[SEL] Re: SEL Digest, Vol 20, Issue 7

[Luke Tonneberger]

The little bit about greedy wretched ulcers was taken from the post that 
James Moran made about his wifes farm in New York. I'll attach it at the end 
of this post so it can be read by anyone that missed it.

Luke Tonneberger
Rockford, Michigan
USA

=====================================

>From: "edd payne" <edsingns at winsoft.net.au>
>
>Me either,must be a of topic private conversation.
>EDD PAYNE
>PO BOX 364 GULGONG
>New South Wales  AUSTRALIA 2852
>0263742387
>edsingns at winsoft.net.au
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Jim and Diane" <jd.kirkes at verizon.net>
>
>
> > I must have missed something here, the following does not make a bit of
> > sense to me.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > Jim and Diane Kirkes
> > Hemet, CA
> > jd.kirkes at verizon.net
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Robt" <junque at shaw.ca>
> >
> >
> > Those of you savvy nough to read between my lines will not be shocked
> > to iscover a series of ungrateful, wretched, greedy family members
> > who possess no conscience.  Other than
> > that statement, I don't wish to explore THAT any further, as it gives
> > me ulcers :-).
> >
> > Don't let it.  I'm happy to report that the inherently "ungrateful,
> > wretched and greedy" are more or less a fixed proportion of the
> > population at any given time in history. :-)
> > Hope you will consider donating or loaning relevant papers to the
> > nearest substantial archives.

================================================

>From :  James Moran <jrmoraninc at yahoo.com>
Reply-To :  The SEL email discussion list <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Sent :  Sunday, November 6, 2005 6:09 PM
To :  The SEL email discussion list <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
Subject :  RE: [SEL] I found something about which I know nothing!!!


