Corydon, Iowa 50060
The la-Mo, gas engine and old tractor club produced another good
old authentic threshing show July 15-16, 1978. This show was even
authentic as to weather, ‘Hot!’
This show was held on the Bernard Moore farm about two miles
east of Centerville, Iowa. Bernard has furnished some land which is
being developed more each year for show. This year the scales were
covered with a building that looks like an old covered bridge and a
log cabin is starting to be restored. I was unable to attend the
show Saturday,, but learned there was a good crowd for the antique
tractor pull and also for the good music that was in the evening. I
was able to go early Sunday morning and attended the church
services on the grounds. Rev. I. M. Duncan of Grace Tabernacle
Baptist Church, Centerville, Iowa, gave the sermon on ‘Five
Steps to Happiness’ and gospel music was furnished by Tim
Bailey and his guitar.
Richard Parson of Indianola, Iowa said that there was more rare
gas engines in the gas engine line-up than he had ever seen in a
small show. One rare engine that was new to most of us was a
McVicker Automatic gas and gasoline engine 4 HP made by the Almo
Mfg. Company, Almo, Michigan. This was exhibited by Mike Sanderson
of Allion, Iowa. Going on down the line was a Monarch engine 5 HP
made by the Royal Engine Company, Sagino, Michigan. This was
exhibited by George Archer of Des Moines, Iowa. Dana Davis of
Lemons, Missouri brought his Southern engine made at Jackson,
Tennessee and a Bloomer engine made at Bloomer, Michigan. Ersa
Williamson of Corydon, Iowa, brought a Sandow 6? HP and Gade 3 HP.
Someone had a Galloway 2? HP. There was a Sattley 9 HP that also
had Montgomery Wards name on it. There was a small Globe engine and
a 6 HP Associated exhibited by Don Ellison of Unionville, Iowa. The
engine I would like to have slipped into my pocket was a nice
little Mogul Jr. 1 HP made by IHC. This is owned by Don Williams of
Lucerne, Missouri, a nice little engine. Don also showed some of
his wrench collection and also showed a Sattley engine with an
unusual governor setup.
Don Strunk of Centerville, Iowa, exhibited a nice John Deere
Model L tractor. The interesting thing about this tractor is that
it is a
1937 model with a serial number of 62-1002. The serial number of
these tractors start with number 62-1001 so that means Don’s
tractor is the second one made, and I think only 76 were made that
year, so right here in our area we have a rare tractor!
Eston Curtis of Promise City, Iowa, was the engineer on the
threshing crew and when it was threshing time he lined up the 1938
Model L Case tractor in the belt the first try. Wendell Inman was
separator man again this year. I was also able to meet his father
who was the original owner of the John Deere separator. In the old
tractor line up was a Cross Motor Case owned by the Barrickman
Brothers. I think they also owned one of the three Fordson tractors
at the show. Next year at this show, I am going to take a movie
camera as that seems to be the only way I am ever going to get a
picture of the Barrickman family and Bernard Moore. They were busy
all the time. Everytime I thought I was going to catch one of them
stopped long enough to get a picture, the PA system would be
calling them and they were off and running again.
Every show has some special thing and for this show it is the
exotic poultry and animal show and swap meet. This alone was worth
the price of admission this year. There was a nice display of old
household items, etc., in one building. Also, an engine auction was
held Saturday afternoon. There was a good lunch stand on the
grounds and the building where church services were held made a
nice shady place to pause and rest awhile. A merry-go-round type
swing owned by Bernard Moore was on the grounds for small children
to ride. This is a great neighborly-type show. It’s a growing
show. I think attendance was around 2500 this year which was good
for the weather condition which as I said before was hot. I talked
to a number of people that said they intended to attend the show,
but decided it was too hot.
Plans are already being made for the next year’s show.
