August 21, 2010 is shaping up to be a pretty interesting day as far as antique tractor and antique gas engine auctions go. While there are likely many antique farm equipment auctions taking place across the country that day, here are two we'd like to put a spotlight on:

Jake Shafer's Private Collection of Classic Cars and Tractors
10 a.m. @ 1211 West J and J Circle, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641
Menke-Hoyer Auction Realty Co., Inc.

This auction is likely to draw a big crowd and not necessarily because of the more than 30 vintage and collector cars up for bid. Rather, the highlight of this sale is a rare 1917 Heider tractor, which auctioneer Corey D. Fraise claims is similar to two other Heider's sold at two separate Aumann Auctions within the last three years that sold for $15,000 and $30,000. Even if you don't have the bank account to take a stab at the Heider, it'll still be worth it to check out this auction and watch the bidding sparks fly. Also up for bid will be a Ferguson tractor.

The Estate of Otis Hardy
Noon, Stevinson, CA
Garlic City Auction, Gilroy, CA
(408) 612-5638

Otis Hardy was president of Branch 18 of the National Early Day Gas Engine & Tractor Assc. and amassed quite a collection of large gas engines on his 15 acre ranch in Stevinson, CA. According to the auction listing, some of the manufacturers represented in Otis' collection include Western, National Transit System, Witte, Ottawa, Reid, Fairbanks-Morse and many others. The listing also includes several photos of the many big engines up for bid.

We recently received the following essay written by Ryan Collins. Ryan's grandfather, Harley Collins, sent it to us with the idea that gas engine enthusiasts would appreciate it, and we agree.

As Harley explained it, Ryan wrote this essay to accompany his application for medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is now a third-year student. Both Harley and Ryan are members of the Blue Mountain Antique Gas & Steam Engine Association in Jacktown, Pa.

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The smell of gas and oil tingles my nose. The dust dances in front of my eyes, reflecting the light from the one open door. Today, Grandfather and I are preparing our small gasoline engines for the annual antique show. Countless hours of hard work and learning have gone into this moment. Although these engines may be small, they have taught very important lessons.

My grandfather is a connoisseur of what some may call “junk.” To him, the small engines and tractors he collects represents something more. He gathered various pieces over many years in the hope of restoring each and every one. Although this goal was forgotten as his collection grew, Grandfather still wanted to share a part of his hobby with each of his grandchildren. Once I was old enough, I had the chance to explore his collection and select my prize. After choosing a small Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine, I soon came to the realization that restoring this engine wouldn’t be as easy as it looked. Years of repose left the engine encased in grime and grease. Myself being a young child at the age of eight, I asked Grandfather for ways to remove this dirt. In response to my query, he retrieved an old pan of dark solvent. This detergent stung my nose like vinegar and was slippery from the oil and grease it had digested. We used the solvent to soak and scrub the engine, and it finally came clean. This problem, much like an in life, just needed some time and hard work.

After everything was spotless, the time came to make this engine come to life. However, first I needed an education. Grandfather briefed me on the basic concepts of how an engine works and then allowed me to investigate the inner workings of the machine, piece by piece. I learned many things about mechanics and electronics over those following weeks. One of these facts is the piston moves up and down in the cylinder of an idling engine more than sixteen times per second, a fact I found incredibly startling. The complexities of this machine opened my eyes to the intricacies of life. Now, instead of just seeing a bird, I see the many organs operating inside of that tiny machine.

After several more weeks of work, the moment of truth came. When we pulled the starting rope, the engine first coughed, then sputtered, the purred like a kitten – a sure sign of success. This success continued for many years until, finally, a malfunction appeared. As hard as I tried, the engine would not run again. Then Grandfather intervened, asking me to take a step back and try another approach. By trying again and again, we finally isolated and repaired the problem. If at first you don’t succeed, relax, and then go at it again. I try to incorporate this adage into my life every day, whether I’m in school or trying to solve problems in a relationship.

