(Words and Photos by Greg Rourke) – This year was the 57th annual Threshing Bee put on by the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club. It’s held on the Taylor Marshall Farm north of Sycamore, Illinois. The show features all sorts of steam tractors, farm implements, antique tractors and stationary engines. The club owns a huge Vilter steam engine that ran a refrigeration plant from 1920 until the early 70’s. It’s 250 horsepower and weighs 40 tons. It’s still fully operational, and quite a sight to see. The giant flywheel is recessed into the floor, and there is all sorts of gear going in every direction on this thing. OSHA would have a fit.
An operational Erie Shovel was moving a pile of dirt back and forth. It was a two person operation, one guy monitoring the fire and steam pressure, one guy at the controls. With a wooden body and tin roof it must get pretty hot inside. It was surprisingly quiet, all you heard was the clanking of the business end and the hiss of steam. At noon they blew every steam whistle in the joint, the sound was deafening.
A parade ran through the grounds in the afternoon, with every piece of operational steam heading it up. One of only two remaining first series John Deere tractors made a lap. Lots of antique tractors followed, both gas and diesel, restored and original. Stationary engines included a bunch of hit and miss engines. They were running all sorts of stuff, including a washing machine, corn shellers, and a custom built can crusher. It seemed a bit overkill but the kids seemed to like it. One thing that concerns me is the lack of young people involved. Most everyone there was in their 60’s and older, and looking like they’ve worked their asses off every single day. Their are steam clubs running events like this all over, I suggest you catch one while you still can.
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GALLERY: 
If the kids liked the can crusher, maybe it’ll spark some interest in some of them.
If you ever have the chance to attend one of these shows, you should check it out. These machines are incredible. My ex-father-in-law was a hit & miss engine collector and introduced me to the hobby. Have you ever seen a Maytag washing machine gas engine? Check it out on the web.
As a member of this club im 25 And alot of us my age have said that not enough guys our age as far as gas tractors ect go anyone can learn the mechanics but the steam equipmemt is a dying thing but unfortuantly also takes a maasive amount of money to restore a traction engine also the social apsect alot of us younger guys have expressed intrest and it goes unnoticed as far As alot of those older gentleman go it will die with them not all Are like this but most Are