10750 S. Vroman Road Shepherd, Michigan 48883-9352
The weather was nice for the 13th annual Blanchard Millpond
Steam and Gas Engine Show, which was held August 27, 28, and 29,
1999.
The overall response of the spectators was great as they enjoyed
all of the vintage equipment, great food, flea market, relaxing
with old friends, and making new friends.
We featured Massey-Harris-Ferguson tractors and equipment and
Fuller and Johnson engines.
Clare Paton of Lucan, Ontario, Canada, had a nice display of
Massey-Harris wrenches and memorabilia in our headquarters tent,
along with Dave Schafer of Henderson, Michigan, who also had
Massey-Harris memorabilia and a #44-M-H tractor. Bob Prenzler of
Brant, Michigan, displayed two Massey-Harris 15-22 General Purpose
tractors. Ken Gill of Springport, Michigan, exhibited several
tractors; most notable were the #44 Special High Crop and a #0.44
Orchard, both Massey-Harris.
Steve Deleo, of Blanchard, Michigan, displayed his Massey-Harris
Ferguson 85 and a Tea-20 with a standard car engine.
I displayed my Massey-Harris cast iron implement seats along
with two 1? HP Massey-Harris gas engines, a Type 2 and the other
made in Batavia, New York. All together there were 166 tractors on
display.
The engine area was full again with 215 engines along with tool
displays, engine models, garden tractors, etc. Don and Bev
Bistodeau of Three Rivers, Michigan, displayed their 1922 Fuller
& Johnson 1? HP Model N gas engine.
Ron Miller, Weidman, Michigan, took time to bring a very nice
restored 1913 Holt crawler-tractor, which drew a lot of attention
when he started it and drove it around the park.
There were five steam traction engines at the show. As always,
the spectators enjoyed watching them going through their
demonstrations.
On Saturday, Gloria Eldred, Shepherd, Michigan, put on a wool
spinning demonstration and Dorothy Gyger, Lansing, Michigan, put on
a quilting demonstration.
A sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the 1999 show a
success.
Be sure to mark your calendar for our second annual Swap Meet on
May 12 and 13, 2000 and the 14th annual show, August 25, 26, and
27, 2000, featuring Oliver and Hart-Parr tractor, and equipment and
Gilson gas engines.
See you there!
