This article was sent to us by O. M. Fredrich, 131 Parkview
Trailer Court, Minot, North Dakota (Mr. Fredrich received
permission from the editor, William H. Kircher, of THE FARMER for
us to re-print this in our Gas Engine Magazine).
Taken from THE FARMER, Dated November 1, 1907
There has always been a great demand on the farm for more and
better labor saving machinery. And, perhaps, no other machine,
recently invented, has done so much to take the drudgery out of
farm life as has the gasoline engine. Its popularity on the farm
becomes evident when we consider how fast it is replacing the other
sources of power on the farm.
The first sources of power used on the farm were the old
fashioned windmills, tread mills, and horse powers. Then later on,
came the steam traction engine and at the present we have the
gasoline traction engine; and it is fast displacing steam and
horses on the farm.
For hauling loads on the road, the value of the gasoline engine
cannot be overestimated. When going up or down hill there is no
water to run to the ends of the boiler and leave the tubes or crown
sheet bare and thereby cause them to burn out. The weight is evenly
distributed on the wheels so that when going up hill, under a heavy
load, the engines does not rear up in front as a steam engine
sometimes does.
In seeding, the gasoline engine has the advantage over a steam
engine in that it is so much lighter. It does not pack the soil as
h a r d and has no tender to haul around the field which would help
to further pack the soil.
A twenty-two horse power gasoline engine will pull two common
graders or one of the large elevating graders and do it easily. It
is much easier to get around with, as there is no tender to bother
with.
In threshing the ordinary steam engine takes about half an hour
to set. First it takes a long time to turn with it on account of
the tender, straw rack, etc., and then the engine has to be leveled
up, which means that the wheels have to be dug down or blocked up,
which requires a great deal of time. With the gasoline engine no
time is lost in setting the engine, as it will run no matter in
what position it is set, and there being no tender or straw rack to
bother with, it requires only about one-third of the time to set,
that a steam engine would. After the engine is started, when
threshing, it requires no more attention except oiling and, if help
is sccarce, the man that runs the engine can also run the
separator.
In the winter time the engine can be used for grinding feed,
sawing wood, pumping water, etc. In this way a farmer could make
use of his engine the whole year around instead of having it stand
idle the greater part of the year.
With all these advantages so clearly in favor of the gasoline
traction engine, it may be confidently stated that it is at the
present time the most economical power available for general farm
purposes, and it takes no great foresight to predict that in a few
years it will practically replace the steam engine.
The gasoline engine may be defined as an internal combustion
engine. The first form of this type was the powder engine invented
by Huyghens in 1680. This engine was not a success and other
machines were designed, but the real practical demonstration which
proved that the gasoline engine could be made a success was made by
Lenoir in 1860; and in a few years later, Hugon, Liemens, Boulton,
Crosby and Dr. Otto designed engines that proved them a success
beyond a doubt.
This is the 30 x 50 Oil Pull and 28 inch Red River Separator
owned by Floyd Kuhl, Caro, Michigan. This was taken at the Saginaw
Live Steam Meet in Caro in August, 1965.
Utah One cylinder gas engine that is thought to be an Economy. I
have five one cylinder gas engines in my collection of antique
machinery.
A gas engine is a prime mover, that gets its power from the
combustion of a mixture of gas and air in the cylinder, in the
proper proportion to form an explosion. This explosion is made by
compressing the gas and air and igniting it at the proper moment.
This causes a great heat in the cylinder and causes the air to
expand, and this expansion drives a piston forward in the cylinder
and, in this manner it derives its power.
The stationary and small portable gasoline engines have been in
use a number of years, but the traction engine is comparatively new
and therefore its good qualities are unknown to many people, and so
they do not fully appreciate its usefulness because they do not
understand it.
In plowing the gasoline engine has many advantages over steam
which will be discussed in the following paragraphs.
