1

Threshing has been a way of life for Pontiac County farmers; here, Norval McNeil's oat crop goes in
1974
Clarendon, Quebec

Credits:
photo by Elke Bzdurreck

2

Eric hauls the oats from the field to the threshing mill
1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video still by Robert Wills

3

By 1993's Threshing Bee, Eric had three steam engines in service. The Sawyer-Massey portable, vintage approximately 1896, must be drawn into place by a team of horses or a tractor; hence the name portable. It is fitted with a seat up front and a shaft for horse team. The larger Case engine was made in Racine, Wisconsin. Later, Eric refitted a Sawyer-Massey traction engine. It is nearly a mate to the portable, but slightly older, as Eric noted, marked by the fact that the crankwheel is solid, not spoked as in the portable. This was a design feature of about 1896.

The Sawyer-Masseys are rated at 17 Hp, by the old rating method. This derives from the older power source for agricultural machinery, the horse. Walking in a circle, pushing a drive arm, the horse(s) could power saws, threshers, etc. The Sawyer-Massey was estimated to be the equivalent of 17 horses hooked up in such a manner, although actually doing so would have been impractical. The Case, being of later vintage, was rated at 45 Hp, by the mathematical calculation of 3200 foot-pounds of motive power. As Eric pointed out, the Sawyers would be rated at approximately 50~60 Hp by this method, and even then, the rating would vary with steam pressure. These steam engines could operate between 80~125 pounds of pressure.

4

the steam-powered threshing bee, from engine through feeding, to bagging the oats
Sep. 1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video by Robert Wills

5

The Sawyer-Massey portable steam engine in action at the Threshing Bee
Sep. 1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Marilee DeLombard

6

Eric talks with the engineer at the Steam-Powered Threshing Bee
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo courtesy Keith McNally

7

A long belt separates the engine from the very flammable chaff pile
12 September 1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Marilee DeLombard

8

A view of the Steam-Powered Threshing Bee from the loft of the Campbells' barn
Aug 1994
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
video by Robert Wills

9

Lunch break; the bearded visitor is an Amish farmer who appreciates steam power
1994
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Robert Wills

10

Forking the sheaves of oats into the thresher
Sep. 1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Marilee DeLombard

11

Dr. Rogers forks sheaves into the thresher
1994
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Robert Wills

12

One of two McCormick-Deering threshing mills in action at the first Threshing Bee, in 1992
12 September 1992
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Marilee DeLombard

13

The scene at the Steam-Powered Threshing Bee
Aug 1994
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photo by Robert Wills

14

Eric Campbell, organizer of the Steam-Powered Threshing Bees
Aug. 1993
Farm of Eric and Evelyn Campbell

Credits:
photograph by Robert Wills