2821 Wilmington Road, Lebanon, Ohio 45036
On the weekend of September 24, 25, and 26, the temperature
varied from 55 degrees in the early morning to 86 degrees in the
late afternoon on Saturday and Sunday. We had low humidity on all
three days. It is so very dry. The weather was great for the
meeting of many people interested in old machinery, tractors,
engines, horses, mules, donkeys and food galore
I drove to Xenia, Ohio, a 24-mile trip, with my 1? HP John Deere
series E engine, 1951 LUC John Deere combine engine, and a 1979
John Deere garden tractor on Wednesday evening. I arrived at 4:00
p.m. I found over 150 tractors already present. I unloaded my John
Deeres and then began to look things over. I looked at them for two
hours. I was really impressed. At 6:30 p.m. everybody was asked go
come to the office for homemade ice cream and cake. The Old Timers
and their wives really put on a real feed. Every single person was
invited. The food was all free to everybody.
On Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. I went to the fairgrounds to see
all the tractors and engines. It was really fun watching the many
people unload their favorite equipment, very impressive. I spent
hours of enjoyable time watching people bring their trucks,
trailers and their own specific worldly possessions to the Old
Timers show.
Friday, September 24, I personally counted 220 tractors, 90
garden tractors, 120 engines. There were also a 1944 Rosenthal
shredder, 1944 Huber thresher, one silo cutter, 1923 Birdsell
clover huller, 5/8 scale Rumely steam engine, and they were still
coming in every few minutes. Lots of people do not come in until
Friday because of their work schedule.
All three days, Russell Luse and his crew shredded corn, filled
silo, hulled clover seed and threshed wheat. They also shelled and
ground corn after the shredding process. Each day somebody else
would belt their tractor to the different machines. One particular
day a 5/8 scale of 1912 20-60 Rumely steam engine was used to power
the thresher. Everyone was interested in the power generated by the
use of wood and coal to produce steam to power the thresher.
Bill Finkbone had his portable saw mill working all three days.
Each day a different tractor was used to saw the wood. The person
supplying the trees got his wood sawed into 1 x 4s and other
appropriate sizes. A rather large pile of lumber was piled in neat
piles by the end of the three days.
From Wednesday through Sunday evening the ice cream crew was
busy making homemade ice cream in five gallon ice cream makers.
Each ice cream maker was powered by a small gas engine. It was
really neat to see people watching to see the ice cream being
made.
The Old Timers had a horse, mule and donkey show on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. They were busy each day working and showing
their animals. It was fun to see the animals perform. They were
great.
The flea market and craft show was well represented. The
fairgrounds was crawling with people looking at the various crafts
and items for sale. There was something for everybody.
The featured attraction was Oliver tractors. One particular
caught my eye. It was a 1957 Oliver 99, with a GMC diesel and a
chrome grill. It was made for the world plowing contest in
September 1957, held in Peebles, Ohio. The farmer said he would buy
the tractor as is. The Oliver dealer said yes. Now the fourth
generation is still using the tractor on the same farm with the
same family. It was in really good shape. Every model of Oliver was
present: 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, some newer models, and some really old
models.
John Deere tractors were the most numerous, from the huge 830 to
a small BR John Deere. I believe every tractor make was present. I
know the following were represented. Allis Chalmers, Cockshutt,
Oliver, John Deere, Ford, Massey Harris, Massey Ferguson,
International Harvester, McCormick Deering, Caterpillar,
Minneapolis Moline, Case, Ferguson, Huber. If I left some out I am
sorry, but 1 think my inventory is accurate. Over 300 tractors were
finally shown at the show.
In a special tent were some valuable displays. A 1916
International tractor was on display, along with pedal tractors,
model tractors made of wood, a working steam display, buggies, and
a horse-drawn sleigh.
The garden tractor display was well represented. I know over 145
tractors, roto tillers and other small items were shown. One
gentleman had a great display of John Deere patio tractors in their
original colors. They all ran to perfection in their restored
painted condition.
The featured engine was the Domestic, made in Shippensburg,
Pennsylvania. They included a 1909 1 HP, 1911 1? HP, 4 HP, 1910 2
HP, 1917 3 HP, 1912 1? HP stovepipe Domestic. These engines were
owned by Bill Jones and Walt Saylor of Beavercreek, Ohio. Bill and
Walt drove all night to a sale in Pennsylvania to purchase the 1 HP
Domestic. The engines were all lined up, all running in their work
clothes.
Wilbur and Scott Barnett have their display of 1898 Red Cross
windmill working. They have a squirrel cage fan blowing the
windmill to show how it worked.
A gentleman had made a replica of a John Deere 9500 combine. He
had a 22 HP diesel Kabota engine inside, with power steering. This
was really neat driving in the parade.
I sheared 15 sheep for those interested people. The sheep had
not been shorn for one year. They were covered with cockle burrs.
The wool will be worth nothing, since the wool market has
disappeared. Ohio wool is worth nothing at this time.
Bigger is not always better, but the Old Timers had the largest
display of so many different attractions that I believe nobody
could go away discouraged. The cost was $2.00; Friday was senior
citizen day for half price or $1.00.
If you are in southern Ohio the last weekend of September 2000,
please come to Xenia. Green County Fairgrounds and you will be
impressed.
