1973 was a very busy year for the Stephenson County Antique
Engine Club. A lease was signed with the Fairboard which allowed
for the construction of buildings and permanent displays. So, an
open-sided building was built to protect the sawmill from the
elements and provide shade for the workers during the show. Also,
a 60′ x 80′ storage building was completed right
equipment, equipment owned by members for which they do not have
room, and for the placement of permanent displays. One permanent
display was completed just two days before the show. It is a 60 HP
Fairbanks-Morse 1 cylinder diesel engine. It has a 14′ bore and
17’stroke, a 7′ diameter flywheel, and weighs 12 tons. It
had been dismantled and laying outside for several years before the
club purchased it, so it was quite a job to get it running again.
But it ran beautifully for three days at the show, once again under
cover in the new building.
Our show was 3 days this year for the first time. The highlight
of Friday’s show was an antique tractor pull with over 20
tractors, ranging from an F-12 Farmall to a 30-60 Oil Pull
participating. Four steamers also took a turn at pulling the
boat.
Our show has so much going on at once that some visitors
complain that they just can’t see it all in a day. Our
activities run simultaneously throughout the day. Starting at 9
a.m. there are steamers and tractors on the Baker Fan, sawmill in
operation along with a barrel stave mill, a shingle mill and a buzz
saw. There is threshing with steam and gas, baling with a hand tie
baler, shredding, corn shelling, rock crushing, grinding flour and
horses powering a wooden elevator. The big commercial building is
full of many displays of interest to the ladies, such as old
greeting cards, dolls, toys, coffee grinders, household tools and
appliances. A new attraction this year was a complete old farm
kitchen with all the furniture, even a working pitcher pump and an
old telephone which rang the old party line rings. Beside the
kitchen was a replica of an old living room full of priceless
antique furniture. There was also an old wash house. Also in the
building were displays of license plates, blacksmith tools, coins,
eyeglasses, and small steam models.
The steamers on display this year were a 20 HP Reeves, 16 HP
Port Huron, 24 HP Minneapolis, 18 HP Advance-Rumely, 40 and 50 HP
Case, and a 25 HP Russell. There were over 50 tractors including
some real rare ones and some real big ones 40-80 Avery, 30-60
Aultman Taylor, 30-60 and 15-30 one cylinder Oil Pulls, 12-24 and
20-40 two cylinder Case, 30-60 Keck Gonnerman, 20-42 Nichols and
Shepard, 18-36 Pioneer, Rumely Du-All, and 28-50 Hart-Parr.
Gasoline alley was full this year with over 100 gas engines.
Also on display were many beautiful teams of horses pulling
wagons and other equipment. There was even an 8 horse hitch and
show wagon which performed in front of the grandstand during the
parade. There was also a nice selection of antique cars over 20 in
all.
As I have said before, the theme of our show is activity and
diversity. So, if you want to see a lot going on and a good variety
to keep the whole family interested, come to our show July 26, 27
and 28 1974 and see why it is one of the fastest growing shows in
the country.