R. R. 2, Alva, Oklahoma
I am sending you a picture of the B Oil Pull (engine no. 2851).
That is the owner, Elmer Lyon, standing beside the tractor. The GEM
sure is a swell magazine and we thought the readers might enjoy
seeing a 25-45 B.
This Rumely was bought new by II. B. Winters of Cora, Oklahoma
in 1913, although it is considered a 1910 model having been made
that year in La Porte, Indiana. It was shipped out of La Porte
along with a new Ideal Rumely 34′ wood separator. It arrived in
nearby Alva, Oklahoma by train and was the first gas threshing rig
to arrive in Alva. After the engine and separator were unloaded
from the flatcar many curious onlookers were attracted on the trip
home. Some said it would never make the trip home while others said
it might make one season and many agreed that starting it in cold
weather would present a real problem using kerosene.
The Rumely Company sent a man by the name of Charley Hire from
Columbia City, Indiana to run the engine for a while. The dent on
the rear portion of the fuel tank in the picture was put there the
first year the engine was out. Mr. Hire was climbing a steep grade
with the engine and separator when he allowed the engine to roll
back letting the separator tongue strike the fuel tank. He ran the
engine the 1913 season and part of the 1914 season. Mr. Hire then
returned to Indiana.
Wheat, kaffir corn and maize threshing was done almost all year
round plus some plowing with 12 bottom 14′ plow. The plowng was
usually done at night after full day of threshing. Elmer Lyon run
the engine almost continually after Mr. Hire returned to Indiana
and he later bought it in 1920. Long threshing runs continued with
large crews maintained by Elmer Lyon. Two 34′ Rumely separators
were wore out by this tractor and a 32′ was being used when
this separator caught fire and was destroyed in 1926. This was
about the time combines were beginning to make a big scene. Hix
Lyon, the brother of Elmer Lyon, purchased another 32 thresher and
used it for two years with the B until he purchased a 30-60 E. The
old B was then parked in 1928. It remained in that same spot for 35
years until, because of several happenings, we decided to restore
it The first job to cut down a native cedar which had grown up
through the frame and was higher than the top of the radiator. The
engine was eally stuck but we finally got it freed up. The piston
were removed, rings freed and the valves ground. Numerous other
things were completed including the construction of a new canopy.
This occured in 1963. The engine now runs perfectly and we have had
several people come by to see it. I am just 18 years old but I take
a great interest in these old engines and I have learned a great
deal about them in the last three years.
The picture I am sending was taken in May of 1966. We enjoy
hearing from others concerning these old gas tractors.
This is Lillian and Frank Hanson and Baby Maxine, 6 months, of
Atwater, Saskatchewan. Canada, on a 25-45 Oil Pull. No. 2179.
This is a Rumely Oil Pull, Engine No. 2851, Model B. That is the
owner, Elmer Lyon, standing beside the tractor.
