Susan Went Back To The Eye Doctor Today

She had surgery last Thursday, and had extensive work done directly on the retina, plus laser tacks, and a gas bubble.  She will be mostly blind in that eye until the gas bubble is replaced by fluid.  Today they tested the vision in both eyes, and the one they worked on can't even see the big E. That brought to mind a little inspiration I had many years ago when we were having repeated retinal surgeries.

Orpheus At The Eye Doctor

Biannually, that's twice a year
Pile in the car, put it in gear
In the early morning mist,
Go see the ophthalmologist.

My wife, our boy, her parents, too
I always take the whole darn crew
The Doctor is of course, elated
To have a family dilated

Can, can you see the next line, can you
See the next line, can you?
I sincerely hope you can!
Can you see the Big E?
That one should be easy!
Oh Dear, can you count the fingers on my hand?

Today, Susan could see movement when the tech wiggled fingers, but could not count them, or see them.  If we weren't familiar with how eye surgeries go, I would be nervous.

Tuesday Torque: A Couple Of Nice Models

You will see numerous model engines when you visit Rollag.  The flame licker and the Gade air cooled were a couple that caught my eye.

Life Was Simpler Then?

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam Bonus: Big Rumely

This Rumely is one of the big engines at the Western Minnesota Threshers Reunion at Rollag, Minnesota.  There are also a bunch of gas and kerosene prairie tractors at this show. 

Weekend Steam: Steamboating!

Merle picked a good one!  Thanks, Merle!

Face Down

Eye surgery today.  Susan's left eye developed macular holes and repair work has been done.  She has to stay face down for three days, but that is better than her retinal surgeries twenty years ago when it was six weeks.  Her bad eye will now be her good eye, but she should be able to see pretty well.

This Video Will Give You Collector Itch!

So, this guy's neighbor says an excavator has been sitting in his woods for sixteen years, and he wants it to leave.  What a deal, if you have the skills to pull it off!

Ruger's Auctions To Benefit The Light Foundation and The USA Shooting Team

                                                                           $2005
There are a couple of good ones again this week!  The Mini-14 was not a cataloged item, and is an example of the Minis that Ruger made for the Oklahoma State Patrol.  (NOT Ohio, as in the writeup.  A correction is included on the GunBroker page just above the description.)  Interest is high, so take a deep breath before CLICKING HERE or on the photo.

                                                                             $660
The price appears to be a bit more tolerable on this new P90 Decocker in .45 ACP.  CLICK HERE to read all about it and to place that winning bid.

Tuesday Torque: 125 HP De La Vergne Engine...

...at Rollag, Minnesota.  They acquired this engine in 1976.  The flywheels are 9 feet in diameter! This video is the second upload.  It is in Hi Def, and I added a shot of the exhaust stack at the end.

IHC M and Feed Mill at Rollag, Minnesota

                                      Back To The Old Grind!

Looks Like Fall To Me

The Sun won't cross the Equator until the wee hours of the morning, but today, the sun had crossed over to the south side of our east-west county blacktop.  Close enough for me!

Weekend Steam: Engine 353 At Rollag

Engine 353 is a standard gauge 0-6-0 and it pulls carloads of happy people all through the Labor Day weekend show every year.  No Charge for riding!  I recommend you be there on Friday if you wish to ride, because on Saturday the lines are long.

Nearly On The Centerline

Dark time is soon coming.

Ruger's Benefit Auctions Of The Week

                                                                            $1135
This Round Butt, 2 3/4" Speed Six in .38 Special was made in 1983 and never left the factory.  It is a new gun that has been stored in Ruger's vault these many years.  CLICK HERE to read the description and to bid.

                                                                            $1502
This M77 in .375 H & H Magnum is a beauty.  It was built in January 1992 and shipped to a distributor, who returned it for unknown reasons four years later.  The closeup photos on Ruger's website look really good.  Be ready for Moose if they show up at your squirrel feeder!  CLICK HERE to read all about it and to place your bid.

Both of these fine firearms will sell mid-day, Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

Tuesday Torque: 600 HP Snow Engine At Rollag

Volunteers from the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers took on this project in 1992 and moved the Snow engine from Pennsylvania to Rollag.  The twin to this engine is at the Coolspring museum in Pennsylvania.  The opening photo of this video has information about the size of this engine.

Let'z Be Productive This Week!

                                                              Back To The Old Grind!

Murray Corliss Flour Mill Engine at Rollag

This Murray Corliss Engine is on display at Rollag, Minnesota.  It powered a flour mill at Freeport, Minnesota for fifty years, and during that time, the rope drive had to be replaced only one time.  Study this drive system; it is really neat!

Weekend Steam: Great Dorset Steam Fair, Parts 1 & 2

Merle picked a great double this week.  Thank You, Merle!

Attempted Robbery In Philadelphia...

