Box 43, Somonauk, 1L 60552
The 11th Annual Sandwich Early Day Engine Club, Inc. Antique Gas
Engine, Tractor and Car Show was held Saturday and Sunday, June
26th and 27th, 1982 at the beautiful, shady Sandwich Fairgrounds,
Sandwich, Illinois. We enjoyed a large turn-out for our second
2-day show, under the able management of our President, Verle
Johnson. Our large Flea Market seems to try to out-do itself in
size and quality each year. Our engine display was the best ever,
with a lot of familiar faces and many new ones with many nicely
restored engines. Our compliments to each and every one.
Our tractor display got off to an excellent start with a broad
range of tractors from an original, rusty Avery that our new
President, Dave Thompson, had just bought, to some very finely
restored examples that would make the manufacturers very proud. Our
large squirrel cage fans received a good work-out from many of the
tractors.
Our Antique Tractor Pull, in front of the Grandstand on
Saturday, was a success, with some highly sprited competition among
the contestants. While our favorite tractors didn’t always win,
Bernard Parsley’s sled always managed to get them all, sooner
or later. Our Antique Car Show on Sunday had some very fine
expertly restored old and rare models of antique and classic cars
on display.
We had a very large display of Arts and Crafts with some
exceptional exhibits that were very ably managed by Peg Thompson.
We hope to continue to expand this very fine display. A special
feature at this year’s show was an exhibition by the Illinois
Tom-a-hawk Throwers Association that was enjoyed by many. Now, if
you want to split hairs, just see them! Several of our members
tried their hand with the tom-a-hawk, and have vowed a heated
contest for next year’s show.
Of note was the wooden Ottawa Corn Sheller that decobbed several
loads of corn during the show under the direction of owner Bill
Mitchell, with the assistance of Dave Krafft and Scott Larsen.
Scott also pulled our free ride wagon around the grounds with his
‘H’ John Deere. Also on hand was Ray Barnes’
‘Whistler’, a fine example of what to do with an antique
Schramm side-shaft air compressor, a collection of exhaust and
steam whistles, and a F-20 frame. Hard to believe the music that
they can coax from it!
A special thank you must go to Gary Fellows for taking over the
announcing for us. Without him we would have been lost. Many
thanks, also, to each and every one who helped make our 1982 show a
success. We are looking forward to our 1983 show which will be held
June 25th and 26th, 1983, hoping to see all the good people who
have been with us in the past, and the many new ones that come each
year with new restorations to exhibit. We sincerely hope that our
displays will bring back memories of the days when these engines
and tractors were necessary equipment on most every farm, and show
the younger generations what the ‘Good Old Days’ were like!
We would like to invite all engine, tractor and
car owners to join us. Arts and crafts displays are especially
welcome. If you can’t bring anything, just come and visit. We
can always find a spare bull to shoot.
