In our part of the world, one of the first large annual events to attend is the swap meet and auction sponsored by the Badger Steam & Gas Engine Club at Baraboo, Wis. It’s not the largest in the country but it’s no slouch with all kinds of cool stuff from gas engines and tractors to guys just cleaning out all the old junk they bought at last year’s garage sales and swap meets.
There is something about a swap meet that draws engine nuts like a magnet. Just the anticipation will keep them talking and thinking and planning for several weeks prior to the event. Stick it in the spring after a typical Northern winter and everyone gets “fired up” to get out. Most important is meeting our friends coming out of hibernation from near and far.
The weather was decent but much cooler than the forecast. Imagine that! Saw a lot of guys running around wishing they had brought a warmer jacket. We holler at our kids for not dressing warm enough and here were old timers that should have known better, freezing certain parts of their anatomy because they didn’t want to miss anything. Oh well, guess that’s why we get pneumonia shots!
The club holds a consignment auction on Saturday and usually builds it around a collection or group of collections. However, anyone can consign any appropriate item and the club is good about keeping stuff appropriate. In addition to some fine engines, there were IHC, Oliver and MM tractors. Steam items were also included with a handful of small boilers and two full-size steam tractors in this year’s auction.
Stover engines in the ring
There was a nice selection of Stover engines in the auction with all but one in good condition. The Stover types included a TA (CT1), TB (CT2), KA and a rare YB vertical that turned out to be the buy of the day.
Stover engines in the swap meet
The swap meet also had a nice variety of Stovers and parts with most engines reasonably priced. It felt like we walked several miles and still didn’t see everything. So, with sore feet but a happy tiredness, we left Baraboo in the rearview mirror and headed on home, excited about the summer events to come and the friends to visit at the next show.
Stover engine registry
The registry just keeps growing, so if you want to know when your engine was shipped and to whom, please send me the serial number. You can view the latest Stover gas engine factory records at Stover Gas Engine Registry.
Until next time, keep your plugs dry and your igniters oiled.
Contact Joe Maurer at 797 S. Silberman Rd., Pearl City, IL 61062 • (815) 443-2223 • toadhill@aeroinc.net