1323 West Maple, Enid, Oklahoma 73703-4512
The 12th annual Enid Antique Power Gas Engine and Tractor Show
held on Saturday, October 7, 1995, at the Garfield Fairgrounds had
another great show with the weather cooperating with a beautiful
day. We had approximately 70 old iron and antique participants from
all over Oklahoma as well as Kansas, with several rare antique
engines, garden tractors, washing machines, corn shellers, antique
cars, trucks and Cushman Scooters. Our one day event is enjoyed by
all before we put our old iron toys and vehicles up for the
winter.
Our ‘King of Old Iron’ award went to John and Fay
Riffel, Enid, Oklahoma, this year. I believe John and Fay have
attended all of our shows and they’re always there with a
helping hand. They brought a 1950s Massey-Harris ‘Pony’
tractor.
Tom and Joyce Brown from Leonard, Oklahoma, who faithfully
attend our show every year, brought a 1920 15 HP Fairbanks-Morse
Model ‘Z’ engine this year which Tom obtained through a
trade. This engine was used to run a grist mill in Kentucky from
the day it was bought new until it was permanently retired. In the
restoration, Tom soon discovered that this engine had cracks in the
cylinder, so the hunt was on for a cylinder to replace the bad one,
but didn’t have any luck locating one. After three years of
searching, Felix Milligan, an engine loving friend, located a
possible source a gentleman from Saskatchewan, Canada, had the
cylinder Tom needed. Since some of the parts for an engine this old
are nearly impossible to find, Tom had to improvise with some
homemade parts to get it going. It’s really an unusual and rare
engine. Maybe someday, Tom says, in his searching he’ll run
across the original parts. I think everyone in this old iron hobby
has been there. Good luck!
Another old iron enthusiast who has a lot of unusual engines,
and we welcome him back this year, is Rick Ice with his wife LaNae,
from Thomas, Oklahoma. Rick is shown with his 1930s vintage boat
motor, from U. S. Marine Corporation, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He got
this engine from the Flea Market at Fort Scott, Kansas. Rich and
LaNae also brought their 1915 1 HP Waterloo Boy, 1916 4 HP
Associated; 1920s 6 HP Novo; their rare 1924 4 HP Piersen, which
was from Piersen Motor Works, Topeka, Kansas (Rick got this motor
from Pete Rose’s sale in Enid); and 1918 1 HP Ideal gas
engines. Rick keeps all these old iron engines tuned up and in top
running order, and if anyone needs some fine tuning on their
engines, Rick is usually there.
Among the newcomers to our show this year was John Lindell,
Eufaula, Oklahoma, who brought his 1940s John Deere B tractor. John
was one of the first ones there and ready to sign up before we had
the sign-up sheets out! Also, Norman Wood from Norman, Oklahoma,
was there with his fabulous collection of John Deere engines.
Norman’s restoration and collection of John Deere stationary
engines is very impressive. R. J. and Mary Margaret Philbrick,
Waukomis, Oklahoma brought out their 1938 F-14 Farmall and Regular
Farmall International tractors as well as a Shaw tractor, Maytag
engines, International and Stover engines. Sam and Becky Hamilton,
Still-water, Oklahoma, brought their 1917 2 HP International Mogul
engine and McCormick-Deering corn grinder.
Leon, Sherry and Ryan Koehn from Ringwood, Oklahoma, brought out
their 1912 10 HP Stover, 1911 4 HP Cushman, 1909 3 HP Fairmont Rail
Car engine, 1900s 1 HP Alpha De-Laval stationary engines. They have
restored several engines in recent years and have a very impressive
collection. Also, Kenneth Martin, Woodward, Oklahoma, is a regular
who attends our shows and brings his trailer full of Maytag engines
as well as several other models of small engines.
Former ‘King of Old Iron’ awardees George and Mary Oller
with their trailer full of engines including his Monitor, E. J.
‘Goose’ and Hazel Gosnell with their 6 HP Fairbanks-Morse
gas engine, and Frank and Esther Teske with his corn grinders (my
grandkids always get their little bag of corn and ground com from
Frank) have been there every year and supported our show. We
appreciate you!
The ‘Special T’ (Model T Ford) Club had a good turnout
of Model T’s and a varied group of antique vehicles from the
Antique Auto Club, Enid. Thanks to Archie Wight, who made two shows
that day, as his wife had relatives in Watonga and they had a float
in the Cheese Festival at Watonga, and Archie still made it to our
show. David Baker, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, probably had the most
unusual vehicle there a 1926 Ford Model T Coupe powered by a VW
engine in the rear of his ‘T.’ David wanted to build a car
that looked original, but would have the ability to get up to road
speed, so he used a VW engine because of its simple design. He has
in excess of 55 Model T bodies and parts. David drove this Model T
to our show from Oklahoma City and was enjoying giving everyone
rides in his ‘T.’
Harold Cooper didn’t have the only REO vehicles there this
year, as Charles Manning, Valley Center, Kansas, brought his 1923
REO truck, which they did a great restoration job with, having to
make a lot of new wood pieces for this vehicle. Harold Cooper also
brought out a 1929 Top-Hat Limo Rolls Royce that he is working on.
You don’t see these Rolls Royces everyday.
Our shows seems to be getting bigger and better every year and
we really enjoy this fun day. We had a great feed of beans and
cornbread, plus a lot of other goodies for all the participants.
Special thanks to Esther Corley, Darlene Schulz, Marilyn Cooper,
Hazel Gosnell, Mary Oiler, Suzanna Vogt, Billie Phil-brick, Carol
Morris, Mary Bailey, Marsha & Carole Unruh, Wanda Martin, Carol
Wight and Gary Phipps for cooking beans and cornbread and to all
the others for bringing other goodies. Everybody just pitches in
and does their thing and we had quite a feast including desserts of
all kinds this year. Mary Oiler and Carol Morris had their antique
popcorn machine going and everyone had a chance to get their
popcorn, which really hit the spot.
R. D. Corley, Richard Vogt and Harold Cooper were joined by Ron
Schulz this year in working and sponsoring our show, and next year
Cleo Phil-brick is going to assist us also, so we are looking
forward to another great show next year on October 5, 1996, as you
all, as participants, make the show for us. Mark your calendar now
to attend our show. See you there!!!
