Bucking Firewood

 We have been busy, so I have not been working on firewood as I should. I went out today and ran a couple of tanks through the saws. There is plenty more to buck, and then we will be splitting and stacking. This video is Part I.

Tuesday Torque: A.O. Smith Motor Wheel

 Merle found another great topic today, and it is one that I have not seen before. The engine hobby is still coming up with surprises for me sixty years since I became infatuated. Thank You, Merle!

Life Goes On

 Last week we sent one Schip, Jewelz, out to her new home in Michigan, and we buried Jack Friday evening, after he died unexpectedly. Hemangiosarcoma is deadly, and we did not know he had it until the post-mortem exam. But, life goes on. We have fosters Atlas, Sophie and Poppy, plus our own pack of Ranger, Mina, Vinnie, Buster, and Teddy, who does not know he isn't a Schipperke. 

A joy, not a grind!

Lift The Rock, Bring Up The Crock!

 We were busy last week, so the kraut worked for 52 days this time, and it is delicious. Susan canned 19 pints, and we have fresh sauerkraut in the fridge.

Weekend Steam II: Let's Go To Sydney....

 Built in 1901, this vessel is a masterpiece if ever there was one! Many thanks to Merle for spotting this beauty!

Weekend Steam: Cute, But Not Even Close!

 Funny One, Merle! The comments are good reading on Facebook.

The boiler is: "Peerless Magnarc arc lamp as used in Cinema projectors"

Schipperke Jack, July 25, 2024

 Little Jack has been one of our companions since early 2018. His owner passed away and he was badly in need of a home. He became a permanent foster. Jack was a sensitive dog, and stayed with his owner in his final days. In the last few days we could see that Jack was tired, and had picked up a bit of weight. He went to the doctor today, but nothing unusual was evident, other than his temp was a few degrees below normal. We went out for a while this evening, and Jack passed away in his kennel while we were gone. He was a good dog and he will be missed. 

A Sweet Foster Schip, Out The Door!

 Jewelz was an owner surrender due to sad circumstances. She is one of the rare, perfect little dogs that came in housebroken, crate trained, well mannered, and following commands. A man and wife who had just buried their twenty-year-old Schipperke (adopted through Midwest Schipperke Rescue many years ago) submitted an application at about the same time we took Jewelz in. They made a long trip to meet and greet us and the dog, and she went home with them today. It was a perfect match of people and dog. Having kept Jewelz for just a month, our separation sorrow this time is not worth mentioning, except she is going way up north where there is lake effect snow. Schips can handle that, and the cold weather, too, but these northern adoptions always bring Bob Dylan's song to mind....

Tuesday Torque: Lister Diesels, Better Late Than Never!

 We had company for a couple days, so I must apologize for posting late. Merle sent Lister as a suggestion, and there are several videos available on YouTube. Thank you, Merle!

Stop And Smell The Flowers!

Surprise Lilies are up early this year. Back To The Old Grind!
 

Repairs And Spares

 My Ruger Mk III broke down one week ago. I diagnosed the problem easily when I tore the gun down. Coils had fallen off the firing pin rebound spring. Oscillation within the firing pin channel evidently wore some spots thin on the spring. I called Ruger's factory in Prescott, Arizona Monday afternoon, and the parts arrived Friday. The nice lady who waited on me knew the products well, and took care of me quickly.

The pistol went back together in a few minutes, and I will test it out tomorrow. I need to figure a way to store the spares in the grip of one of the pistols, so I can find them if I have this problem again. 

Weekend Steam II: Adrian, Missouri Steam And Gas Engine Show

 Great video by Someplace Or Another.

Weekend Steam: Shooting An Anvil

Launching an anvil with black powder makes for a great spectacle and noise. It has been done to celebrate Independence Day when no cannon was available to cheer celebrants, or just to wake up the entire community on the Fourth of July. @SomeplaceOrAnother has posted this brief video, and it needs a bit of explanation. 

 One anvil is placed upside down, and is settled in as level as possible. The base of this anvil is charged with black powder. Start small while practicing. Lay a cannon fuse into the powder and leave a long tail so you can back way off before the powder goes off. Caulking compound can be applied around the edge of the anvil to make a good seal for the upright anvil, which you will carefully set down on the first one.  Clear the area around the anvils of spectators, light the fuse, and back off. 

