72 Castlglen Way NE Calgary, Alberta T3J 1T3
Pioneer Acres of Alberta Museum, situated on 50 acres just 30
minutes from Calgary, Alberta, held their sixth annual Model and
Hobby Show on May 27 & 28, 2000. The show was well attended,
with exhibitors coming from the Calgary area and as far away as
Peace River.
The models again this year were outstanding, being enjoyed by
the steady crowds each day. Ernie Bertschi from Camrose, Alberta,
was operating his scale 76 HP Sawyer-Massey traction engine on his
latest project, a scale Case hay press. We took turns running it
while Ernie tied small hay bales for the crowd. Ken Grove, from
Indus, Alberta, had his complete 1/3 scale
Rumely engine, separator, bundle racks and grain wagon
demonstrating, threshing alongside Pioneer Acres full size outfit
for comparison. Brian Manning of Calgary was kept busy operating a
scale Advance-Rumely 25 HP steam engine demonstrating ‘tug
‘o’ war’ ‘ with its power, and running the hay
press. Barry Hanna, from Coleman, Alberta, had Pioneer Acres’
full size 65 HP Case engine fired up for the crowd each day.
Model of a 1927 Alchin or Royal Chester (English) steamer, built
by Ton Leschinski of Calgary. Scale is 1 12′. Note: adjustable
wrench in bottom left hand corner. This engine is approximately
16′ high and runs perfectly.
The covered storage building was bulging at the seams with all
different types of operating models of stationary, traction and
mill engines, to gas powered pump engines and blacksmithing
display. Tony Leschinski of Calgary had the people mystified with
four tables full of engines. Peter Woods, also of Calgary, has the
most unusual hobby, building models from scratch (and most without
plans) out of nothing but matchsticks glued together. One model of
an English Showman’s engine consisted of over 3500 pieces!
Amazing!
Operator’s view of 1/3 model Rumely threshing outfit owned
by Ken Grove of Indus, Alberta. 16-30 tractor and 28′
separator, bundle racks and grain wagon even a 1/3 scale
pitcher!
This year’s show on May 26 and 27, will be the biggest yet,
with several new displays and exhibits. The local Scout troop will
shoot off homemade rockets all day on Saturday out in the rye
field. We’ll have an antique tractor pull demonstration each
after noon from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., plus an antique car and truck
display and swap meet all weekend. For more information contact
Pioneer Acres at: 403-935-4357; Brian Manning at
b.r.manning@home.com, or visit our website at
pioneeracres.ab.ca.
