28th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1989-09-06, Page 22PAGE A-22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1989.
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28th ANNUAL
Sfe THRESHER REUNION
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28th Annual Thresher Reunion
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It took a lot of effort to fix up this 1911,75-25 Case steam engine but with Warner
(bottom) and Bill Andrews combined talents, the engine is a historical showpiece
that’s displayed at the thresher’s reunion every year. Warner had the knowledge
about the old machine while son Bill had the mechanical skills to do the fixing up.
Keeping big engine
going a family affair
BY USA BOONSTOPPEL
There are two kinds of people that
become steam enthusiasts. First, there are
the old-timers who once worked the land
with these lumbering machines and love to
relive the past. Secondly, there are the
children of the first kind who are used to
modern technology but become enthralled
with the tales and machines of old.
These categories perfectly describe the
father and son team of Warner and Bill
Andrews in Auburn.
Warner is the old-timer who, as a young
man, worked out west in the wheat fields
driving steam engines and harvesting
grain with threshing machines. Bill is the
son who became interested in steam
engines through his father. Together, the
pair has fixed up a 1911, 75-25 Case steam
engine which is identical to the one Warner
used to operate out west.
With Warner’s knowledge of the ma
chine and Bill’s skill in mechanics, they
worked together to remodel the steam
machine which they bought in 1968. The
work that was done to the engine includes
getting the motor unseized, replacing the
flues in the boiler, building a watertank on
the back of the engine, building a roof on
the tractor and resleeving the castings on
the wheels.
“We really enjoyed fixing it all up,’’ said
Bill while Warner proudly revealed that his
name is affixed to the roof of the huge
tractor.
Both men make it a habit to attend the
steam show in Blyth with their big
workhorse. They have been showing the
engine at the show for a couple of years
since it was completed in 1985. They also
show three gas tractors at the show: a 1945
John Deere D tractor they’ve had since
1945 and bought for a dollar; a 1939 Oliver
80 they bought in 1876 for $25 and a
Centaur tractor which they estimate to be
built in the 1940's that they bought last
fall.
Through two men’s fascination with the
power of steam, visitors at the Thresher’s
Reunion are given a chance to see how
much things have changed over the years.
They keep
coming back
Continued from page A-21
between Stratford and Listowel. He has
travelled the 55 miles from Embro to Blyth
for the past 15 years to see the show and
display his 1982 McIntosh model steam
engine. Mr. McIntosh really enjoys the
show because there isn’t such hot weather
in September as there is during some of the
mid-summer shows in other places. “The
weather is so much better in September
than July when you can’t even stand it
outside,’’ he said, “and I like to socialize
down there because I know a lot of
people.’’
Bill Jackson also likes Blyth for the
socializing aspect of the reunion. “I like to
go there because the people are really
friendly. It’s mostly country people up
there and they’ll take the time to talk to
you,” he said. Mr. Jackson lives at RR 1,
Wyoming which is approximately 85 miles
away from Blyth towards Sarnia. He comes
down with his wife and they camp at Blyth
for the weekend. He said that Blyth always
has something going on all the time which
is a real attraction. A
Always running are the various steam
engines on display at the reunion. One man
who’s busy in this area is Ernie Allen from
Mitchell. “When you have your machine
there you don’t see much of the show but I
really like getting together with the guys
who have the machines,” he said. Since
the show features over 10 steam engines
every year, there are many steam engine
owners to converse with.
And to the 28th Reunion of the
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby
Association
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BLYTH 52B4202
Herb VanAmersfoort
28th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion
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