HomeMy WebLinkAbout31st Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Association 1992 Reunion, 1992-09-09, Page 4PAGE A-4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992.
First traction engine built in Seaforth in 1901
Continued from A-3
NEW HAMBURG MFG. CO.
Samuel Mermer, a native of Switzerland,
moved to New Hamburg, Ontario, in 1838 to
open a blacksmith shop for shaping out
pioneer tools.
Mermer's business grew, and by the early
1890's his son, Simson Mermer, had begun
turning out limited numbers of portable
engines.
In 1897, the firm was reorganized as the
New Hamburg Manufacturing Company and
began the manufacture of "Hamburg"
portable and traction engines.
All the "Hamburg" traction engines were
of the sidemounted type, with the boiler
mounted on springs placed on top of the axle
and between axle brackets. The firm built
only simple engines, with the Woolf single
eccentric reverse gear, Gardner spring
governor and expanding friction clutch with
three large wooden shoes.
Due to financial problems, the company
folded in 1918.
N. C. PETERSON & SONS
In 1857, Norris Conrad Peterson
established a blacksmith shop in the then
frontier town of Sarnia. Business grew and a
small foundry, a machine shop and boiler
shop were quickly added. After his sons
entered the firm, the foundry became known
as the N. C. Peterson and Sons Engine
Works.
In 1884, the first Peterson portable steam
engine was built and quickly followed by the
first traction engines. These engines were
wood-burning of the round water bottom
locomotive types. For a straw burning
engine, the company later switched to the
rear mounted return flue type.
In 1901, after N. C. Peterson's retirement,
his sons closed the Samia plant to move the
company to Winnipeg. No Peterson engines
were ever built in Winnipeg.
ROBERT BELL
In 1899, Robert Bell established the
Robert Bell Engine and Thresher Company
in Seaforth, Ontario.
To meet the demand for self propelled
steam threshing engines, Mr. Bell obtained
permission from the Port Huron Engine &
Thresher Company, of Port Huron,
Michigan, to build their engines in Canada.
The first traction engine was built in the
Seaforth plant in 1901. These well
proportioned side mounted engines with
their long smoke boxes and corrugated self
cleaning drive wheels were only altered in
minor details. They were a popular sight in
Ontario for the next 30 years.
The last complete new engine was
manufactured at the plant in 1928, but
engines were rebuilt and repaired for some
years after.
SAWYER & MASSEY
When John Fisher moved from New York
State in 1835, he built a small shop in the
pioneer hamlet of Hamilton. The firm of
Fisher and McQuestern was destined to
become one of the largest threshing
machinery industries in Canada.
After the death of John Fisher in 1856, the
name was changed to L. D. Sawyer and
company. In the early 1860's the company
began making portable steam engines.
In 1892, H. A. Massey, president of
Massey-Harris Co., became associated with
the firm and the name was changed to
Sawyer-Massey Company, Limited. All the
engines built after 1910 had the Sawyer-
Massey in large letters forming a complete
circle on the smoke box door.
The first portables and early traction
engines were of the return flue type. In the
late 1880's a change was made to the open
bottom, locomotive type boiler without a
dome.
Postwar conditions in the 1920's caused
the firm to concentrate their production on
other ventures and their threshing machinery
soon became only a memory.
WATERLOO MFG. CO.
In 1850, Jacob Bricker opened a small
shop in Waterloo manufacturing pioneer
tools and implements.
In the early 1880's, he began
experimenting with steam power, and
equipped his plant to build portable steam
engines of the return flue type.
In 1888, E. W. B. Snider purchased the
plant operated by Mr. Bricker and the near
by foundry owned by Samuel Mermer.
Combining the two under the name of
Waterloo Manufacturing Company, he
began manufacturing the trademark "Lion
Brand", with the face of a lion cast on the
smoke box door.
The early traction engines were side
mounted, with the boiler resting on springs
and the counter shaft mounted on a strong
angle steel frame extending around the front
of the firebox from one rear wheel bracket to
the other. The engines were of the side crank
type mounted with the cylinder at the
smokebox end.
In 1925, Waterloo Mfg. Co. built their last
new steam traction engine.
WATEROUS CO.
In 1844, Philip C. Van Brocklin built a
small foundry and machine shop to
manufacture pioneer agricultural implements
in Brantford.
In 1849, Charles H. Waterous entered the
firm, and by 1860 the firm became known as
C. H. Waterous and Company. In 1874, the
company was incorporated as The Waterous
Engine Works Company Limited.
The Waterous company possessed the
Canadian patent rights for the Champion
engine, and over 1,800 upright Champions
were sold. The Waterous firm pioneered in
the Canadian steam traction field, coming
out with its first traction engine in 1881.
The last new steam traction engine built
by the Waterous firm was in 1911.
GEORGE WHITE & SONS CO.
George White arrived in London, Ontario
in 1857 from Devonshire, England, where he
began farming on a hundred acres of land.
Mr. White's knowledge of ironworking
became in such demand, he decided to move
into the city and open a blacksmith and
general repair shop. His small shop steadily
grew and soon became known as the Forest
City Machine Works.
In the early 1870’s, he completed his first
portable farm engine, which was quickly
followed by many hundreds more until the
White's threshing engine was known from
coast to coast.
In the Mid 1890's, the White factory built
a number of traction engines of the return
flue type using the U.S. Huber as a pattern.
The George White steam engines were
simple and built plain and sturdy, with no
fancy fittings.
The last new machine was built in 1924,
Welcome to Blyth’s 31st Annual Thresher Reunion
A memorable collection of antiques and gifts
awaits you at...
Srmrmbrr Wljrn...
Blyth
523-9554
Turn West on Dinsley St.
Second house on the right
HAUGHOLM BOOKS
Brucefield, Ontario
(519) 522-0248 Allan J. Haugh
CLASSIC TRACTOR, CAR & GAS ENGINE BOOKS
Decal sets for older tractors
and gas engines
Always open, if home, but please call first
1 mile east of Brucefield on Cty. Rd. #3
WELCOME
to the
31st Annual Thresher Reunion
The Green Gallery specializes in
Custom Framing, Limited Edition
Prints, Paintings, Frames & Austin
Sculptures.
BLYTH Prop. Sheila Rintoul 523-4944
but engines were repaired and rebuilt for
many years after.
Gas tractors on
display at event
The big steam engines may be the
showpiece of the Thresher Reunion, but the
little gas tractors have grown to be one of the
largest and most colourful of the displays on
show.
Jeff Thomson, of Auburn is once again in
charge of the tractor display. Jeff has been
involved with the show for six or seven
years and in charge of the tractor displays
for the past couple of years.
Continued on A-5
Best Wishes
Threshers & Friends
Don & Cathy Dunbar & Family and
Paul & Karen Cook & Family
DUNBAR & COOK
ELECTRIC LTD.
Don Paul
526-7505 357-1537
WELCOME TO THE 31st THRESHERS REUNION
Lots of
In-store specials,20°/o^orewiDE
” SALE STARTS WEDNESDAY
SEPT. 9/92
Be sure to enter your name in our draw
for a clock lamp or large brass elephant.
Draw to be made Saturday at 6 p.m.— —
BLYTH VARIETY QUeeL^ s 523-4910