OK....I'll relate this tale in stages, as it embraces
over 100 years :-)
You might want to start by going to Google Earth and
searching 60 Golden Road, Rochester, New York 14624.
You will see my wife's family's farm/business site.
As an indicator, the barn behind the house bears a
"1902" plaque.
The Graham family began with a basic, upstate New York
farm (cows, chickens, struggle, etc.).  I have
unearthed a preponderance of records (as with most
folks who survived the depression and other travails)
NOTHIN' was ever too broke or old to discard.  The
earliest diary that I was able to find was dated 1902
with pencil scrawls such as "bot haf booshel #2 corn
seed OR solid my beens (you get the picture, I am
sure).
In 1913 (as far as I can determine) my wife's great
grandfather started up a fuel business, dealing in
oil, gasoline, and kerosene.  These materials were
delivered via horse drawn wagon and, in the winter, on
a sleigh affair.  I know this for certain because we
have a bevy of photos from that vintage AND the wagon
with its steel wheels is still there...buried in the
weeds along with all sorts of other relics, including
the hit -n- miss in which many of you seem to have an
avid interest.  It is a humorous note that the farm
house never "went oil" until my wife's (Cynthia in
name, by the way) grandfather went over the great
divide.  Reason?  Because, even though he sold fuel
oil, he did not trust it.  The home was heated with
wood or coal and they never installed "city water",
even though is it available right at the street.  The
old pump is still in the rear of the woodshed (off of
the kitchen) and still works to this day.
Interestingly, the DID take advantage of city sewars.
Don't ask me the rationale.
Anyway, the oil business did not end the farming
effort.  This is why I was able to find h-n-m stuff,
buzz saws, portable pumps, corn shredders and a raft
of other devices.  The farm tractors were (I'll put
this as gently as I can) "taken" by my wife's cousin.
I know factually that there was an M and a robust
Oliver (which I loved).  I can't do anything about
that and will not try.  However....DAMMIT!
Again, as you scan north on your Google Earth image,
you will see three above ground storage tank, each
able to contain 20k gallons.  One was for oil, one for
gasoline, one for kero.  The shed that you'll see to
the west of the tank house the pumping unit which
moved the above-mentioned products to the correct
tank.  There is not and never was electricity run to
that shed.  How was the pumping accomplished?  By
utilizing the McCormick-Deering 10-20.  I am of the
belief that the M/D never saw too much action in the
fields.  Rather, it appears that it was bought as a
dedicated pump-driving machine.  I have searched for
the original bill of sale and the manuals, but, so
far, have come up empty.  In that the shed always
housed the pump and all, the elements did not wreak
havoc.  Funny, there was even a sort of old quilt
thrown over the hood of the tractor.  The floor of the
shed was of a very fine silt-like dirt (no concrete,
that is to say).  It was completely dry and, in fact,
there were fox holes inside of the building.  In
passing, let me note that I found (in the M/D's "tool
box")a record book for fuel transfers (deliveries) and
the date of that volume is 1957.  This would lead one
to the conclusion that that was the last year of
active service, but I know that this is not
accurate...the business went on until quite recently
and I know for a fact that the three tanks were closed
(in accordance to DEC, etc.) in 1993.  Hmmmm.....
As I have previously posted, the M/D is complete in
every way.  The sheet metal is intact (even the
ventilated/piano hinged engine shrouds).  Everything
is legible.  Both the left and right rear fenders call
out "McCormick Deering 10-20".  The serial plate is
perfect, reading the 10 and 20 horsepower statements
of which I am sure you all know so well.  Even the
"starting instructions" on the left housing is clear
as a bell. The front and rear steel wheels show
virtually no "wear"...the cleats are solid and fully
present.  While the body paint has oxidized, one can
see "tell tale" red pain on the rear steel wheels.
The breather and the exhaust are undamaged, despite
that fact the the guys who dismantled the shed managed
to collapse the building down on top of the tractor!
After we carefully removed the debris of the destoyed
shed, I was able to get a strong look at the tractor
and, of course, make provisions to move it out of the
open air.  I was concerned that the wheels would be
frozen but, when I hooked onto the front with a slip
chain and began the tentative pull, all four went
around without even a creak!
The tractor has been moved to the concrete block
garage across from the farm house (again...look at the
Google thing and remember, that service is not real
time.  The images are about two years old, as I
understand it). This is a solid building...good roof,
really dry, and with a concrete floor.  Both the M/D
and the h-n-m are now safely inside and both claim to
be happy in their new digs :-).
Back to the "never throw anything away" lifestyle.  If
you look around your Google image, you will be able to
discern old oil delivery trucks and, even, an old
Caddy.  Between the "outside" ones and the ones that
were dumped "inside", I have to deal with a total of
nine such vehicles.  The fuel trucks (all outfitted
with multi-compartment tanks) are of the
fifties/sixties vintage.  This little gift was from
Cynthia's now dead uncle, a nice enough guy I guess,
but a slob of the first order.  He abandoned oil drums
and jugs filled with God-knows-what.  Naturally, these
must be disposed in a manner consistent with common
sense and in accordance to the DEC's firm opinions of
such things.  For any of you who have had experiences
with such situations, you will be familiar with Phase
I and Phase II analysis work.  We are now at the
conclusion of PII.  I know that there are three buried
tanks which will require excavation and the earth
surrounding them will also have to be removed and (as
I understand it) incinerated.
All of this misery is a result of the uncle kicking
off and Cynthia's old mother coming down with a really
bad case of the Altzheimer's.  It has fallen to us to
remediate the 77 acres of property and, then, find a
suitable buyer.  Again, scan east and west and you'll
see housing developments at each border ($250k+
private residence deals).  Once we have a clean bill
of health, some developer will buy the land, raze the
buildings, and do a build-out.  That will bring to an
end this whole unsavory affain.  Those of you savvy
enough to read between my lines will not be shocked to
discover a series of ungrateful, wretched, greedy
family members who possess no conscience.  Other than
that statement, I don't wish to explore THAT any
further, as it gives me ulcers :-).
Well, there are the broad strokes of it.  I don't have
the time to run spell check so forgive such mistakes,
please.  If any of you out there are close to
Rochester, please let me know.  I would be glad to
show you the tractor, etc.  As stated, I'll try to
post some photos.  BTW, the only "marking" on the
h-'n-m is on the mag...it reads "WICO".  Does that
mean anything to anyone.
If you have questions or comments, let me know.
Thanks.
JM