Irricana, Alberta

50 Acres of Pioneer Equipment preserved for viewing by the public.
The following pictures were taken by my brother Wayne Gent, in 1991

I love the old equipment pictures, but sadly I am not an expert as to models and brands,
so I am hoping for help identifying these so I can add the appropriate caption for them.
Note- all pictures are date stamped and copyright. Please do not copy.

Steam Tractors required a lot of manpower.
An Engineer, a Fireman, a Water Drawer, and a Fuel Drawer.
Because these are using Steam boilers a special ticket was required to operate them.
Steam boilers can be very dangerous if not operated correctly.
Steam Pressurized to 125-150 psi, by heat from the firebox, which then powered the flywheel via a steam powered piston.

Rumley Oil Pull Tractor, made in La Porte, Indiana
These Units Burned all grades of Kerosene, they were cooled by oil,
made by Rumely Company 1910-1930, (known as Advance-Rumely Thresher Co. after 1915)
The Cylinder is mounted at the forward end of the boiler, and the shaft at the rear. Direct tubular locomotive type round bottom fire box boiler.
came with an eccentric shifting reverse, friction clutch, cross head pump, and heater. There was an injector for auxiliary feed.
Company started in 1853 by Meinrad and John Rumley. 1882 Meinrad bought out his brother.
Meinrad Rumley
b- 9 Feb 1823, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
d- Mar 31, 1904, age 81 in La Porte IN, USA
buried in Saint Joseph's Cemetery, La Porte, IN
He became a millionaire, started out as an immigrant from Germany, came to US in 1848, age 25.
Left a widow, Theresa Rumley nee Furstos (Fierstoss), b- Jan 9, 1834 Alsace Germany, d- July 20, 1923, 3 sons, 3 daughters.
His grandson Edward Rumley was operating the Company ca 1908.
Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. bought the whole company taking over June 1, 1931.
They made 56,000 of these tractors.

Rumley Oil Pull Tractor pulling a 4 Gang Plow

A Healthy Rooster was used as their Logo

They also used a Starved Rooster as their logo

Model 30-60, side view

Aultman & Taylor Steam Tractor, model 30-60, built in Mansfield Ohio
Aultman & Taylor Machinery Co. established in 1866 in Mansfield.
Other official records show the company was formed Feb 1867 under the state laws of Ohio.
Officers- Cornelius Aultman, President; b Mar 10, 1827; d- Dec 26, 1884 Canton Stark County, Ohio
Henry Hobart Taylor, Vice-President; b- July 4, 1835, Durhamville, Oneida, NY, ; d- Nov 9, 1875 Chicago, IL
Michael Daniel Harter, Treasurer;
John Henry Wigle, Secretary;
John Allonas, Superintendent
Advance-Rumely Company bought this company in 1923
Gas traction engine with cylinders placed horizontal to the frame to reduce vibration
Model 30-60 which meant 60 HP on the brake, and a tractive power of 30 HP
Company started by Cornelius Aultman of Canton OH, and Henry Hobart Taylor of Chicago IL.
1871 they had 10 forges going, one just for making bolts. Each emplyed 2 sets of men working constantly.
They also produced Threshing Machines.

Manufacturers of “The First Quality Line Threshing Machinery”


George White Steam Tractor
Head Office and Factory in London ON
Established in 1867
Mar 1889 he took 4 of his sons into the business.
Company Incorporated July 13, 1897
Amount of Capital Stock, $170,000.00, 1700 shares, $100 ea.
In Mar 1927 they established a branch office in Brandon MB, with Ernest Popkin shown as Manager.
George White- English Blacksmith from Devon England,
b- Sept 4, 1834 in Shute (Farringdon?), Devon England,
d- June 7, 1913 Springdale Farm, 5th Cons., Middlesex, ON, Canada, age 78, from Pneumonia
buried in Woodland Cemetery, London ON.
son of James White and Charlotte Wilmington,
His father was a Blacksmith in Shute Village, Devon, in 1841, and a Black and Bright Smith in Shute, in 1851
married to Susan Baker, Apr 2, 1857 in Honiton born in England
son- Arthur William White- Appointed Manager of the Company in 1898, b- Aug 1, 1866 in London ON, d- July 1941, age 77, at London ON,
Arthur was President of the Co when he died, First Director.
son- Harold Frank White
son- Frederick John White, part of the firm, First Director
son- James Henry Baker “Harry” White, part of the firm, First Director
son- George Edward White, worked as Manager in Brandon MB area for the firm.
son- Herbert (Hubert) John White, part of the firm, First Director
son- Ernest Albert White- Bookkeeper for the firm, First Director. had 9 sons total, but only 4 were in the business at first, later 2 were added for 6 total.
2 sons died young. Also had 3 daughters.
Immigrated in spring of 1857.
In 1914 these tractors cost $4,000 off the production line at Brandon MB
External Gear work, boot black finish with red trim.

