Hi everyone,
More plate inserts picking up where I left off.
2001 Insert
The Gaar Scott Line
The Gaar Scott Company was founded in 1842 by Jonas Gaar and his sons, Abram and
John, and his son-in-law, William Scott. The company was based in Richmond, Indiana.
and was a leading manufacturer of threshing machines and steam engines until 1911
when purchased by the
Rumley Company.
Rumley continued to manufacture steam
engines under the Gaar Scott name until 1914.
Two Gaar Scott engines have been exhibited at Rollag. Both engines are 25 horsepower
on the drawbar and 75 horsepower on the belt. One is a single and the other is a double
cylinder. Floyd Brudevold brought the single cylinder to Rollag in 1967 where it has
been operated each year since 1968. This engine is now owned by Darrel Brudevold.
The 25-75 hp. double simple Gaar Scott engine exhibited at Rollag was purchased in
1926 by two of the Nelson brothers, Hartvig and Christ Nelson. She was built in 1912.
Norman Nelson brought Hartvig's share in 1930. Norman had been the fireman for his
older brother and became the engineer in 1930. She was teamed with a 40-inch Case
threshing machine. Norman, as engineer, and his brother, William Nelson, as the
threshing boss, continued to thresh in the Rollag area until 1937 when the Gaar Scott was
replaced by a 20-35 Twin City gas tractor.
Norman had a life long love affair with steam so after only two years of the Gaar Scott
being retired; he steamed up the Gaar Scott to thresh for one last day in September 1940.
William recorded the event in his poem, "When the Last Long Whistle Blew". A few
neighbors came to watch the Nelson boys play with steam that day. As it turned out, it
was not the last day for the Gaar Scott but the beginning of the Rollag steam show. After
World War II was over, the Gaar Scott was fired up again for a day of steam threshing
nearly ever year prior to the official beginning of the WMSTR in 1954. She has been
operated at every show since 1954 and led the morning and afternoon parades for
decades.
The Gaar Scott has been an exceptional engine over the years with very few problems.
Frequently, she runs the parade route without the need for water or fuel, always
responding to a light touch on the controls. Recently, it was discovered that the years had
taken their toll and thin areas in the boiler required a major reduction in steam pressure.
In 2000, the boiler was replaced with a Canadian boiler obtained from Bob Anderson of
Manitoba. New flues and new plumbing were added, and it was teamed with the 40-inch
Case thresher once again at the 2000 show. She now carries more steam pressure than
ever, and will be ready to lead the parade and thresh for another century. The Grand Old
Lady of the Show is now owned by Andrew Nelson, Bill Nelson and members of the
Curtis Nelson family, and operated by Bill and Scott Nelson.
2002 Insert
MINNEAPOLIS MOLINE
1929-2002
The Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion, Inc. is proud to present this 27th in a
series of commemorative stamped aluminum plates. This year the theme of the plate is
the Minneapolis Moline Company whose products are featured at this year's show.
Minneapolis Moline was a company formed by the merger of the Minneapolis Threshing
Machine Company (Hopkins, Minnesota), Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company
(Minneapolis, Minnesota), and the Moline Plow Company (Moline, Illinois).
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. had been producing threshing machines in Hopkins
since 1887 and steam engines since 1890. Minneapolis Steel and Machinery Company
was formed in 1902 and had been producing structural steel for buildings and bridges and
had produced the "Twin City" line of tractors and threshing machines as well as large
stationary internal combustion engines. MSM also made the Case 30-60 tractor for Case.
The Moline, Ill. Plant production was largely phased out with the 1929 acquisition. The
Hopkins and Lake Street production facilities existed into the 1970's when both were
razed and replaced with other commercial endeavors. The White Motor Corporation took
over the Minneapolis Moline Company and thus ended the life of one of the finest
agricultural equipment suppliers ever to exist.
2003 Insert
The ART of Rollag
by Ray Shoberg
I don't claim to be much of an artist, but with my late wife, Anne, we were
involved in the artistry of making the aluminum plate dies, for many years.
During this time, I was able to convince several very talented artists to help
create art for Rollag. To these folks, and to the other talented Rollag artists as
well, this article is dedicated.
One of the earliest artists at Rollag was the late Norman Nelson, who did
beautiful pen and ink sketches. I am told he was entirely self taught. See
photos one and two that show drawings taken from covers of yearbooks that
featured Norman's work. I found these drawings on yearbooks for 1969 and
1974, during that time, the price had gone up from $1.00 to $1.50, talk about
inflation!
The first enlisted artist to help with the steam hammer plates was Steve
Slaske, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native who drew the 1978 threshing scene,
for Rollag's Silver Jubilee. Steve is a very successful artist who drew covers
for the Milwaukee area phone books, as one of his accomplishments.
As you know, the Rollag gift shop tries to feature items that are hand
made. To that end, we decided years ago to try our hand at screening “T”
shirts. Rather than maybe ruining good T shirts, we decided, as was popular
at the time, to make hot iron transfers instead. This involved a silk screen, and
we needed suitable art work. I contacted a friend of ours, Jerry Ordway, who
made the silhouette of the steam engine and the threshing machine with the
crossed belt. I still have the original art work, to which we added lettering.
You must realize that this was done B.C. (before computers) so to do the
lettering we engaged a typesetting company or used press type. This is
lettering that you transfer by burnishing from a transparent backing sheet.
This rig has threshed a lot of grain in the years since it's creation, and will be
used as part of the design for the 2003 aluminum plate. The artist who drew
it, has since gone on to a rewarding career as a cartoonist for D.C. Comics.
His best known work, perhaps, is a drawing of Superman on the front cover
of March 14, 1988 issue of Time magazine which proclaims Superman to be
50! Jerry also drew the lady on the spinning wheel, 1980, and the blacksmith
at his anvil, 1983.
When all else fails, and a deadline is near, I have a longtime friend and
commercial artist that will come to the rescue. He is Ken Bruce of Franklin,
Wisconsin. His work is featured on the 1983 plate of the printer, and also the
1985 plate of the girl on the carrousel horse. Living close by, Ken has also
been helpful in critiquing and fine tuning some of the other art works, The
Statue of Liberty and the draft horses are two that come to mind.
One year at Rollag, we were required to build additional toilets. The
previous year's show had been partly rained out, with a resultant loss of
revenue. Someone came up with the idea of selling "potty buttons" at the
show to finance construction of 'the new restrooms. The art work for the putty
button was done by Anne Shoberg. The youngster is playing with a steam
engine (of course!) and perhaps already dreaming of going to the University
of Rollag steam school, someday!
2004 Insert
Western Minnesota Steam Threshers
Reunion 2004 Show is featuring
Construction equipment.
The 50B Bucyrus-Erie steam shovel featured
on this plate was donated to WMSTR. This
2004 plate represents WMSTR's construction
area of our show in our continuing venture to
preserve our heritage. Many of the huge and
powerful pieces of equipment used in
construction of years past are shown and
demonstrated at our show.
This edition of our souvenir plate marks the
28th consecutive year that we have been producing
plates stamped with our Steam
Hammer. WMSTR thanks you for
participating in our Collective plate series and
please enjoy our show and
plan to visit us again.
I believe the 2004 insert was printed on a 1/4 sheet of paper. The centering made it fit nicely there. When I undo the centering here, it doesn't look as nice.
More coming,
Jerry Christiansen