While the steam engine has achieved some measure of success it
is hampered by many inherent difficulties which are recognized by
all builders of such engines. In the first place, it requires a
considerable force of men and horses to keep it in operation, and
to supply it with fuel and water. It is usually the case where
traction engine plowing is most desirable that fuel is high priced
and the water unfit for boiler purposes and has to be hauled a long
distance. It requires two or more teams to keep it supplied with
water and fuel, and besides the engine stands idle 20 percent of
the time taking on water and fuel. In the second place the steam
engine is hampered by its excessive weight. The weight of an
ordinary steam plowing engine is from 30,000 to 40,000 pounds and
when the ground is wet and soft these engines cannot be transported
over the ground and therefore must stand idle during the best
plowing season of the year. The gasoline engine on the other hand,
weighs only about 19,000 pounds and can work successfully when the
average steam engine would be useless. A first class steam engine,
one built especially for plowing, with the necessary hitches,
couplings, etc, for attachment to plows, will cost about $2,500, in
North Dakota. The operating expenses of a steam engine are as
follows: One ton of coal $7.50. Licensed engineer who steers $5.00;
Fireman who also handles plows $2.00; Water and coal hauling, two
men and two teams, $8.00; board of four men at 50 cents a per day,
$2.00; Board of four horses at 25 cents per day, $1.00; Lubricating
oil, 50 cents. This makes the total daily operating expenses
$26.00. The cost of a gasoline engine equipped for plowing with
hitches, etc., is about $2,500. The cost of operating a gasoline
engine is as follows; Forty gallons of gasoline at 20 cents per
gallon, $8.00, or if kerosene is used it will cost 13 cents per
gallon of $5.20 per day. Engineer who also steers, $4.00; Plowman,
$2.00; Board of two men at 50 cents per day, $1.00; Lubricating
oil, 50 cents. Total daily operating expenses $12.70. This shows a
saving of $13.30 in favor of the gasoline engine for one day’s
operation. For sixty days, which is the average season’s run a
saving of $798.00 is realized. From this it can be easily seen that
the first cost of the engine can be easily saved in a few years.
The gasoline engine, it is true requires oil for operating, and
also requires a team to haul this oil, but it does not require a
team all day, or everyday. A tank could be had that would hold
enough for a week’s run, and then it would only require a trip
to town o n c e a week to get oil.
Illinois 1925 15-27 Model D, Serial Number 32,724. Bore 63/4
inch and 7 inch stroke. Engine RPM 800. Two speeds ahead and one
speed reverse.
Here is a picture of a Huber Super 4 serial No. 7102 built in
March of 1924. This tractor stood idle for 28 years until I bought
it in 1963. The engine is owned by Edward Axthelm, of Cardington,
Ohio.
Some people think that plowing with a traction engine is all
right for the very large farmer, but is not adapted to the small
farms. This is a wrong idea, because a piece of land containing
even twenty-five acres can be plowed in this wholesale way.
For hauling loads on the road, the value of the gasoline engine
cannot be overestimated. When going up or down hill there is no
water to run to the ends of the boiler and leave the tubes or crown
sheet bare and thereby cause them to burn out. The weight is evenly
distributed on the wheels so that when going up hill, under a heavy
load, the engines does not rear up in front as a steam engine
sometimes does.
In seeding, the gasoline engine has the advantage over a steam
engine in that it is so much lighter. It does not pack the soil as
h a r d and has no tender to haul around the field which would help
to further pack the soil.
A twenty-two horse power gasoline engine will pull two common
graders or one of the large elevating graders and do it easily. It
is much easier to get around with, as there is no tender to bother
with.
In threshing the ordinary steam engine takes about half an hour
to set. First it takes a long time to turn with it on account of
the tender, straw rack, etc., and then the engine has to be leveled
up, which means that the wheels have to be dug down or blocked, up,
which requires a great deal of time. With the gasoline engine no
time is lost in setting the engine, as it will run no matter in
what position it is set, and there being no tender or straw rack to
bother with, it requires only about one-third of the time to set,
that a steam engine would. After the engine is started, when
threshing, it requires no more attention except oiling and, if help
is sccarce, the man that runs the engine can also run the
separator.
In the winter time the engine can be used for grinding feed,
sawing wood, pumping water, etc. In this way a farmer could make
use of his engine the whole year around instead of having it stand
idle the greater part of the year.
With all these advantages so clearly in favour of the gasoline
traction engine, it may be confidently stated that it is at the
present time the most economical power available for general farm
purposes, and it takes no great foresight to predict that in a few
years it will practically replace the steam engine.
NEWS ITEM On January 30, 1966 a meeting was held in
Portland, Indiana with 15 interested men attending to organize a
new gasoline engine and tractor club which is to be called the
Tri-State Gasoline Engine and Tractor Association. Anyone wishing
to obtain membership may do so by writing Morris Titus, R. R. 2,
Pendleton, Indiana 46064. Those owning gas engines or tractors may
obtain active membership. Dues are $2.00. Those not owning gas
engines or tractors may obtain associate membership – dues are
$1.00. Please support this new club and help the interest and
preservation of gasoline and tractors grow. Woody Turner, Pres.,
and Morris Titus, Sec.-Treas.