Case Tractor
Burned Kerosene, they made 4 sizes of this tractor, per this 1920 ad

Founded by Jerome Increase Case,
b- Dec 11, 1819, Williamstown, New York,
d- Dec 22, 1891 Racine, Wisconsin, age 72,
Started as the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, Inc
J. I. Case came from New York State to Wisconsin in 1842 as a thresherman, with 6 Threshing Machines, he sold 5, and used one himself.
In 1844 he began manufacturing in a small way.
By 1919 they built 8 sizes of steam tractors, 30 hp to 110 hp. machines.

Minneapolis Moline Tractor and Threshing Outfit
Company Started in 1929, Made in Hopkins, Minnesota. Bought in 1963 by White Motor Co.

Unknown Grey Tractor operating a Threshing Machine
Possibly a Hart-Parr Tractor?

Unknown Steam Tractor, equipped with modern front rubber tires, and rubber added to back tires, for parades etc.

Unknown Steam Tractor
Possibly a Rumely? minus the chimney and other cosmetic parts.

Unknown Make and Model

Possibly a Rumley Tractor

Unknown Tractor, operating an old Threshing machine, and old Truck

One of the best logos I have seen used by the Hart-Parr Tractor company
Their ads claimed They founded the Tractor Industry, which they did in the US, and they built the First Kerosene Burning Tractor in 1903.
The word “Tractor” was originated by a salesmanager of this Company, named W. H. Williams in 1907, to replace “Gasoline Traction Engine” the term used before this.
1918 they had 3 models, the “Old Reliable”-“Our 60”; the “Oil King- 35” ; and the “New Hart-Parr” 3 Plow, a 30 hp tractor
Built by the Hart-Parr Company, Great Falls, Montana
Charles W. Hart of Charles City Iowa, and Charles H. Parr,
2 Engineering Students, who met in 1887 in school, at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and in 1901 invented an oil burning engine.
First tractor sales started in 1902.
18 were built the first year at their Charles City Iowa plant.
1916 they had 1500 men working at their plant.
Company became the Oliver Farm Equipment Company

Charles Walter Hart,
b- Jul 6, 1872 Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, USA ;
d- Mar 14, 1937 Missoula, Missoula County, Montana, USA, from a heart attack
buried in Riverside Cemetery, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, USA
He was owner and founder of the Hart Refineries at Missoula when he died.
He left the company to farm in Montana in 1917.
Father: Oliver W. Hart ; Mother: Lovira M. Hart ; 1st wife: Jessie Marvin Hart, m-1896, 2nd wife- Agnes Embree Case, m-1907

Charles Henry Parr,
b- Mar 18, 1868 Wyoming, Iowa County, Wisconsin, USA ;
d- Jun 19, 1941 (aged 73) Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, USA
buried- Riverside Cemetery, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, USA, Plot- Block 5, Section 55, Row 8, Space 1
Charles H. Parr left the firm Nov 1923, to work for Elgin Street Cleaning Co, Elgin ILL., returning in July 1924 to the company
He lived in Charles City for 23 years prior to that.
Father- John Henry Parr, (1838–1896) ; Mother- Martha Ann Taggart (1836–1891) ; wife- Gertrude Gates (1871–1941) m- 1898

The man who founded the word “Tractor”
William Henry Williams
b- May 15, 1862, (May 5 on passport app) Taycheedah, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, USA
d- July 18, 1947, at son Arthur's home, Berwyn, Cook County, Illinois, USA, age 85
buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Hendersonville, Henderson County, North Carolina, USA
Resident of Hendersonville from 1939-1946
Father- B. T. Williams, born in NY (Germany in 1910 Census) died bef 1910, Mother- Susan E. Williams, nee Campbell, age 71 in 1910, in WI
Parents had 3 children, 2 were living in 1910
married Mary Hermdine Williams, nee Matthews, m. 15 Aug 1888, Alaiedon, Ingham, Michigan
age 44 in 1910, b- Apr 14, 1866 in Alleidon, Michigan, d- 1946
daughter of Menzer Matthews and Sadie Saltmarsh
They had 5 children, 2 living in 1910
son- Arthur H. Williams, age 12 in 1910, born in Montana
daughter- Nina Ethleen Williams, age 8 in 1910, born in Bozeman, Montana, married Lawrence Jasper Vollmer

Stook Maker? or maybe an Old Baler? ; Belt Driven Circular Saw, for firewood, or end trimming wood


Sickle / Side Mower, for grass, weeds etc. ; Old Hay Rake


Horse drawn old seeder ; Horse Exerciser, old Steam Tractors in Background


John Deere Equipment ; Old large Flare Box, Wood Farm Grain Wagon

Old Wood Threshing Machine

Threshing Machine Display

My Sister in Law, Joan Gent, nee Kelley, standing next to a Home Made Tractor

Blacksmith Display

8 Team Plowing display