WA woman in need of a history lesson!

Andrea sent me some photos so I can speak to what this is. Andrea, I suggest you post them in the photo gallery?

How many horses the device requires depends on what task is being performed with the rotary power. It is a turnstile-type treadmill. Looking at the old illustration I have a hard time imagining 21 horses being hooked to it, just because of the space required for 21 horses to move around in a circle, but perhaps it’s possible. Large jobs like running a thresher would require more than two horses, but probably fewer than 21.

Keep in mind that the “ground power” device is not a thresher, or a saw. It is–as far as I can tell–just a transmission that turns muscle power into rotary motion that can then be used for other devices (like a thresher or a saw) that require them.

Someone here in Snohomish has one that has been restored. Let me ask around a bit. Are there any word or letters on the cast parts or have you not gotten that far? The museum in Pomeroy is the best place for such a thing. I’d be surprised if some of the folks there don’t already have specs on horsepowers.

I’ll be looking forward to the photos you post. I’ve been dreaming about having a dedicated horsepower shed with a two-horse sweep in it. Kind of like those pony ride setups at the fair, but with a horsepower at the center. Then have belts to run things like a saw and a small thresher and maybe a stationary baler too. Ah, dreams…

Hi Andrea,

Welcome and I’m not too far from you here in N. ID. Might have to meet sometime – maybe at Pomeroy since I’m planning on bringing my team this year.

In a previous post you mentioned Tillers International – they might also be a source of info. If you’ve been there you know they have 2 or 3 barns worth of draft equipment of every type – when I went, there were at least 3 different styles of treadmill power units alone! Dick Roosenberg is a fount of knowledge as well.

Good luck and maybe see you soon!

Hello, Andrea, Welcome to DAP!! – this is Robert…I’m a wee bit south of Geoff, down here on the Salmon River 70 miles S. of Lewiston…starting to plant my produce this week. There’s a museum in Cottonwood (Idaho) just north of here, run by the catholic nuns (I think it’s called St. Gertrude or some such) that’s the local repository for all things ‘farming’ around here they have a lot of HD equipment from the Camas Prairie, here…maybe give them a try. If you can’t locate them, I can ask my landlord – they’re catholic, so probably know how to contact them.

hen’s the thing in Pomeroy? Anyone got a link to it, for more info?

For those of you NW plowing enthusiasts – Here’s the schedule I got from the Whitman Co growers guide:
March 27-29 Wilson Creek Old Time Farming Days, Wilson Creek WA (contact Tom Hennigar 509 – 648-3462 or Stan Riebold 509-648-4272). http://www.plowingdays.org/
April 3-4 Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum Spring Farming Days, Pomeroy, WA (contact Jay 509-843-1149 or David at elephant@pomeroy-wa.com)
April 17-18 Old Time Farming Days Plowing and Seeding, Colfax WA (contact Tom Hennigar 509 – 648-3462 or Stan Riebold 509-648-4272).

Good fun to watch, meet and greet, discuss and participate in!! Oh – as in most of these events, there’s some good grub too!