Culbertson, Montana 59218
The 1921 Emerson-Brantingham tractor pictured above was brought
to Culbertson, Mont. July 18 by Sterling McKinney, president of the
Northeastern Montana Threshers and Antiques Association: E. A.
‘Nute’ Anklam, Association ; secretary-treasurer; and Monk
Krall, continuous honorary member. The tractor is on loan to the
Threshers Association from William Brost and Teresa Brost, brother
and sister, of north of Nashua, Mont, and will be restored by the
Threshers for display at their annual fall Threshing Bee.
Clarence A. Hull, former steam engine operator and mechanic, and
Sherman Krall of East Berlin, Pa. were visiting Monk Krall who has
extensive wheat farming interests near Culbertson, at the time the
tractor was brought in. Hull threshed five seasons for 45 to 50
customers each year with a steam engine. He is now foreman of
Washington Township, York County road department with 50 miles of
road to supervise He is also secretary-treasurer of the Road Board.
He assisted in restoring the 46-year-old Emerson-Brantingham
tractor for the fourth annual old-time Threshing Bee and Antique
Show in Culbertson, sponsored by the Northeastern Montana Threshers
and
Antiques Association. Hull is a member of the York Co.
Threshermen’s Association of which his cousin, Ralph Hull is
president. For the past six to eight years they have held their two
weeks Williams Grove Threshermen’s Show. It is getting stronger
every year Hull said. The Threshing Bee in Culbertson was held
Sept. 16-17. More than 50 restored antique units were featured in
the parade which was headed by the venerable 1906 15-45 Case
steamer owned and restored by Henry Peterson and Halrod Sather of
Culbertson and on loan to the Threshers Association.
The Northeastern Montana Threshers and Antiques Association was
organized in 1963 by men interested in preserving the early day
tractors, threshing machines and other equipment used by their
homesteader parents of grandparents who settled and developed the
area. From the original 44 charter members the organization has
grown to approximately 60 members from 17 northeast Montana
communities. Many are father and son teams and all exhibit much
enthusiasm in the valuable work they are doing. Some of them drive
over 100 miles to attend the once-a-month meetings and seldom miss.
When parts are needed to restore these long outdated machines are
unavailable, as practically all of them are, the Threshers go ahead
and make them.
Threshing oats at Frontier City, Michigan in August, 1967.
International separator owned by Frontier City and 20-40 Rumely
owned by Leonard James. The front end of a 2 cylinder Case tractor
can be seen at the right.
Pictured is a 1920 Samson Model M tractor which I completely
restored. I purchased it in Eau Claire, Wisconsin through a For
Sale Ad in your GEM. I showed it at the Old Time Threshers Reunion
at Wauseon, Ohio this year.
Practically all of the antique equipment bring with them bits of
interesting history,The Threshers newest acquisitiontion, the 1921
Emerson-Brantingham gas tractor, was purchased new for one-half
price in 1923 by the Brost family and although now long unused it
still is in fair condition for its 46 years. It is complete even to
the parts book and the wood portions of the steering wheel which
William Brost removed, wrapped and stored in his shop.
Recently McKinney, Anklam and Mr. Henry Peterson went to the old
Julson place north of Lambert, Montana and brought back an antique
1913-14 model Tital gas tractor which the Threshers will restore.
They found the tractor overgrown with tall weeds and grass and even
young trees were growing up through the long unused machine. The
owners of the tractor, Orin A. Julson of Bay City, Mich, and his
sister Cora Mangel have agreed to loan it to the Threshers on an
indefinite basis for restoration and display.
C. A. Hull, East Berlin, Pennsylvania on truck in front of the
1921 Emerson-Brantingham tractor just brought to Culbertson,
Montana for restoration and display. On the ground from left:
Sterling McKinney, president of the Northeastern Montana Threshers
and Antiques Association, Culbertson; Sherman Krall, mayor of East
Berlin, Pennsylvania and John (Monk) Krall, Culbertson-East
Berlin.
This display of apple peelers and corers is owned by Matthew
Engels of East Palmyra, N. Y. and was on display at the 1967
Reunion of the Pioneer Gas Engine Association, Inc. The large
peeler and corer was used in the early 1900’s in his home,
which was originally a commercial dry house. People have told him a
good operator could peel and core about 50 bushels of apples a day.
After refinishing the large apple peeler and corer, he added the
small peelers and corer which were used for home use.