Study this video and see the good things and the mistakes.  Every violent encounter you have will be a new experience, so figure on making mistakes.  You have to stay ahead of the curve to prevail, so train and practice.  I am guessing that the clerk has had little self defense training, even though his first shot was good.  He drew against a drawn gun and made what appears to be a central nervous system hit.  He shot again, and I can't tell if he hit or missed, but from that point on this video shows panic and lack of training.

The video is on LiveLeak, and I can't find an embed code, so CLICK HERE or on the photo for the link to the video.

PS: No checking for accomplices or moves to cover, no reload after expending his ammunition, and then he goes out the door with gun in hand.  Don't do that.  A man with a gun coming out the door from a robbery...write your own script.

The Angry American, Toby Keith

Ruger's Auctions Of The Week

Ruger is offering two great firearms this week!  The Fiftieth Anniversary Ruger .357 Blackhawk Flattop is being sold to benefit the Light Foundation; The Stainless Ruger Mini-Thirty is being sold to benefit the USA Shooting Team.  Both will sell mid-day, Wednesday, September 11, 2019.  Click the photos to go to the auction sites.

                                                                          $655

                                                                     $1275

Where Were You? Alan Jackson

No Time To Kill, Clint Black

Tuesday Tonnage: WMSTR Steam Hammer

I should have asked questions, but this is the first steam hammer that I have seen, and I could not think intelligently.  Merle has helped, since he has experience around machines like this, and he says it is probably less than a ten ton hammer.  Thanks, Merle!



This baby shakes the ground when it comes down. The steam hammer is located by the Montana Boiler on the show grounds at Rollag, Minnesota.

We Love Corn, So...

...we shuck it, shell it, shred it, grind it, and on and on.  We couldn't live without it!

Back To The Old Grind! Gas Engine area at the Rollag MN show.

Coffee Break's Over; Back On Your Heads!

Rollag was a great getaway, and I walked five miles every day on the showgrounds, according to my phone, which keeps track of that.  As I neared home, Susan called me to let me know that the roofers were going to be at the farm in the morning to start ripping off the old shingles, and that I needed to cut branches and a few trees to improve access around the house.  The phone says that cutting and dragging brush caused me to walk six miles!  I'm feeling it! I am reminded of the poor fellow who is choosing where he will stay in purgatory, and picks a place where everyone is enjoying a cup of coffee.  No sooner than he picks his fate and Coffee Break's Over!

The roof is done, and I have ash trees to take down now, because of emerald ash borer, but that is going to wait because we are digging out a downspout drain pipe that is plugged. 

Many Things To Share From Rollag

There are buildings full of many wonderful things at the Western Minnesota Threshers Reunion.  This brief video is from the Hot Air Engine Shed.

Weekend Steam: Steam In The West Highlands

This makes me want to visit Scotland!  Another great pick by Merle!  Thank You, Merle!

Fun Times At Rollag

We had a grate time at Rollag! (Grates are sitting on the platform of a Minneapolis.) I walked five miles every day around the grounds and did not see everything.

One of the engines of interest is this Advance straw burner.  The firebox is set up differently than wood and coal burners, with a brick arch to keep the fuel from being pulled too quickly out the flues.  I never saw any of these in Iowa, where coal and wood could be had easily.  You have to really be on your toes to fire with straw, but that is what they did in the early days of agriculture on the plains.

While looking at the straw burner I noticed this sign.  I had been hearing rumors about Women of Steam, and Women Teaching Women About Steam at Rollag.  Someone said they even publish a calendar.

The Queen contest is for real, but I don't know how the winner is chosen.  Probably involves shoveling coal or filling grease cups!

And, Here is Lilly, the Queen of Steam at Rollag this year.  How often do you see work boots, overalls and a tiara?

Many Thanks to John In Philly for the link in his comment to an article about Women Of Steam.

Why Wait For The Weekend?! Kory Anderson's Case 150 At Rollag

I'm home from Rollag and just beginning to review my photos and video.  I gathered up the clips from the Case 150 and assembled a video to review the highlight of the Rollag show. Click the icon in the lower right corner to bring it up to full screen.



Here are the numbers from the Prony Brake. They were running a new belt that was not heavy enough for this engine, and at 171 HP it was slipping.

Ruger's Auction; A Double!

Ruger is offering two firearms from their vault for sale this week!  The Single-Six in .17 HMR will benefit the USA Shooting team, and the PC9 Carbine will benefit the Light Foundation.  Click on the photos to go to the links to read all about these guns and to place your bid.  Both firearms will sell mid-day, Wednesday, September 3, 2019

                                                                                    $633

                                                                               $705                         

Tuesday Torque: I Went To A Show!

I went to Rollag with friends and saw many wonderful things, and loaded up several SD cards. This 3 HP Gade is one of hundreds of engines running in the gas engine area.

Give It A Rest

                                                                  No Work Today!