This 40 HP Western, the largest engine at the Santee show, was
restored by Norm Burke, El Cajon, Calif., and Jerry Ingram, Alpine,
Calif.
Santee Lakes provided an open scenic setting for EDGE&TA
Branch 22’s Fall Show on Oct. 13-14, 2001. And indeed, fall was
in the air, with warm days and cool evenings. Members came from all
over San Diego County, California and Arizona to participate. This
was the third year for the show at this location, and members chose
their favorite shady spots to set up their displays of engines,
tractors, pumps, grinders, washing machines, farm equipment toys,
windmills, and other related items from earlier days. The American
flag was flying everywhere, showing the patriotism felt by the
membership. Co-chairmen for the show were Cliff North cote and
Dudley Mills.
To fully appreciate the equipment displayed, you also had to
hear the hit-and-miss of all the engines and tractors running
during the day. You could view completely restored engines and
tractors along with other ‘work in progress.’ A 40 HP
Western was a decided show stopper, along with 49 other engines, 22
tractors, six garden tractors, four grinders, 14 pumps, three
washing machines, two sewing machines, and two trailers with
numerous pieces of equipment in operation. Individual items
included a fan, a jigsaw, a pump/grinder combination, an ice cream
maker, a water fall, a water wheel, an antique Cadillac touring
car, a display of farm equipment toys, and a neon Branch 22 sign.
The individual items were hooked up to engines with belts or
operated by hand to demonstrate how they work.
A tractor parade was held both days at 11a.m., the route
parading around all five of the man-made lakes on the site. A local
newspaper reporter on hand Saturday was amazed to see so many
tractors in one place and the number of years represented. One
woman at the show admitted she and her husband own 18 tractors.
Their interest started with just one, and just kept growing and
growing.
Food was provided and served by Branch 22 member Larry Plaster,
who works with St. Vincent De Paul Village and teens from St.
Vincent’s Toussaint Teen-Center. Many comments were heard on
the courtesy and professionalism shown by these teenagers. On
Saturday evening, the membership had a potluck dinner and relaxed
around the picnic tables overlooking the lakes enjoying
conversation and ice cream made with the antique ice cream
maker.
Santee Lakes, Santee, Calif., will be the location for the 2004
EDGE&TA National Meeting and Show. Branch 22 looks forward to
hosting these events. It’s a wonderful location providing many
amenities for anyone interested in planning to attend this
show.
Contact engine enthusiast Lenora Lee, Branch 22 EDGE&TA
newsletter editor, at: P O Box 218, Poway, CA 92074-0218, or e-mail
at: Ilee289829@aol.com
Notes from Cliff Northcote, EDGE&TA President and
Director
This is my first article in Gas Engine Magazine since our
National EDGE&TA show in Ozark, Ark., which was hosted by
Branch 32 on June 21-23. The show started out very wet, but by the
time the weekend was over, it had dried out and a great time was
had by all. We enjoyed meeting some of the hardy souls who drove
the five-day, 107-mile tractor-trip from Gentry, Ark. They arrived
in the pouring rain to open the 2001 event.
Ozark was the first destination of a seven-week motor home trip
I took with my wife and mother-in- law. One of the highlights of
the trip was going to the Agrirama in the town of Tifton, Ga. This
is a great living-history museum, with over 35 structures that have
been relocated and restored or preserved as they appeared in the
1870s to the turn of the century. Costumed narrators explain and
demonstrate the lifestyle and activities of the period. It is well
worth the time to stop and visit this interesting place.
In Washington, D.C. we went to the Smithsonian National Museum
of American History, where there was a wonderful display of early
day machinery and implements. In Pennsylvania we visited the newly
opened York Industrial and Agriculture Museum, which has two floors
of some very unusual machinery, much of which is still being used
for demonstration purposes. We spent a day in New York City, and
while taking in the sights we got off the subway in the basement of
the World Trade Center. Little did we know that in eight weeks this
building would not be standing and America would never be the same.
Our thoughts and prayers are still with those affected by this
tragedy.
Traveling on to upstate New York, we stopped at the Tired Iron
Tractor Museum on Rt. 20A in Cuylerville. We met the owner, Wayne
‘Bump’ Hamilton, and saw his fantastic collection of over
110 tractors, trucks horse drawn equipment, farm toys, tools,
household antiques and many other items of interest. If you are
ever in the area, this is a ‘must see’ collection. In Ohio,
we stopped at Hit-and-Miss Enterprises. I have always had good luck
ordering parts from them, and 1 was very impressed with the
inventory they keep on hand. While in Kidron, Ohio, we again went
to Lehman’s Hardware Store, which serves the Amish communities
and specializes in non-electric items. I can never go in there
without buying something I can use. It was a refreshing change of
pace to hear the clip clop of the horse and buggies traveling down
the road.
While in the area, we were saddened to hear about the steam
traction explosion in Medina, Ohio. Our thoughts and prayers also
go out to those affected by this unfortunate accident. Hopefully,
this incident will remind us that with our hobby, safety is our
number-one concern. Continuing on our way home, we visited many
other places and browsed through probably 100 antique and junk
stores finding some real treasures.
It is encouraging that so many museums, points of interest and
collectors are preserving our heritage for future generations.
I should mention that in July, EDGE&TA changed its web site
address to www.edgeta.org. Please take advantage of this resource
that provides valuable information on our national organization and
local branches.
Contact Cliff Northcote, EDGE&TA president/director, at:
(619) 478-5500, or e-mail: cliffnorthcote@nfmhc.com
