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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen-Thresher Reunion, 2004-09-09, Page 55Digging with steam f Pllus- oUR COWL W0045.2 • o a,Arftic • ANGUARD ST Congratulations Huron Pioneer Thresher & Hobby Assoc. on your 43rd Reunion ENSALL !STRICT 0 OPERATIVE Proud to be Farmer-Owned Londesboro Seaforth 523-4470 522-1000 Hensall 262-3002 / 1-800-265-5190 PEAK Investment Services Inc. Clinton • Teeswater Goderich • Kincardine M.G.M. Townsend Tire We were pleased to provide the tires for this tractor. Owned by the late Aubrey McNichol. Built by Ron Root Watch for it at the Thresher Reunion Welcomes you to the 43rd Annual Pioneer Thresher Reunion We sell, service and install new or used tires for antique tractors and implements. Londesboro 519-523-4742 S holdice FINANCIAL SERVICES Susan Alexander, CFP Certified Financial Planner Doug Sholdice 472 Turnberry St. PO Box 69 Brussels, Ontario NOG 1H0 Phone: 519-887-2662 Toll Free: 1-866-887-2662 Fax: 519-887-2671 Email: alexander@ezlink.ca Enjoy the 43rd Annual Thresher Reunion Fuel • Lubricants • Home Comfort Watch for our: FALL LUBE SALE starting next week. PAGE A-22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2004. Thresher Reunion 2004 Steam shovel makes second appearance 26 steam shovel, owned by Teeswater Concrete, will be returning to this year's Thresher Reunion and will give an exciting demonstration. (Elyse DeBruyn photo) •An Erie Type B 1925 - By Elyse DeBruyn Citizen staff Although it will be its second appearance at the 43rd annual Thresher Reunion, owners of an Erie type "B" steam shovel, one of the last of its kind, are looking forward to this year's demonstration. The steam shovel is a late 1925 - 26 model that belongs to employees at Teeswater Concrete and was discovered in January 2001 in Emlenton. PA. A steam shovel is an early mechanical device of excavating material including gravel, streets and quarries The type B Erie shovel was built • CABLE • ROPE • CHAIN from CABLE • Galvanized Cable 1/1.6° to 5/16' • Wire Rope 3/8' to 3/4' • Stainless Steel Cable 1/16" -1/4" • PVC Cable 1/8' - 3/16' Clear & White Coat • Polypropylene ROPE -1/4° to 112' Anti-Theft Security Chain • Nylon 1/4°, 1/2', 5/8", 1° • Hemp 1/2", 3/4°, Mr, 1' Wide range of thimbles, shackles, cable clamps, etc Custom-made LOGGING CHOKERS Above are stock items Other sizes and grades available by order 519-524-9671 53 Victoria South, Goderich occur. Jamie Armstrong, an employee from Teeswater Concrete, said he had been wanting a steam shovel "for a long time" and since he grew up "working around steam," he wanted something that "would complement our business." In February 2000, he hear,d of an Ohio man who had recently donated his steam shovel to a museum. Armstrong acted quickly and contacted the man right away. "I asked if he knew of any other available machines. Fortunately he kneNV one more person and gave me the contact information," said Armstrong. He said he was thrilled when he found one and was able to purchase it, although after a lot of restoration, he isn't exactly sure how much the steam shovel is worth. "It's either worthless or priceless," Armstrong laughed. "We aren't really quite sure how much it's worth." Restoration began in the spring of 2001 with a new welded boiler supplied and installed on a new machine deck. A new wooden cab with steel roof along with all engines, swing and travel mechanisms were restored to "like new" conditions. Service 10 a.m. Sunday The 43rd Annual Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association is hosting a non-denominational church service on the Main Stage, Sunday Sept. 12 for, the campers, community and all interested in a music-filled sermon. DOn Vair of the Westfield Fellowship Hour Church will be making his 12th appearance as speaker for the 10 a.m. service. The soothing voices of Gladys Van Egmond, Leona McBride and Susan Van Egmond will sing.In The Garden and How Long Has It Been. Dave Chittick, emcee. for the musicians and conductor of the service, said a dedication service to the Houston family will be presented as well. Everyone is invited to attend. It is bound to be an uplifting service. The main boom, dipper stick, bucket and crowd engine were also dismantled, refurbished and refitted to the machihe. The coal bin and water tank were rebuilt and installed and "schedule 80" steam piping was installed throughout. Armstrong said the success of this restoration project must be credited to the many hard workers who had the desire to preserve a part of early construction heritage. He said this machine was one of the last built before internal combustion took over the industry. He explained that the steam shovels were only built in production from 1915 - 27. "Technology wasn't available prior to 1915 and internal combustion took over in the 1920s." by the Ball Engine Co. in Erie, PA. The machine is powered by steam supplied by a vertical type boiler 45 inches in diameter and 88 inches tall. The fuel is normally coal, but wood is also used in some engines as well. The 125 PSI steam supplies power to the three two-cylinder reversing type engines which operate the hoisting, travel, swing and dipper stick operations. The working weight of the machine is about 55,000 lbs and is fitted with a standard three-quarter cubic yard bucket. The rated capacity is 50 - 60 cubic yards per hour. It takes about one hour to build up enough steam before excavating can I !d!