when steam was king

What' you call that big machine with a smoke stack? That's a steam traction engine. Some folks call them uh steamers. The engine boils water to make steam and turns the steam pressure into power. Most of them burn coal, but some burn straw or wood. Anyway, the steam power turns the pulley that drives the long belt. I know. Like with Funk's new tractor when he puts a belt on it to run the mill when he grinds feed for the pigs. That's right. Of course, the old steamers could never match the convenience and economy of your uncle's tractor or your dad's new diesel for belt work or pulling. That's why our modern gas and diesel tractors replace the steamers. The early steamers were built mainly for belt work, for threshing grain.