Hotel Lincoln Antiques RR J, Box 131 Manns Choice, Pennsylvania
15550
The first annual Chicken town VFD Gas and Steam Association Show
which was held on May 28th and 29th was a complete success. The
weather was perfect and the attendance was more than expected.
A dozen or more steam engines and tractors were on hand. Thirty
gas tractors were on parade and dozens of gas engines were on
display. Various demonstrations were going on all day Saturday and
Sunday. Several cut-off saws kept busy, along with an unusual
handmade mine wedge cutting machine. A miniature steam tractor,
sawmill and thresher were steaming along with the rest of the
‘big boys.’ There were horse drawn hay wagon rides and a
kiddie tractor pull.
The most bizarre thing at the show was my own four cylinder
rotary steam engine, which we ran for the first time since the
1960s. To everyone’s amazement it ran well, and frighteningly
fast! It was designed and built around 1920 by a man who used it to
run his woodworking shop. I hope to have more information on this
engine by the next show.
Everyone had a good laugh when I drove a borrowed steam-roller
into a wet spot and got it stuck. A large Rumely OilPull came to
the rescue and pulled it out. All had a great time and we look
forward to an even bigger and better 1995 show.
