The Spencer Steam The Spencer Steam TractorTractor
A Wayne County OriginalA Wayne County Original
Linda Dix LeeLinda Dix LeeWayne County Historical SocietyWayne County Historical Society
Wayne County, PennsylvaniaWayne County, Pennsylvania
An Idea Was Born…An Idea Was Born…
David SpencerDavid Spencer 1876 – Philadelphia 1876 – Philadelphia
CentennialCentennial Pleasant MountPleasant Mount Spencer FarmSpencer Farm
David SpencerDavid Spencer
1854(?) – 19441854(?) – 1944
David Spencer Homestead
The Search for The Search for Parts….Parts….
1880 - 18881880 - 1888
Collected PartsCollected Parts
High Pressure Steam GaugeHigh Pressure Steam Gauge Set of Artillery Wagon WheelsSet of Artillery Wagon Wheels Teat AxleTeat Axle Set of Extra Heavy Wagon Set of Extra Heavy Wagon
SpringsSprings Ash LumberAsh Lumber Differential GearDifferential Gear Single Cylinder Yacht Engines (2)Single Cylinder Yacht Engines (2) Front AxleFront Axle
Custom WorkCustom Work CastingsCastings
Lanesboro, PALanesboro, PA 185 Pound Pressure Boiler185 Pound Pressure Boiler
Spencer DesignSpencer Design Shapley & Wells FabricationShapley & Wells Fabrication
Patterns for Gears and PinionsPatterns for Gears and Pinions George Spencer Shop, ThompsonGeorge Spencer Shop, Thompson
Blacksmith WorkBlacksmith Work Frank Spencer, Pleasant MountFrank Spencer, Pleasant Mount
Site of Blacksmith Shop
Route 371, East of Pleasant Mount
The Invention is The Invention is Complete…Complete…
A Historic DayA Historic Day
December 15, 1888December 15, 1888
Pleasant MountPleasant Mount
A Trial Run….A Trial Run….
December, 1888December, 1888
Presentation to the Presentation to the Public….Public….
July 4, 1889July 4, 1889
First Store in Pleasant First Store in Pleasant MountMount
First Store in Pleasant MountFirst Store in Pleasant Mount
Presbyterian Presbyterian ChurchChurch
Frank O’Neill
1877 – 1962
Pleasant Mount
Passenger
Lourdes O’NeillLourdes O’Neill
Traveling West on Route Traveling West on Route 670670
IntersectionIntersection of of
Two TurnpikesTwo Turnpikes
Past Past Meredith Meredith
ParkPark
Through the Village of Through the Village of Pleasant MountPleasant Mount
To the North RoadTo the North Road
Up theUp the North Road North Road
To the John Dix FarmTo the John Dix Farm
And BackAnd Back to the to the
PresbyterianPresbyterian Church Church
A Three Mile Trip!A Three Mile Trip!
Some Interesting Some Interesting Statistics…Statistics…
Speed – about 4 MPHSpeed – about 4 MPH Power – about 10 – 20 HPPower – about 10 – 20 HP Weight – 3100 Lbs.Weight – 3100 Lbs. Cost - $10,000Cost - $10,000 Ran forward or backwardRan forward or backward Wheels: Rear = 60”D; Front = Wheels: Rear = 60”D; Front =
54”D54”D Required: A fireman and driverRequired: A fireman and driver
The Tractor Was The Tractor Was Equipped With…Equipped With…
A boiler, smokestack & engines A boiler, smokestack & engines (rear)(rear)
A fire blowerA fire blower An injector (force water into An injector (force water into
blower)blower) An auxiliary pumpAn auxiliary pump Grates for wood or coalGrates for wood or coal Brakes on each rear wheelBrakes on each rear wheel
Facing Reality...Facing Reality...
Tractor Needs Major Tractor Needs Major Changes in Design…Changes in Design…
After using tractor to carry After using tractor to carry logs and thresh oats, Spencer logs and thresh oats, Spencer decides to let others carry on decides to let others carry on
his dream.his dream.
End of An era…End of An era…
David Spencer died Feb. 28, David Spencer died Feb. 28, 19441944
Reached age of 89Reached age of 89 Lived to see original idea Lived to see original idea
develop into a horseless agedevelop into a horseless age His invention made Wayne His invention made Wayne
County and Pennsylvania HistoryCounty and Pennsylvania History
David SpencerDavid Spencer
1854(?) – 19441854(?) – 1944
The Tractor Changes The Tractor Changes Hands...Hands...
Incomplete List of OwnersIncomplete List of Owners1944 to 2003…1944 to 2003…
Thomas H. JonesThomas H. Jones Wayne County Historical SocietyWayne County Historical Society ?? Bob StahrBob Stahr Alan GriemeAlan Grieme
And Falls Into a State And Falls Into a State of Disrepair...of Disrepair...
An Idea Is Born...An Idea Is Born...20022002
WCHS Farm Museum WCHS Farm Museum Committee…Committee…
Dave WilliamsDave Williams Rod BrownRod Brown Tom NebzydoskiTom Nebzydoski Paul LiptakPaul Liptak Linda Dix Lee, ChairLinda Dix Lee, Chair
A Visit is Made...A Visit is Made...November 25, 2003November 25, 2003
Stockertown, PAStockertown, PA
Northampton Northampton CountyCounty
Support is Sought...Support is Sought...
