Special Time of Year"
 
Toot, Toot! The locomotive's whistle blows.
Look over there a Super M goes.
And a Case International. I'm so glad I'm here!
Where do you go to experience this thrill?
The Rock River Thresheree, up by the sawmill.
And it almost is the time of year,
That makes everyone stand up and cheer.
Those few days to have some fun,
At the Thresheree in Edgerton.
 
Special Recognition -- An article was recently published in the Monticello Messenger recognizing Peggy as not only their very own poet in the community, but for having become a member of the [cont. p. 12, col. 2]
 
[image]
[p. 12, col. 1]
International Society of Poets. She has also been nominated to become a distinguished member of the Board of Directors and member of the organization having been nominated by the Board of Directors and Advisory Committee of International Society of Poets who meet once a year in Washington, D.C.
 
Congratulations to you, Peggy! Quite an accomplishment for someone who is 14 years old. We're very proud of you and look forward to more of your poetry appearing in our upcoming issues. Thank you, Ann Prisk, for sharing this wonderful news with us.
 
DEADLINE FOR NEXT NEWSLETTER is no later than October 1, but you don't have to wait until then. It's easier for us if we have it a little early.
 
Please send your articles, pictures, etc., to:
Carol Studebaker, Sec'y.
Rock River Thresheree
[address removed; Carol is no longer secretary]
 
[image]
[p. 12, col. 2]
[image]
These are the gates that greet our visitors at the County Trunk M entrance. A little over 40 feet wide, these beautiful wrought iron gates were designed, engineered and fabricated by club member Paul Marx. [p. 13]