Sec. 603 Loon Lake Road Bigfork, Montana 59911
Northwest Antique Power Association, Branch 47, of northwest
Montana held their show in Columbia Falls, on September 7 & 8,
1996. We had beautiful weather and a good crowd both days.
We had 15 exhibitors, showing 57 engines, 35 tractors, 1
windmill, 2 steam engines and even 2 scale steam trains, which were
offering free rides all day. Exhibitors came from Idaho, Oregon and
Wisconsin. Engines ranged from HP up to 35 HP.
Both days the public could see how shingles were cut and how
grain was threshed. Logs were sawed with a drag saw. Corn was
ground in a burr mill. Plowing was done both days by gas tractors
and steam tractors. Pushing a barrel with tractors was a fun thing
to see. Also, they had a contest to see who could back up to an egg
without cracking the shell. A grabbing clutch was not wanted in
this contest.
A logging skid pan was used in the pulling contest. If the pan
was pulled with a load of people on it, then a crawler tractor was
run up on the pan. As the tractor was moving the pan, people would
jump on again until the tractor spun out.
The noon tractor parade saw all the tractors running the course.
Part way through the parade an 18-36 Hart Parr was seen with a very
stiff chain hooked up to a 10-20 Hart Parr. Now, Jim, I know we
have cold winter in Montana, but not that cold in September. Jim
swears he was pushing the 18-36, but we suspect he ran out of
gas!
Music was presented both days and enjoyed by all. The food stand
did a good business both days.
Already the 1997 show is in the planning stage for the second
week in September.
