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Robert said rotary tillers were developed in Switzerland by the Sumar Company, and imported into the U.S. in the 1920s to add to the "Earth Grinders" being developed by Rototiller of New York. The early tillers, he said, weighed almost 600 pounds and were not very practical. By the 1960s, after numerous company acquisitions and design changes, the tractors were renamed Troy Built in honor of Troy, N.Y.
Steve Nafe of Glen Rock, Pa., brought his grandfather's turn-of-the-century shingle mill to demonstrate the production of cedar roofing shingles. It was powered by a 1938 Frick 50 hp steam engine.
"We just go to different shows and play I with it," Steve said with a smile. "This is a very expensive hobby."
"I just like anything to do with milk," he said. "When I was a kid, I milked two cows every day, and worked on my uncle's farm. I just love this stuff."
There were many kinds of gas engines, some set up to perform a function such as pumping water. There were displays of corn I shellers and Maytag washing machine motors. An awesome collection of old farm I equipment repair manuals and catalogs took I up several large tables. More than 50 tractors of all ages, makes, models and colors I were lined up along the edge of the grove.
David Hilty of Spring Grove showed off I the log splitter he designed and built 20 I years ago. Powered by a German air-cooled four-cylinder Deutzs diesel engine taken I from a reaper, it will split four cords of wood in an hour.
"I used to split a lot of logs when I first had it," said David, who is a trucker by trade. "Now I use it to play with. I take it to shows to demonstrate. Shows need entertainment activities for people; otherwise, they leave."
This year's show attendance was adversely affected by temperatures near the century mark but there were still plenty of young families strolling under the trees, enjoying a cool drink, watching the demonstrations, and listening to live country music. Others sampled the food while they rested on benches in the open pavilions.
The Menges Mill Historic Horse, Steam and Gas Association was founded in 1986 to encourage preservation of Pennsylvania's early agricultural heritage, according to the group's president, Harold Sheaffer, Kutztown, Pa. The group has about 250 members from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.