WCHS Board WCHS Board MeetingMeeting
January 15, 2004January 15, 2004
A PROPOSAL TO BRING THE SPENCER TRACTOR BACK TO WAYNE COUNTY TO: WCHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FROM: FARM MUSEUM COMMITTEE, Linda Dix Lee, Chair DATE: JANUARY 15, 2004 PRESENTED BY: Rod Brown, Committee Member
BACKGROUND: The Spencer Steam Tractor is truly a Wayne County original. The idea for building Wayne County's first steam tractor was conceived by David Spencer of Pleasant Mount in 1876 after visiting the Philadelphia Centennial. Constructed in 1888, it was presented to the public on July 4th, 1889 in Pleasant Mount where it was driven through the village and up the North Road, a distance of three miles in all. Several hundred people were in town for the occasion and some were fortunate enough to catch a ride. It was used afterward to haul logs at a mill yard. After David Spencer's death, the tractor eventually found its way from Pleasant
Mount to Uniondale to Honesdale, where it was donated to the Wayne County Historical Society in 1947. The Historical Society, for reasons unknown to us, at some point in time de-acquisitioned the tractor. It is presently owned by Alan Grieme and is located on Rt. 191 south of Wind Gap, PA. The tractor is currently uncovered and has been for several years, although a shingled covered roof has afforded some degree of protection.
On November 25,2003, three members of the Farm Committee viewed and photographed the tractor. The Committee strongly recommends that the Spencer tractor be returned to Wayne County where it belongs. PROPOSAL:
Phase I - AcQuisition Price - $3000 max Pallet - $500 Moving - donated by Dave Williams Storage - donated site
to display but non-operating condition) Estimated range - $5000-15,000 Funding - Phase I
$500 - donations expected before transfer of tractor $3000 - proposed loan from WCHS Board (to be repaid by Farm Museum Committee over a three year period)
Funding - Phase n To take place over a several year period by the following means: Donations of materials and labor
Spencer tractor fund raising by the Farm Museum Committee Use of any profits realized from Farm Museum during Fair weeks Future Placement
Our goal is to eventually house the restored tractor at a suitable site.
Volunteers are Volunteers are Recruited…Recruited…
Linda Dix Lee – Overall Linda Dix Lee – Overall CoordinatorCoordinator
Dave Williams – Mastermind of Dave Williams – Mastermind of MoveMove
Rod Brown – Photographs/HelpRod Brown – Photographs/Help Tom Nebzydoski – Found Tom Nebzydoski – Found
Mover/HelpMover/Help Tim Hall – Rollback Tim Hall – Rollback
Truck/ExpertiseTruck/Expertise Lewis Lee – HelpLewis Lee – Help Marlyn Shaffer - HelpMarlyn Shaffer - Help
Tim Hall in His Auto ShopTim Hall in His Auto Shop
A Historic Day…A Historic Day…
The Spencer Steam The Spencer Steam Tractor Tractor
Comes HomeComes Home
February 7, 2004February 7, 2004
A Generous Offer of a A Generous Offer of a Storage Barn…Storage Barn…
Spencer McBain Spencer McBain Pleasant MountPleasant Mount
Great Great Nephew Great Great Nephew ofof
David SpencerDavid Spencer
A Safe A Safe Resting Resting
PlacePlace
April 24, 2004 April 24, 2004 Volunteers Meet to…Volunteers Meet to…
Clean Out the WeedsClean Out the Weeds Preserve the WheelsPreserve the Wheels Measure for WoodMeasure for Wood Replacement PartsReplacement Parts Plan for the FuturePlan for the Future
An Offer of Ash Timber…An Offer of Ash Timber…
for wood replacement for wood replacement parts is received from parts is received from owners of 1800’s Earl owners of 1800’s Earl Kennedy farm where Kennedy farm where
original ash for tractor was original ash for tractor was cut.cut.
Another Offer Is Received Another Offer Is Received ……
from neighbor Ronnie from neighbor Ronnie Peck to saw the timber Peck to saw the timber
into boards with his into boards with his sawmill.sawmill.
A Loss….A Loss….
David W. Dix, whose Grandmother was David W. Dix, whose Grandmother was a Spencer and related to the inventor, a Spencer and related to the inventor, passed away on May 9, 2004. David passed away on May 9, 2004. David lived to see his dream fulfilled, the lived to see his dream fulfilled, the
return of the Spencer Tractor back to its return of the Spencer Tractor back to its Wayne County home.Wayne County home.
David W. Dix – A Dream David W. Dix – A Dream FulfilledFulfilled
And a Gain….And a Gain….
Gifts in David’s Gifts in David’s memory push the memory push the
tractor fund past the tractor fund past the purchase cost.purchase cost.
Generous Gifts Pay Cost Generous Gifts Pay Cost of Tractor in Full…of Tractor in Full…
Cost of Tractor - $3,000Cost of Tractor - $3,000 Donations Prior to May 9, 2004: Donations Prior to May 9, 2004:
$860$860 Gifts: Memory, David W. Dix: Gifts: Memory, David W. Dix:
$2235$2235 Total = $3095Total = $3095
What’s Next?What’s Next?Restoration!!!Restoration!!!
This... To This…This... To This…
Restoration FundRestoration Fund
Spencer Steam TractorSpencer Steam Tractor
Wayne County Historical SocietyWayne County Historical Society
P O Box 446P O Box 446
Honesdale, PA 18431Honesdale, PA 18431
