Advance-Rumely Steam Tractor

The vehicle in the image appears to be a steam powered tractor, specifically it looks like an Advance-Rumely steam tractor manufactured by the Advance Thresher Company (which later became part of Rumely). These engines were used in agriculture during the late 19th and early 20th centuries for tasks such as threshing, plowing, and powering machinery via a belt drive. The large rear wheels and geared flywheel indicate that it is a self-propelled traction engine rather than a stationary steam engine. This type of engine ran on coal or wood and featured low-pressure steam boilers. Unlike belt-only stationary engines, many Advance-Rumely traction engines used a geared drive system to propel themselves, allowing them to travel between job sites under their own power. This made them highly versatile for agricultural use on large farms. These steam tractors consumed large amounts of water and fuel, requiring frequent stops to refill water tanks and tend the fire. A typical day's operation could use several hundred gallons of water and hundreds of pounds of fuel, making logistical support essential during threshing runs.