Through our work on engines, my grandfather has influenced my approach to life in many ways. Many things that work in life also work in mechanics. Time and hard work are still the best ways to solve problems. The world around us is thousands of times more complex than we ever realize. Also, there are always times when try, again and again, to accomplish all of your goals. Life is always moving forward, and you can either sit by the side of the road waiting for help, or be a mechanic and fix the problems you face. 

Back in my college days, a couple friends and I got a small rock band together and started writing songs. Problem was, we could never find a reliable drummer to play with us, which eventually led to the band's ultimate demise. If only we had an old antique tractor to keep the beat. 

Terri Keitel, our advertising account executive, gave me a heads-up on this great video that appears to come from Germany. It features three really good musicians (four, if you count the tractor) doing a smokin' version of "Sweet, Georgia Brown." Enjoy!

And since I'm not a tractor guy, I'll let you all figure out what kind of tractor that is. Post your answers in the comment section below.

Starting last October, Aumann Auctions has been making video previews of their upcoming auctions. I wasn't aware of this until just recently when I stumbled on a video for the gas engines up for bid in the Gary Parker Collection auction taking place Oct. 23-24 at the Parker Antique Tractor Museum in Churubusco, IN.

I think this is a great idea that all auction services should offer. It's always nice to see a detailed list of what's going to be at an upcoming auction but nothing beats seeing those engines with your own eyes. The Gary Parker Collection videos are especially nice because they take a good long at most, if not all, of the significant items up for bid. If you're a big IHC fan, I don't think you'll want to miss this auction. Without further ado, here's the video:

Visit AumannAuctions.com for further information on the Gary Parker Collection auction.

By now, most everyone has heard about the ferocious wild fires in California, specifically the Station Fire creeping up toward the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory. What you might not realize, though, is that in addition to the telescopes and other astronomical equipment at risk of burning is a piece of gas engine history.

This was the last photo taken from the towercam at Mt. Wilson Observatory before a backfire broke the Internet connection.

In the June/July 2008 issue of GEM, Larry Evans talked about the restoration of a 1911 50 Fairbanks-Morse Type RE engine and generator that was once dubbed "Big Ben" by the resident astronomers. After several months of work from September 1999 to February 2000, Larry and his brother were able to get Big Ben running again, adding yet another attraction to the history-rich observatory.

In the story, Larry states that Big Ben is located in a fireproof building built in 1910. But whether or not that building is enough to protect the engine remains to be seen. As of Thursday morning (Sept. 3), firefighters had been successful at keeping the flames at bay aided by favorable weather conditions and a heavy dousing of fireproof gel and foam on the buildings. But fire officials warn that the fire could burn until at least Sept. 15 and until then, the safety of the observatory and all of the buildings surrounding it is still in question.

We've contacted Larry and he reported the following via e-mail:

"As of now all is well. Since the mountain top is shared with a huge antenna complex that covers the entire Los Angeles basin with commercial TV, radio, emergency agency communications, etc., a very large effort has been and is being made to ensure its safety. So far the efforts have been successful and hopefully will remain so but this has been an extremely unpredictable fire."

We'll keep you posted with any new information and in the meantime, you can follow the latest developments through observatory director Hal McAlister's blog.

UPDATE: Everything is quiet on Mt. Wilson once again. Thanks to the tireless effort of the firefighters, the observatory, the antennas and Big Ben all appear to be safe and sound.

It’s safe to say that the process of ranking the best farm shows in the country would be a futile endeavor. Everyone has their favorites and it’s not likely you’ll find two people with the same list.

That said, it would be interesting to see which shows make it onto multiple lists. And I have a feeling that if more folks were aware of it, the annual Camp Creek Threshers show in Waverly, Neb., would be one of those.

The 2010 Camp Creek Antique Machinery and Threshing Show will take place July 17-18 in Waverly, Neb. Photo by Christian Williams

Wrapping up its 33rd year, the Camp Creek Antique Machinery and Threshing Show is simply one of the best all-around farm shows I’ve been to. Even my wife - who’s hardly ever excited about walking down dusty paths and watching me ogle gas engines – had a great time. And the reason is because there truly is something for everyone.

