Rt 4, Box 1645, Elizabethton, Tennessee 37643
On June 10 and 11, 1988, the East Tennessee Antique Engine
Association sponsored the 17th East Tennessee Crank Up at the farm
of Jeff Hutchings on Scioto Road, near Johnson City, Tennessee.
Jeff’s farm is tucked away between two mountain ranges
bordering the Cherokee National Forest. It’s a beautiful
setting for an engine show with spectacular scenery, plenty of
shade, cool nights and mild days. We provide southern hospitality
at its best.
Several years ago our members wanted to make this show different
and unique. We felt we already had something special in our
location, but we wanted to offer a warm friendly atmosphere and
more. We decided to display some of the rarest and most unusual
engines ever made. We enlisted everyone we could to bring and
display their unusual engines, and 1988 was no exception. We had 2
steam engines, an old hot air engine, 127 gas or gasoline engines
from 10 HP to tiny little Briggs. We had many steam, gas, and hot
air models, as well as some tractors, a crawler and a fire truck.
On display were about 30 side-shaft engines including 4 sideshaft
Geisers, a Springfield, 3 Ottos and a Columbus. The oldest engine
on display was a ? HP Otto Silent manufactured in 1882. It is a
slide valve engine built by Crossley Brothers of Manchester,
England. It was quite a sight to see this old engine come alive and
run. Also on display was a beautiful 4? HP Gearless Olds and an
1897 Thomas Kane, which has a push rod and a sideshaft. One of the
nicest restored engines was a 4 HP Witte and push rod Temple was
quite a conversation piece. One of our members brought an Economy
log saw which was something different. We wish we could go on and
on mentioning all the engines present.
The Downtown Christian Church Youth Group of Johnson City
provided great food all weekend long and we didn’t see anyone
going hungry.
We appreciate two fine engine associations nearby with their
great support. They are the Smoky Mountain Engine and Tractor
Association of Knoxville, Tennessee and the Carolina Flywheelers of
Boone, North Carolina. We could not have the show we have without
their support. We also want to thank all the other friends, who
bring engines and support us, from North Carolina, Tennessee, South
Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and many other states.
Our 1989 show will be held June 9, 10, &. 11. For
information contact Jerome Christian, Show Director, Rt. 8, Box
440A, Johnson City, Tennessee 37601, 615-928-2556, or Jeff
Hutchings, President, Rt. 4, Box 1645, Elizabethton, Tennessee
37643, 615-725-3992.
