73 Wilson Ave. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Courtesy of Malcolm E. Bird, 73 Wilson Ave.,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Leaving for Belleville, Ontario, Fair on August 20, 1969, with
antique thresher and engines. I draw a trailer behind my car and
take in several shows.
Malcolm Bird on the left and Antone Shupler on the right. Note
the old wooden measures hand fed with an over shot cylinder made by
Mathew Moody.
Built by Mathew Moody, Ltd., Terrebonne, Quebec, in 1880. A few
were used in Quebec around the turn of the century, transported by
wagon and sleigh. This is the only mill left as there were only
four built in that year.
This old thresher, threshed in the Gatineau Valley (North of
Hull) for many years, driven by a two horse tread machine. Capacity
for one day was one hundred and fifty bushels. It has been restored
by owner, Malcolm E. Bird of Toronto. Carpentry work was done by
Antone Shupler, R. R. 5, Belleville, Ontario.
It is now driven by a 1920 6 hp. International kerosene engine,
which owner Mr. Bird restored for this purpose. This engine was
used in the Sudbury District for mining purposes.
Pictures of the threshing were taken on the farm at
Belleville.
Last fall Mr. Bird’s old thresher was on display at the
Tweed and Shannon-ville Fairs. A bit of threshing was done at Tweed
just to prove that the old mill can really work. It was an item of
great interest.
I have collected some old gas engines, but I also enjoy
miniature things so I made a model. The fluted water hopper
resembles one type engine, the Chicago Aeromotor Company built.
Other than that I only made it so it would look and run like a big
engine. It is make and break ignitor fired and has hit and miss
governor.
The pictures will give you an idea how small it is. Seems like
nobody around here has ever seen a model fired by igniter. Could
this be the first?
