Rt 2, Box 19A, Perryton, Texas, 79070
There was a lot to see and a good crowd came for the Golden
Spread Antique Machinery Association’s 9th annual show held
September 20-21, 1986. The show, only one of its kind in the Texas
Panhandle, was held on the Donald Sell farm southeast of Perryton.
The show, which gives a look at the way things used to be, has
grown in popularity each year. It seems one of the best advertisers
is people who come one year and return the next year bringing
friends and relatives. Visitors often express surprise and delight
at the quality and quantity of the show.
The grandstands were overflowing for the 1:30 p.m. parade each
day which showed many of the vehicles in action. As each vehicle is
driven before the grandstands, announcer Richard Sell tells a brief
history about it. The parade features demonstrating the story of
harvesting grain, beginning with a small hand cycle, long handled
sythe, flail, cradle and sythe, and progressing on to the Ransomes
and Sims Horse Power thrashing machine, the horse drawn Deering
Ideal Reaper, and the header and barge. The story advances to
tractor-powered combines, and the parade ends with an old time
wheat thrashing demonstration using a steam engine and
separator.
The various horse drawn equipment is always of special interest.
This year John Stokes and Donald Maul, both of Pampa, brought six
of their beautiful Belgium Draft horses to power the equipment.
The 1986 show featured John Deere equipment. Beginning with two
1916 Waterloo Boy tractors, the forerunner of John Deere, right on
through the years to a new 1986 John Deere 4850 tractor, the lineup
of tractors evidenced the change of progress. Each decade was
represented with several different tractors. Several pieces of
antique John Deere equipment were pulled by the old tractors, such
as a 1924 3-disc plow which was used to break up the sod in years
gone by and a 3-row Lister planter used during the dust bowl
days.
Other tractors besides John Deere were on hand too, such as
Avery, Little Bull, Flour City, Hart Parr, Mogul, Rock Island
Heider, Massey, Titan, Twin City, McCormick, Case, Wallis, and
numerous others.
Making a first time appearance at the show this year were two
Hines combines, one owned by Bob Taylor and one owned by Donald
Sell. There is no known printed literature about these combines.
The history of the Hines combines collected has been by word of
mouth, and the men are looking for anyone who can add to their
knowledge.
The show and parade also featured an impressive group of antique
cars and trucks, gasoline engines, a working cow dog demonstration,
a museum, and a multiple kite flying exhibition, and a large number
of flea market exhibitors.
As the Golden Spread Antique Machinery Association provides a
glimpse into our past heritage with the annual show, they also look
to the future for plans for the show in 1987. Always scheduled for
the third weekend in September, the tenth annual show is scheduled
for September, 1920, 1987. Case International equipment will be
featured this year. The Association extends a Texas sized welcome
to all visitors and exhibitors!