Gosh, it’s been hot here in Kansas, and it was not exactly cool in Ontario either a few weeks ago. We traveled there to visit some shows and to do some interviews with old-iron collectors that Sherwood Hume had arranged. Sherwood kept us on a sizzling schedule, and we’re excited to share with you what we discovered up there thanks to him. It’s inspiring and, in some cases down right amazing, and actually, it’s not that far away. Thanks to everyone who was so hospitable and helpful up there; we’re looking forward to a return trip. In the meantime, though, coverage of this recent adventure begins on page 36.
And now we’re taking off again, this time for our first taste of the renowned show at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the Old Threshers Reunion. By the time you receive this, we’ll be back in Kansas again, though, with another trailer-load of stories for your reading pleasure. I feel like a squirrel gathering nuts for the winter! Now, if we could just get some autumn-like weather to go along with the gathering in Iowa.
In the office, we re finding that our ‘What-is-it?’ feature has quickly become a hit with readers and that our readers are a knowledgeable lot, able to identify many of these mystery tools and willing to send those identifications to us. The turn-around time is a little tight between the release of one issue and the copy deadline on the next, but we’re doing our best to get as many of your answers in print as we can. The response has been so enthusiastic that we may not get everyone’s name in there, too. It’s a great feeling to be able to facilitate this sharing of information, though, and we’ll do our best to get as many of you identified as we can.
If you have a mystery tool that you’ve been puzzling over, please send a photo of it in to us (directions are on the ‘What-is-it?’ page). With this group of readers taking a crack at these IDs, the chances are pretty darn good of getting a piece correctly named and explained. And as always, we just love to hear from you, and to get pictures of your treasures, and accounts of your collecting adventures. Mail call is, as I’ve said before, my favorite time of day.
