KAUFFMAN DISPLAY AT EASTERN SHORE THRESHERMEN SHOW

6101 Harmony Road, Preston, Maryland 21655

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of John S. Kauffman’s
birth and the 25th anniversary of his death, members of his family
displayed their private collection of his works at the Eastern
Shore Thresher men & Collectors Association Show in August.
Four of his children and three grandchildren attended the show with
a wonderful display of his models and paintings. They had never
thought of displaying any of his works, some of them hadn’t
even been to a steam show before. Mr. Kauffman was a well known
artist who striped a number of steam engines which were restored in
the 1950s and 1960s. He is also known for designing the cover of
the Iron Men Album. Among the artwork exhibited at the show was the
original Iron Men Album sign he painted for Rev. Elmer Ritzman,
founder of the magazine.

The models displayed consisted of a Frick traction engine and a
C. Aultman Company Star engine, also wooden models of a Huber steam
engine, American thresher and Ohio Hay Press. They even
demonstrated baling straw with the miniature hay press.

Kauffman display at Eastern Shore Threshermen Show includes the
original Iron Men Album sign painted for Rev. Elmer Ritzman.

This was the first time the Kauffman family has exhibited their
collection at any show. A question to the Iron Men Album
last January asking about the initials ‘J.S.K.’ on the
cover of the magazine and the response prompted the family to bring
out the display for public viewing.

One of his grandchildren said they always appreciated Mr.
Kauffman’s work because he was their grandfather, but seeing
the public’s response gave them a whole new appreciation for
his talents.