Baby And Mama

 Our mama we watch every year has twins again, and they play regularly in the back yard. The little critters are progressing nicely. 

Possums Are Taking Over!

 Squatters have taken over a groundhog den in the barn! Get rid of one problem, and another always shows up.

Tuesday Torque: 6 HP Bullseye Sideshaft Engine

 Thank You, Merle. I was able to find the same engine on YouTube!

And...running with a few of its friends!

Squibs Caused By....

 I had a squib yesterday, and the bullet struck the target, so I shot again, with no bullet strike. I checked the bore and the bullet was a couple inches from the muzzle.  It punched out easily, I went back to shoot, and had another squib. Three in succession had to be an equipment issue. 

I have seen light strikes cause ignition problems before, and that was my suspicion. I pulled the bolt and found that the firing pin rebound spring had shed some coils. That causes the firing pin to not be struck properly when the hammer falls. Gotta call Prescott in the morning to order a replacement and a few spares.

It's always something. Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: Kory Anderson's Case 150....Be There!

  Anderson Industries LLC

We are just a couple weeks away from the Dodge County Antique Power Club 8/2-8/4 . We are coming back a second time with more demonstrations, events, and incredible merchandise! Kory will be hosting a banquet Saturday night at the Springbrook Event Center too (tickets available soon!).

**On Friday and Saturday morning at 10:00am, Kory will be offering coffee & donuts , along with an interesting steam talk, followed by rides on the 150 Case! If you're interested, get your ticket here: https://square.link/u/ULXxltfV Ticket includes a FREE 150 Case tumbler. Can’t wait to see you at the show!

*Picture below is the 150 Case along the trail at the Springbrook Event Center!!

Text, links, and photo from Anderson Industries LLC Facebook post.

Surprise T-Storms

 We went to the range for practice yesterday and had a surprise storm deliver 9/10 of an inch while we were gone. That made for three rains of 9/10 in one week! The garden and the crops appreciate it. We are getting another little one Friday noon, and it will probably be another 1/10. Nice weather for July, when the grass usually begins to die. Here's a bit of the rain we got from Hurricane Beryl. 

Side Lean Past The Limit? Something Will Fail!

 The back lean was too much to wedge, but the tractor could handle it. There was not enough room to get the tractor squared away, so I had six feet of side lean. That would never hold if you were wedging, but the tractor can push quickly, so I went ahead. The tree stayed off the barn, but some splitting occurred at the hinge. A 90 segment tree is relatively safe with about one foot of side lean. Six was well past my maximum! A good lesson to tuck away!

The Hurricane Will Come Through Your Neighborhood...A Week From Tuesday.

 There is always a good warning with hurricanes. It came over us today, and is almost done slobbering on us. We heeded the warning and dug our taters. They did really well this year. 

Tuesday Torque: Looking For Steam Innovations

 Many Thanks to Merle for spotting this post on Facebook! Steam powered cars are always being thought about by a few, but the ultimate happened with Doble steamers early in the Twentieth Century, and Doble disappeared in 1931. Jay Leno has a couple Dobles in his collection, and you can't help but be impressed by the century-old sophistication. It is much more than a Stanley!

Bolton Peck

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Presented for your consideration is this Stanley Steam engine. In 1906, a production Stanley Steamer was the first vehicle to reach 127mph. This record for steam propelled speed was held for 103 years, til another steam powered rig broke it in 2009.

The Stanley brothers made cars with aluminum bodies and later, tubular steel frames-before 1920.

Efficient and safe, the Stanley Steamer had no neutral, no clutch or transmission because the broad torque curve and four power strokes per 360 degrees of crank rotation (like a gas 8 cylinder) provided by its double acting two cylinder engine meant it didn't need one. Engine power was routed directly to the rear differential. Also of note is that there was never a single documented case of a Stanley Steamer boiler exploding. Each one was wrapped in three layers of piano wire; tested to twice its nominal 600PSI operating pressure at the factory before being installed.

