Re: Steam whistles

Posted by Allen at Catfish Hollow on January 18, 2001 at 17:31:03 from (207.44.55.62):

In Reply to: Steam whistles posted by Jon on January 17, 2001 at 11:36:34:

For those that care to listen, some more of the story....

Documentation of almost anything as being "correct" for most makes of agricultural steam engines, whether a whistle or proper paint is an exercise in creative industrial archeology. Yes, records were kept, quite extensive ones, builders photos, invoices, sales reciepts, etc..

But, in many cases, they have not survived. Some examples, much of Russell & Co.'s records were sent to the dump... The 20th Century mfg co's records were "lost" in the attic for 30 years, only to be burned in the 50's because nobody at that time wanted them... The records for Aultman Taylor, Gaar-Scott, Advance, and a bunch more were lost down the great Rumely whirlpool... Another builder's records were thought to be intact until it was discovered they had sustained significant water and rodent damage... Etc. This stuff just was not considered important until sometime in the last 30 years or so.

That leaves just the fading memories of the plant workers, and original purchaser (mostly all gone now), tattered old catalogs, sales brochures, printed ads, faded vintage pictures and the occasional dealer's files to reconstruct from.
Sufficient for general data, bad for trying to perfectly restore a specific engine.

There are several brand specific organizations like The Case Heritage Foundation, and The Russell Collector's Assn, etc. trying to piece together what is left in the way of equipment and paperwork for their particular marque.

There is also a gentleman in Texas trying to amass a database for all surviving steam powered land vehicles in the world...whether operable, static or derelict. He has one file for RR locomotives, one for everything else.(soon to be available on CD Rom see link).
I urge you all to help with these efforts if you can.

Thanks for listening

• Surviving steam vehicles

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