I know that phrase gets tossed around so much that it has likely lost its meaning for most of you. But in addition to a stellar display of rare gas engines and prairie tractors (more on those later), I was pleasantly surprised by how well the show was geared toward everyone ages 8-88.

There was a blacksmith shop, a working print shop where, for $1, you could have your name printed on a linotype slug, an elaborate model railroad set-up in the old Waverly train depot relocated to the show grounds, a replica service station surrounded by antique vehicles, a saddle and harness shop with horse demonstrations, a butter churning demonstration, a flour mill, flea market and antique drug store, as well as much, much more. And don’t forget the delicious homemade apple pie and ice cream!

I was also excited to see so many kids having fun, whether by turning the crank on the corn shellers, playing with the animals in the petting zoo, watching a gas engine power a water pump, or just simply marveling at the size and beauty of the steam engines and prairie tractors. I had a chance to speak with Camp Creek Threshers President Heidi Cheney, and she shares my opinion that getting kids interested in the hobby is vital to the future of the hobby. And it’s obvious that the Camp Creek Threshers recognize the unique opportunity they have to educate children about the history and preservation of antique farm equipment. You could tell that the kids weren’t just having fun, they were also learning how their ancestors got work done. I think the hobby is in great hands with folks like the Camp Creek Threshers around.

And for those who are just interested in the nuts and bolts of a farm show, there was plenty of rare old iron on display. The featured tractors were of the prairie variety – my personal favorite – and I counted at least 10 on display. Over in the gas engine area, I spotted several engines which I had yet to see in person including a 5 HP Stickney, 1-1/2 HP Flying Dutchmen, 12 HP Root & Vandervoort, 8 HP heavy-pattern Baker Monitor with enclosed crankcase and 10 HP Ohio sideshaft, just to name a few. Having talked to several club members, I’m going to venture a guess that next year’s lineups for tractors and gas engines will be just as impressive.

Located just 10 minutes from Lincoln, the show is also one of the most convenient I’ve attended, and would be an easy drive for most anyone in the upper Midwest. I’m already checking to see if my 2010 schedule allows for a return trip. And speaking of the 2010 show, it takes place July 17-18, preceded by a swap meet on May 22. Visit www.ccthreshers.com for more information.

Since the January 2006 issue of Gas Engine Magazine, engine enthusiast Peter Rooke has been sharing his restoration expertise through detailed articles that often span several issues.

Peter Rooke’s book, Gas Engine Restoration, is now available through Gas Engine Magazine.

As an editor, it’s a risky decision to commit that much space to one story, and you always have to ask the question, “What if the reader gets bored with this series halfway through?”

But with Peter, that’s never been a concern, and reader surveys have confirmed that for us. The vast majority of readers appreciate Peter’s attention to detail and straightforward approach to explaining the technical aspects of gas engine restoration, which is why we’re thrilled to announce the release of Peter’s first book on the subject, aptly titled Gas Engine Restoration.

The first book of its kind, Gas Engine Restoration is a step-by-step guide that we think will be extremely valuable to beginning and experienced hobbyists alike. An easy-to-follow narrative is supplemented with plenty of color photos, comprehensive data tables and a soft cover spiral binding that allows you to lay the book flat and use it as you work on your own restoration. You can bet that Editor-in-Chief Richard Backus and I will be using it extensively when we begin restoring our 1921 1-1/2 HP IHC M later this summer.

Where I’ll be this summer
I found out last year that some people like to know ahead of time what shows I plan to attend, whether it be to make sure I see a unique engine, meet someone interesting or just say hello. So, barring any unforeseen events, here’s a partial list of shows I’ll be at:
• Camp Creek Threshers, July 18-19, Waverly, Neb.
• Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show, Aug. 26-30, Portland, Ind.
• Midwest Old Threshers Reunion, Sept. 3-7, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. (I’ll be bringing my banjo and guitar and playing some songs in the Farm Collector tent from Songs of the Iron Men, my new album of folk music featuring poems from Iron-Men Album).
• Ozarks Steam-O-Rama, Sept. 17-20, Springfield, Mo.