On This Date in Minnesota History: December 4

December 4, 1913 – How necessity is the mother of invention was emphasized in Winona today when a huge threshing machine engine was backed up to the plant of the Minnesota Harness Company here and became the heating plant for the big concern.

The boiler of the heating apparatus has been forced to capacity since an addition was made to the plant, with the result that it became cracked. A crew of plumbers was sent to work with the idea of repairing the damage, but the only solution was securing a new boiler. The operation would require ten days before it could be installed and the officers of the institution faced closing down during the busiest time of the year.

The threshing engine was suggested. It was placed at the rear of the factory, the pipes from the boiler room were connected, and the steam is being forced from the engine’s boiler into the radiators throughout the large buildings and the operations were uninterrupted.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Threshing Engine Keeps Radiators Warm When Boiler Becomes Cracked”; Dec. 5, 1913; p. 1.

Example of an old threshing machine

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/hjelle/t1.JPG

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