This Thresherman
by Bonnie SzymansU
Titus Brubaker, 98-year-old
resident of Moravian Manor, Lititz
recently fell from a steam traction
engine.
Some people might wonder what
a 98-year-old man would be doing
on top of a steam traction engine in
the first place.
Those people obviously don’t
know who Titus Brubaker is.
He’s the man who has spent the
last 38 years helping to maintain
steam traction engines displayed
at the Rough and Tumble Museum,
located on Route 30 in Kinzers and
dedicated to preserving and
demonstrating the steam-powered
and gasoline-powered machines
used during the early part of the
20th century.
Titus Brubaker is “probably one
of the last remaining steam
threshermen,” according to a
report from the museum.
And according to Guy Stauffer of
East Petersburg, who drives
Brubaker to the museum “two or
three times a week’’ to work on the
steam traction engines, “Titus was
a thresherman for 42 years. ’ ’
For the uninformed, thresher
men were an indispensible part of
the agricultural community
around the turn-of-the-century,
providing farmers with the power
to pull threshing machines and
bailers.
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112 S. Railroad St.
Martinsburg, Pa.
814-793-2194
DONALD ERDLEY SCOTTIE SWINGLE
FARM EQUIP.
RDI
Lewitburg, Pa.
717-524-2410
717-524-2408 (Eve's)
ERB A HENRY EQUIP.
INC.
New Berlinville, Pa.
215-367-2169
HUTTON FARM MELVIN J. SHEFFER,
EQUIPMENT
RD2
Mahatfey, Pa.
814-277-6647
Jain the revolution
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that harvest grain “right off the
stalk,” said Stauffer, the threshing
machines would separate the grain
from the‘straw and the bailer
would form the straw or hay into -
what else? - bails, of course.
Brubaker’s stream traction
engine also provided power for saw
mills and silo fillers.
Come fall, Brubaker would saw
railroad ties for firewood to be
used in winter.
Brubaker saw his first steam
traction engine in 1903. Eighteen
years later, in 1921, he bought that
same engine - a RR Peerless -
from the owner’s estate.
About five years ago, reported
Stauffer, Brubaker donated it to
the Rough and Tumble Museum,
where it has undergone restoration
and is on display.
Brubaker has owned six steam
traction engines “in his time,” said
Stauffer.
He now owns a 50 HP Peerless,
which, according to Stauffer, is the
next to last one made in
Waynesboro in 1928, the final year
they were manufactured.
He is also part-owner with
Stauffer of a 60 HP Frick steam
traction engine.
Brubaker spent time this spring
working on the museum’s steam
traction engines, doing pipe-fitting
and installing two injectors, said
his partner.
And despite a leg injury from the
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At Home With Steam Power
Titus Brubaker Sr., a resident of Moravian Manor, stands beside one of
several steam traction engines he owns. Brubaker is actively involved with the
Rough and Tumble museum on Route 30 in Kinzers, which displays and
demonstrates early steam-powered and gasoline-powered engines and
machines.
fall, Brubaker intends to man a
shovel at the June 21 ground
breaking ceremonies for the
newest building on the 33-acre
museum site.
The new building, to be
dedicated to Brubaker and his
wife, Irma, 94, also a resident of
Moravian Manor, is scheduled to
be completed in time for use at the
August Threshermen’s Reunion.
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TRACTOR
Route 202
Concordville, Pa.
215-399-9615
TRIPLE H EQUIPMENT
RDI Box 141
Peach Bottom, Pa.
717-548-3775
The couple is being honored for
their long association with the
historical organization. Brubaker
also has made generous donations
to the association’s trust fund, said
Stauffer.
The ground-breaking and new
building construction is being
called a milestone in the 38-year
history of the Rough and Tumble
Engineers Historical Association,
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Ivyland, Pa.
215-675-1610
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Evergreen Rd.
New Egypt, NJ
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Bridgeton, NJ
609-455-1640
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A HARDWARE
Rt. 328 & Elliott Rd.
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 21,1986-A39
as all of the other buildings at the
museum site were either already
on the property when purchased by
the association or were built by
Rough and Tumble volunteers.
The new building, a 60-by-150-
foot steel structure for housing and
displaying steam traction engines
when they are not being demon
strated, will be built by the Fet
tersville Sales Co.
Contributions for the con
struction have come from private
sources as well as from the
organization.
The historical association is
made up of more than 1000
members from 39 states as well as
Canada, England, Australia and
Germany.
It is a non-profit organization
with a board of directors, headed ■
by a slate of elected officers.
The public is invited to attend the
June 21 groundbreaking, during
which time the ladies auxiliary will
provide refreshments. No ad
mission will be charged.
During the Aug. 13-16
Threshermen’s Reunion, exhibits
will include stationary steam
engines, gasoline tractors,
gasoline engines, antique cars and
trucks, saw mills and shingle
mills.