Smith Machine Works, Inc.

Other Personal Interests
Ver 0.8

        Live Steam Engines and Models
        Live Steam Locomotives
        Amateur Radio
        Aviation

This is, of course, the left (engine) side view.

This model steam traction engine was built by my father Mr. Robert F. Smith, Proprietor of Smith Machine Shop in Woodland, Illinois, in the years 1950 through 1954.  Technically a "Free Lance" model, many of the boiler dimensions and general layout features were scaled at 1/2 size from a Port Huron traction engine owned by a local farmer and good friend of my dad, Mr. Wayne McMannis (now deceased).  I was at ages 10-14 during the building of this model and am quite proud of the few bits of welding and machine work I contributed to it.  Most memorable were the many long hours of gazing at the partially completed model in its various stages of fabrication and discussions of how to do this and that.  The conversation frequently went something like this, "Do you think it will run?", "Sure, do you think it will run backwards", "Of course, that's what the reverse lever is for".

Sadly, dad passed away in 1981 and several years later the engine traveled to my brother's estate in Gridley, Illinois. where it underwent a major overhaul and cleanup during the 1989-1990 period.  These photos were taken in front of his home in Gridley a few years after the overhaul.  The engine now leads a pampered life residing in his workshop/office and making the annual trek to the Central States Thresherman's Reunion in Pontiac, Illinois.  The complete rig includes a water wagon featuring an undercarriage made of solid, native, Illinois Walnut, and a 1/2 scale model of an Ottawa Model C corn sheller on a steel wheeled carriage.  I will try to get some photos of those items included soon.  Stay tuned.

The right (flywheel) side view.

That's all for today, more later, stay tuned for further details and photos.

A very pleasing photo of a (somewhat rare) 1930 Harrison Jumbo steam traction engine.

This photo was contributed by Matt Hall who described it to me in a recent email,

"The picture was taken by Mike Hall and it was located on the Donald Werth farm in central Illinois and now owned by Paul And June Hall of Chatham, Illinois.  It is now on display at the Prairie Land Heritage Museum in South Jacksonville, Illinois."

As a former commercial pilot and instrument flight instructor my interest in things aviation remains strong, in spite of the fact that I am only a pedestrian these days.

With appologies to Merriam-Webster --

pedestrian n 1. : a person going on foot  2. : A pilot without a medical certificate

Here is a sample of past and present aviation interests.

My nephew, Matt Smith, in front of the Cessna 310 that he flew for his Multi-engine rating at SIU.
 

Nephew Matt (shown in front of the #2 engine nacelle)  is enrolled in the School of Aviation at Southern Illinois University (SIU), in Carbondale, Illinois.  This appears to be one of their 'advanced trainers'.  I am (sadly) informed that the airplane is, however, a "ramp wart", unable to be flown or even taxied.

Matt, in the right seat of the 737 shown above.