47 Clinton Avenue, Westport, Connecticut 06880. Reprinted from
the Spring 1991 Connecticut Antique Machinery Newsletter
Although the 1990 Fall Festival was the largest to date, with
275 exhibitors, the friendly spirit of earlier shows was still very
much evident. New show-goers commented that they couldn’t find
a better bunch of people anywhere and exhibitors were pleased with
the enthusiasm shown by the crowds. It was also a great time to
chat with old friends, and, as always, the show seemed to be over
too soon.
During the week preceding the Festival, volunteers worked on the
grounds, putting out stakes and ropes, hooking up the steam soup
kettle to its manifold, setting up our new food booth, and
assembling steam lines for the engines and model table. They also
hooked up our 85 HP Ames boiler to the steam lines from the
Industrial Hall, completed the feeding heater and condenser lines
for the Tiffany and Pickett engine, and installed its muffler on
the roof.
Our new mill whistle, donated by Kevin Shail, was mounted above
the roof with the large two-stage valve placed inside. When we
tried the whistle, we found the pilot valve leaked and needed
lapping. While we were taking it apart, something fell inside the
steam riser pipe. We took off the fitting at the end of the run and
placed a bucket there. Opening the steam valve, we gave it a shot
of steam from the boiler, and, along with several gallons of
condensate, we retrieved a spring. We also found that the valve
main piston was stuck, so we took the valve down for re-machining,
after which it worked fine.
As things worked out, the feed pump for the Ames boiler was
perhaps a little undersized and worn, but by dropping the boiler
pressure a bit, we were able to get it to work. This package boiler
was built in the mid 40’s and was donated to us by Henry
Miliski, who had it set up on a trailer to be fully automatic for
rental as an emergency steam-heat unit. One of its last commercial
jobs was to supply heat one winter for our state capitol in
Hartford. Cleaned up and painted, when the boiler was running, it
was an interesting and attractive exhibit in its own right.
Dudley Diebolds New Huber steam traction engine arrived a few
days before the show, and after unloading, it was towed in with
Mort Lowenthal’s Russell traction engine. Temporary power lines
were run overhead from the electrical panel, through the trees, to
the Industrial Hall, to supply electricity for lights and the Ames
boiler. Water hoses were run from the well to supply the boilers.
All of the boilers passed their state inspections on Friday and
were ready for operation.
On Saturday, a large group of people turned out to help. Ed
Bezanson came early in the day with his motor home and family, and
soon had his children helping him put the contents of the five-bay
shed into shape. Also among those setting up was Asa Beckwith, with
his operating blacksmith exhibit. Our crew of volunteers made quick
work of the remaining projects, and by sundown we were ready for
the public. The weather had cooperated all week and on Sunday it
continued to do so. The Tiffany and Pickett engine ran the whole
day, and the mill whistle worked perfectly. Attendance was up and
the day had few problems.
New this year was a bake sale/food booth, with soup from our
steam kettle, along with coffee and iced tea. All these services
were huge successes and were supplied and staffed by Marina Golub,
Noni Diebold, Peg and Don Capozi, Nancy Stuart, Felicity Sidewell,
Dolly Whitney, Caitland Diebold, Stephanie and Ali Gennaris, Eric
Phelan, Martha Carlstrum, Katherine Current, Ellie Lowenthal, Pat
Leonard, Mrs. Reeves, Theo Golub, Janet Coates, Alice Hungerford,
Mark Wilson, Leo Meyer, Francine Oliva, Toni Chila, and Jean
Stauffer. One of the big hits was Eric Phelan’s carrot cakes
they went fast and all day long people were asking for more. Eric,
who is 10years old, might consider a career as a baker or chef.
Noni Diebold came up with a great recipe for vegetable soup, and
served it piping hot from our large steam kettle; it sold very
fast. From a booth donated by George Brower, the ladies sold cakes,
cookies, and coffee. Other food services were supplied by George
Brower, who brought in his colorful popcorn wagon as he has in the
past. But this year, he also brought along a booth where he served
french fries and chicken sandwiches. Again this year, the Kent
Lions Club served up their good fixings of soda, coffee, hamburgers
and hotdogs. New, was the addition of a breakfast menu, which
included coffee, donuts, and a sausage-and-egg sandwich.
Our hospitality tent was again staffed under the able direction
of John and Jean Stauffer, with Dick Greene, Katherine Current, Pat
Leonard, Myron Winifred, and Fred Witt. This hard-working group
served a constant stream of fair goers, who wanted to take out
memberships and buy souvenirs. Our raffle engine this year, a 1930
1VS HP McCormick Deering engine, was rebuilt by our resident master
restorer, Bob Current. It was won by David Thorp of Cheshire, who
wanted to buy a full book of five tickets. Halfway through filling
in the stubs, he was called away to get a hamburger. Upon
returning, he found someone had taken the middle ticket in the book
he wanted. A bit upset, he was persuaded by Pat Leonard to take a
substitute ticket, #911, which was the winning number.
