MIGHTY ENGINES AT ONTARIO MUSEUM

Mighty engines, which in bygone days performed staunch service
on Canadian farms, now help tell the story of the past at the
splendid Ontario Agricultural Museum at Milton, an easy jaunt from
Toronto.

When you go, allow yourself plenty of time for a full visit.
There is a tremendous amount to see and enjoy, to study and to chat
about.

On 80 acres, the museum displays 15 steam traction engines and
about 100 gasoline tractors; stationary gas engines, and much other
machinery and equipment.

You can see early Ontario farm homes, moved in from their
original isolated locations, and furnished in the style of their
times; costumed guides talk about furnishings and customs.

You can walk through a tremendous octagonal barn, a landmark in
rural construction, housing many exhibits.

You can see a windmill with a diameter of 14 feet, the largest
in the province.

You can study the evolution of farming from the early 1800s;
view old time farm tools and re-created shops or offices of persons
associated with the farm community, and have yourself a totally
pleasant and informative time, at your leisure.

Curator, Peter M. Led with, a tall red-headed young man in a
straw hat, conducted my wife, Margaret and me through the museum
this past summer. Margaret grew up on a Montana ranch, so she was
very familiar with much that she saw on the tour.

Steam traction engine collectors find this a very attractive
showplace for their hobby. That goes for tractor and stationary gas
engine buffs also. In tracing farm history, ample attention is
given to machinery.

On the front lawn is a very well preserved Goodison threshing
machine, 1928, made by the John Goodison Threshing Company, Ltd.,
founded in Sarnia, Ont., in 1881. It was donated by Glen Grice,
Mississauga, Ontario. Also out front is a huge Wheelock stationary
steam engine.

Among the restored engines is a Champion portable, made by the
Waterous Engine Works Co., Brant-ford. Near it is a poster showing
an engraving of an engine at work in a barn yard.

While we were there we watched Dave Hooton, restoration
specialist, firing a 1912 Case 12 HP which was belted to a Massey
grinder which had been converted into a speed jack. This was hooked
up to a Vessot grinder made in Joliette and sold by International
Harvester. Nearby was a huge Sawyer-Massey in excellent
condition.

One of the gas engines on the grounds was a real ‘what is
it?’ Larry Healey, an expert, had said he never seen anything
like it. He estimated year at 1900. It is a 3-valve job, about 8
HP, with wheel 36-42′ in diameter, and a pendulum governor.

Many of the engines are housed under cover in barns built with
bays, many with just one machine in a bay. This gives the
visitor–whether he be an engine specialist or a city
slicker–welcome opportunity for close-up inspections.

Memories come back for old-timers when they see the re-creation
of an early harness maker’s shop, or the interior of a
veterinarian’s office.

The museum covers six generaleras: Pioneer, Horse Power, Steam,
Gasoline Tractor, Depression Years, and Power Farming.

Behind the scenes, we were deeply impressed with the care given
to restoration of valuable farm machinery and artifacts. Led with
said the museum was planning a seminar on restoration for the
spring of 1982, and we urge readers to attend.

Restoration can be done the right way, or it can be bungled.
Research is very important before an old machine or any other
antique object is touched. And, if any work is done it should be
performed with greatest care.

Robert W. Carbert is director of the museum, which looks to the
future as well as to the past and the present. It is now merely a
little over 8 years old.

The museum is open from mid-May until mid-October, 7 days a
week, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. An admission fee is charged.