Larry Marek of Hinkley took a break Thursday, after working outside the blacksmith shop at the Central States Threshermen’s Reunion. Jesse Jansen of Wheeler, jumped from his steam engine, while cleaning it at the Central States Threshermen’s Reunion. Jansen was working Thursday on a Case 80 horsepower steam engine built in 1924. A Nichols & Shephard steam engine, built in 1894, at the Central States Threshermen’s Reunion. Bob Stadsholt of Normal, left, works with Mitch Bailey of Cullom, as they line up a drive belt for a Nichols & Shepard steam engine during The 6Oth Annual Threshermen’s Reunion in Pontiac. Neal Drummer of LaMoille 1920 Port Huron tractor, features the original steam pressure valve from his late father Eugene’s tractor. Drummer said the tractor was sold for scrap during a war drive, but when he began restoring another tractor, a neighbor showed up with the original valve which he had saved from the family steam engine. The valve is shown Thursday during the first day of the reunion. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Jack Corson of Crown Point, Indiana works with his son, Mark Corson, to set up a buzz saw the two found alongside a road in rural Indiana. The men were setting it up for use in cutting wood for the steam engines, which burn coal and wood. 59th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion, in Threshermen’s Park off of Rt. 23. Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Cade Boyer, 4, a grandson of jack Moore of Cornell, looks at two of the operating steam tractors at the 59th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion, on Thursday afternoon. Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Billy Irvin of Illopolis brought his 1919 Nichols – Shepard steam engine to the 59th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion. Irvin, who is a welder for Caterpillar Tractor Co., by trade, bought the engine in August, and wa installing a replica of a Southern Pacific Railroad steam whistle. Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Larry Marek of Hinkley prepared to move his three ton steam hammer off his flatbed truck while setting up working displays at the reunion. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Neal Drummer’s coal fired 1920 Port Huron steam tractor moves along the reunion grounds in a steady rain Thursday. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY The smell of coal smoke and the sound of steam whistles echo across the grounds Thursday during the opening of the 6Oth Annual Threshermen’s Reunion in Threshermen’s Park off of Rt. 23, Pontiac. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Mitch Bailey of Cullom, waited to add coal to a Nichols & Shepard steam engine he was operating. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Billy Irvin of Illiopolis shovels coal into bunkers on Nichols & Shepard steam engine. The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY Neal Drummer of LaMoille shoveled coal into a 1920 Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company steam engine at the Central States Threshermen’s 56th Reunion at Threshermen’s Park in Pontiac, Thursday. Drummer and partner George McCollum of LaMoille were preparing the engine to power a sawmill during a demonstration. Mark Corson of Crown Point, Indiana brushed linseed oil onto his crate mill, as he was preparing the small saw mill, which was used to manufacture apple crates, for demonstrations Thursday. Corson and his father Jack Corson are attending the Central States Threshermen’s 56th Reunion at threshermen’s Park in Pontiac. Greg Jansen, front, and Lyle Ruhall of Effingham swing wheat into a Keck-Gonnerman Company threshing machine driven by a belt drive connected to a steam engine during the 65th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion on Thursday, August 29, 2013. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY) Two fixtures of the reunion are Mark Corson of Crown Point, Indiana, center, along with Neal Drummer of LaMoille, visiting during the opening day of the 65th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion on Thursday, August 29, 2013. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY) On the opening day of the 65th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion west of Pontiac, Bill Kaufmann of Danvers waits for his burning coal to produce high heat in the blacksmithing shop, Thursday, August 29, 2013. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY) The 65th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion opened Thursday at Threshermens Park west of Pontiac. Karl Jansen of Effingham supervises the operation of a Keck-Gonnerman Company threshing machine driven by a belt drive connected to a steam engine. Neal Drummer of LaMoille uses his coal burning 1920 Port Huron Engine & Thresher Company steam engine to supply power to the machine. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)

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