Thieman........

I was driving north of St. Paul, Nebraska yesterday and glanced over at a farmyard where several nicely restored tractors were parked within view of the road.

I was startled to see one of them appeared to be a Thieman like one in a group of photos Old Iowa posted a few days ago.

I can't remember his name, but a man out by St. Paul collects them - he has 4 or 5.....

He's had them on display at the State Fair in Grand Island the last couple years. I have some pictures of them somewhere....

Big JT if you are reading this please chime in and help me out.

Thieman tractors were made in my home town of Albert City, Ia by Thieman manufacturing co., named after the last name of the two Thieman brothers who started it. They made hog waters and feeders, a sileage chopper with a Model T engine, sileage blower pump jacks, a limited amount of park benches along with some other products that don't come to my mind right now. The company folded sometime around WW2.

The tractor was a frame designed to accomodate a Model A Ford engine, transmission-torque tube- rear end combo that sat on top of the frame. Sprockets were bolted to the rear wheel hubs with chains going down to sprockets on the rear wheels. There was a hand lever on each side for brakes. The farmer could buy a frame and take it home so he could mount his own engine/power train unit or the factory could do it for him. There are a few out there with a flathead Ford engine and it's rumored there were a few with a Dodge powertrain.

The Thieman family here locally pronounced their name TEEMAN, but I ran on to a Thieman family member from an eastern state who pronounced it THEEMAN. The last local Thieman family member who lived by Albert City passed away several years ago but a collection of Thieman products is housed at the Albert City Threshermen's show grounds. It's interesting to hear about far flung Thieman tractor collections because back in the day I don't think they ventured very far from Albert City. Jim

There is one in my area Near Grey Eagle, Mn.

There is one in NW Illinois. Its an original unrestored tractor.

A Gentleman here in Lynden Wa has a Thieman that was brought here via family from Iowa. He has shown and displayed that unit at many shows over the last 12 or so years. He passed away earlier this year and I helped the family get his tractors to the service and sang at the funeral. Our club misses him and we paid tribute to him at our annual threshing bee first week of August.