Route 1, Assaria, Kansas 67416
The Wheat Heritage Engine and Threshing Company, Inc. held an
engine and threshing show August 5, 6 and 7, 1977 at Camp Webster,
Salina, Kansas. The show was the first one the club could call its
own since the founding of the Club in 1973. Prior to this show, the
Club has been invited to put on an antique engine show each year at
County Threshing Days in July. Hopefully, future Salina shows will
be possible, making it an annual affair. Also, revenues from these
shows could possibly be used to buy a parcel of land near Salina,
erect buildings, and as a result, have a permanent show place and
storage facility to also be used as a museum of antique farm
machinery.
An unusually wet summer plagued this first show, with rain
showers both Thursday and Friday nights, making the first two days
rather soggy, but the sun died things off enough to thresh and do
some plowing Friday, and in spite of the three inches Friday night,
it dried off enough to thresh Saturday. Miraculously rain spared
the show Saturday night, so Sunday the threshing and straw baling
went well. Other special activities included a Saturday evening
program by the ‘Bluegrass Jayhawkers’ and a Sunday morning
worship service.
Steam power at the show was represented by a 40 HP Case owned by
the club president, Jerry Toews of Goessel, Kansas, a 50 HP Case
owned by Kenneth Peterson of Denmark, Kansas, and a half scale
Rumely owned by Earl Kuntz and sons of Abilene, Kansas. A number of
gas tractors were present three different models of Rumely Oil
Pull: 16-30, 15-25, 12-20, a Titan, Allis-Chalmers Model E, two
18-36 Hart Parrs, and several John Deeres and McCormick-Deerings. A
slow tractor and hand starting contests kept these relics busy
Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Also Wilbert Bartel and sons
from Hillsboro, Kansas, brought one of the highlights of the show,
their M & W dynamometer, which they connected to a pulley
setup. All throughout the show the different tractors belted up to
the contraption to see how much horsepower they could crank out.
About 65 small gas engines were present, Fairbanks-Morse, Monitor,
Olds, and Witte were just a few of the many different makes
represented. Wood and silage cutting were demonstrated in this
area.
In the automotive line, Dale Chizek and son of Agenda, Kansas,
brought their finely restored 1917 Republic truck, and Sunday,
three Model A Fords toured the show.
The rainy weather had its effect on the spectators as by a
Saturday night tally, only 400 had paid admission. But Sunday with
its beautiful weather, literally ‘saved the show’ as about
825 paid admission. These figures do not take in the exhibitors who
numbered about 100 and were admitted free. Money-wise the club
passed the break even point on expenses and even made a little
profit.
This first show, all things considered, even the poor weather,
turned out very well. Complaints were few and things as a whole ran
smoothly. So the club would like to thank all those who came and
participated and would like to extend an invitation to come again
next year, the show again being held at Camp Webster, Salina,
Kansas, one quarter mile north of the Ohio Street Interchange on
Interstate 70, August 11, 12, 13, 1978.