Coincidentally, Mr. Thorp is a Connecticut State Representative who
initiated the 911 emergency telephone legislation. Now, how’s
that for a raffle ticket story? (Since then, we’ve learned that
David Thorp has donated the engine back for the 1991 Festival
raffle.)
Steam has continued to grow, with many nice stationary exhibits
hooked up to the manifolds at this year’s show. Among them, a
vertical single-cylinder engine, which once ran a machine shop, was
brought in by Al Meyers and his father Al, Sr. They spent most of
the week finalizing the details and painting of this finely
restored engine. There was also a horizontal 35 HP sawmill engine,
a small tailor shop engine (which once ran several sewing machines)
and a nice model of a portable boiler on skids with a beautifully
built Corliss engine mounted on top of the boiler. Dan Reeve spent
the day with Alan Carlstrom in the Industrial Hall running the big
Tiffany and Pickett Greene engine, and keeping steam supplied to
all of the other engines, as well as tending our Ames boiler. Tom
Trenka and Frank Olivia operated the Buffalo steam roller and our
steam crew was filled out with Mort Lowenthal and Frank Cassella
operating Mort’s Russell traction engine.
This year’s crafts section was the largest yet with 23
crafters exhibiting and selling all sorts of items including
stained glass, wooden bowls, toys, leather goods, pottery, home
craft, beads and jewelry. There was also a silhouette artist. Lee
Pedersen was there with his tent and a nice display for both the
engine men and the general public.
Many of the exhibits were so finely restored, that they looked
like showroom samples from a sales floor rather than antiques.
Among these was one of the oldest engines, but a new one at our
show. It was a Reeco-Rider hot-air engine owned and restored by Jim
Boice of Salt Point, New York. Another example of this unique class
of engine was a similarly restored Reeco-Ericsson engine owned by
George Covill. Jerry Ellis of Winsted, Connecticut also had a nice
display of model gas and hot-air engines. Other finely restored
exhibits included antique cars, such as a 1904 Olds, along with
many trucks, tractors, and stationary exhibits. There were all
sorts of gas engines, from a small Maytag to a 17 HP Ruston/Hornsby
diesel engine. There were pumps, lathes, corn shellers, an ensilage
cutter, feed grinders, wood splitters, drag saws, orchard sprayers,
cider presses and buzz saws. Other attractive exhibits included
Mark Bianco’s restored lawnmowers and Mike Nott’s
English-style model traction engines. There was also an interesting
safe display and a nicely restored motor canoe.
Exhibitors came from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
New York, and Rhode Island. Mike Cleary of Bolivar, New York, who
traveled the farthest, (7 hours) brought a trailer with a
gas-engine-powered machine shop. With its line shafting and belts,
the shop demonstrated the uses and transmission of mechanical
power. Along these lines, what seems to please the public the most
are working exhibits something being run from a belt on an engine
and we are continuing to encourage this type of display.
Again this year, the Dennis Sharon family of Ridgefield hosted a
picnic for friends and relatives and had over 35 guests attend. Our
tag sale was run by Vinny Reynolds, who, along with his sons, also
worked hard all year long keeping the grounds in shape. We also had
an increase this year in the number of tractors, representing
manufacturers such as Case, John Deere, Panzer, Farmall,
Massey-Harris, Ford and Beaver. There was also a 1918 Indiana. With
our new ensilage cutter and wood planer, tractors with power
take-offs had something to work with. Kevin Biebel delivered our
New Holland rock crusher and elevator. With some work, the unit
should be ready for next year’s show.
Revenues were up, and a great job was done by Fred Phelan,
Foster Whitney, Ed Vaniky, Mark Wilson, Gabe Harris, Bill van
Derbogart, Bob Amstutz, Pat Rudzavice, Babe Pitcher, Jack Farrell,
and Nicki Hine, who acted as lot supervisors, spotters, admission
collectors, and shuttle bus drivers. The weather was dry and crisp
during the show that is. But towards evening, after the crowds came
and left, and after most of the exhibitors had packed up and left
too, a very light drizzle began to fall. Nothing to be concerned
about at this stage. However, one of the last ones out of the gate,
Tony Dorbuck reported rain so heavy by the time he got home, that
water was gushing up through the holes in manhole covers. Serves
him right for hanging around so long!
On Monday, the grounds were picked up, campers, trailers,
exhibits gone or put away, bare areas seeded, trash taken to the
dump. Boilers were drained and benches were put away. On Tuesday,
when I spoke to John Stauffer, one of our steady volunteers who is
retired, he said that after two weeks of working on the grounds in
Kent and getting ready for the show, he now doesn’t know what
to do with him self he feels ‘retired’ again. I tried to
reassure him there was plenty to do, but he did have a point. The
show was a success and over, so now, on to next year. The 1991 show
is scheduled for September 29.
