Steam Engine Rolls Out Printed Images

Steam Engine Rolls Out Printed Images TRACTORS Antiques One of only four 1905 Kelly Springfield steam engines known to exist anywhere in the U S may be the only steam engine producing printed images It’s a “believe-it-or-not” demonstration that takes place 4 days every year over the Labor Day weekend at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion in Mt Pleasant Iowa The giant steamer’s owner Dave Gross and his grandson Russell Heerdt use the rig to “roll over” a large image etched on linoleum and in the process transfer that image to paper “The process sounds bizarre to anyone who hasn’t heard of old-time printing presses powered by small steam engines ” says Tom Wenstrand who’s lived in the area for many years and attended several demonstrations “The 12-ton roller is just a much larger version of the little presses in the show’s Printer’s Hall ” While show volunteers produce three daily versions of “The Thresher’s Bee” paper with small steam-powered presses others work on a much larger project for the huge steam engine Six months before the show volunteer artists start their work using hand tools to carefully etch an image in a large piece of linoleum that sometimes measures 3 ft by 4 ft The process is extremely difficult because the entire image including the lettering must be done in reverse One volunteer laughingly says their 6-mo process can be done by a smartphone “selfie” in seconds The artists produce several images a year Each one is etched to a precise depth on linoleum to hold just the right amount of ink The big steam engine is stored at the show and Gross or Heerdt drives it to the demonstration site where its 4-ft wide front wheel is scraped and wiped clean of any debris A large board placed in front of the wheel is swept clean layers of paper are put on and the inked linoleum is laid on top The drivers slowly inch the 12-ton steam engine roller over the linoleum then back it off Volunteers lift the linoleum off the paper as wide-eyed show visitors see the image revealed Heerdt says they roll 20 to 25 prints a day over the 4-day show Wenstrand says a person must see the demonstration to believe it produces such amazing prints done by outstanding artists After drying the prints are on display and can be purchased by visitors for $50 to $100 each with proceeds going back to the Printer’s Hall Most posters are signed by the artists and pre-sold before they’re printed Heerdt says that everyone who sees the demonstration leaves with several cellphone pictures and an amazing memory Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Old Threshers Reunion 405 E Threshers Rd Mt Pleasant Iowa 52641 ph 319-385-8937; www oldthreshers com

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