The 2024 harvest season is about finished, but over 100 years ago steam tractors like this one were used to take a threshing machine and a water wagon to the field to do the threshing. The tractor moved slowly but speed was not important, as it was not powerful enough for fieldwork.
Over 18,000 of these steam machines were manufactured by Russell and Company in Massillon, Ohio, circa 1880 to 1920. This company also made 22,000 threshing machines, portable sawmills, road rollers and other equipment. This 1912 Russell steam tractor was No.14897 and is featured at the annual September Carstens Farm Days and driven in the tractor parade during the two-day event. It is permanently based at the Carstens Farm, about one-mile southwest of the Shelby exit of I-80.
Today only a few steam tractors still exist. Due to the difficulty to maintain them because of the buildup of grease and oil, their life expectancy was about five years. They used lump coal or wood, and expertise was necessary to operate these machines safely. A number of accidents over the years have occurred due to improper procedures.