John Abell was born in England on September 17, 1822. In 1881 John Abell exhibited the first cross compound threshing engine ever built in Canada. In 1886, Abell added steel rear wheels and a driving mechaninsm to his standard Triumph portable steam engine to create his first steam traction engine. John Abell died on August 7, 1903.
His company was sold, in 1902, to Advance Thresher and the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Co. which reorganized it into the American Abell Engine & Thresher Co., Ltd.
Information Sources:
- Norbeck, Jack, Encyclopedia of American Steam Traction Engines, Crestline Publishing Inc, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, pages 60-62.
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Steam Power on the American Farm by Reynold M. Wik, 1953 pages 251 & 254