A combination of ICE electric starting and increased power output, and the Stanley brothers' inability to garner sufficient advertising and marketing momentum while mandating only 1000 cars a year be made, meant that internal combustion engines took over. Funny how it took Mercedes Benz over a thousand cubic inches of four banger to equal on the track, what the Stanley did with just 20 rated horsepower and two 4 inch bore x 5 inch stroke cylinders.

However, looking at this kerosene burning design, it could be a very effective machine with modern computer controls. It's much easier to control fuel combustion in a continuous Bunsen burner style boiler than it is with the continuously variable demands of what goes on inside a piston engine.

A modern, steam powered vehicle like this could be a compelling option.

Check out Jay Leno's 1925 Doble!

This Week's Assignment: Buck, Split, Stack

 Back To The Old Grind!

Sassafras Pushovers

Here are a couple trees that died, just on the edge of the yard and leaning toward the power line that goes around the garden. Rot, and limited room for wedging means that pulling or pushing were the options to use.

Weekend Steam: Christine North Dakota, Threshing And Steam Engines

 An old Super Eight film was found at a threshing show in North Dakota, and it is a great look into the not so distant past. Merle spotted it, and we thank him profusely! I will post information from the YouTube post under the video.

This 8mm film reel was found in a cabinet at the LRPTA (Dalton, MN) threshing show., Tim Larson

"Once owned by the late Daniel Anderson. This 35hp Buffalo Pitts engine was originally bought new in 1905 by the late Jacob Johnson of Christine, ND. who used the engine for custom threshing for some 28 years. "

"Carl and Joseph Anderson bought the engine in 1938, and it was still in the family and owned by Carl’s son Daniel Anderson until 2014 when it was sold by auction. Except for one year, from 1939 until the spring of 1967 the Andersons used their 1905 Buffalo Pitts engine to thresh grain. The unique part is Andersons always stacked-threshed and always threshed with steam on their farm for 87 years, from 1880 to 1967. Think of this, the Rollag Steam Show had been operating some 12 to 13 years when Andersons quit threshing. During the years the Andersons threshed with their 1905 35hp Buffalo Pitts. They used mainly straw for fuel in firing the engine. Other fuels used have been wood with rubber tires, wood only, but no coal.  From 2005 till 2014, it was the only engine fired by straw on the Rollag Showground’s. This 1905 35hp Buffalo Pitts sat idle from 1967 until 1995 when repairs were done before heading for Steamer Hill at Rollag. In 2015, this engine and rebuilt straw and water tender (restored by Daniel and Gerry Stange), was up for auction and was bought by Jered Ruble of Forrest City, IA. The engine stayed on the WMSTR show grounds for another 2 years, then moved to Iowa. This information provided was from excerpts of the article about this 1905 35hp Buffalo Pitts Steam Engine written by Richard Birklid in the 1995 WMSTR Show book and information given from Karl Stange."

Paul Harvey: The Declaration Of Independence

Sally's Daylilies (and More!)

Susan and her friend, Sally, have collaborated on their daylilies for years; visiting gardens, sharing plants, and comparing notes. We visited Sally the other day and took a couple hundred pictures. Sally does not have the problem with deer that we currently have, so her flower garden is glorious right now. 

Titan And Bear, Fosters in 2017

 Titan and Bear were joys to have with us. Bear had heartworms, and we kept him through his treatment. Both were happy little dogs. Bear was a cuddler and Titan had boundless energy. Titan went east, and Bear went out to the Rockies. 

How Do You Like Them Apples?

 We planted apple, pear, and plum trees about forty years ago after we moved to the farm, and they are at the end of their lives. The plums and all but one of the apple trees are done for. We still have three good pear trees. Susan is planning to order trees to rebuild our orchard for next spring.  You gotta use your shovels, or they will rust away, you know!

The wood is split, and the hollow sections have been hollowed out a bit more, and an angle is cut on each one. We will have them set up for migrating birds to use on their Fall trip.

Tuesday Torque: Mogul Tractors, 15-30 and 30-60

 What could be easier? If you want to double your horsepower, double your cylinders! That is what IHC did with their Mogul tractors.  The single cylinder is a 15-30, the two cylinder opposed version is a 30-60. Thank You, Merle!