P.O. Box 144 Abbottstown, Pennsylvania 17301
Last fall my husband and I decided to attend the Steam-O-Rama at
Windsor, Pennsylvania. We are also members of the Sheppard Diesel
Club who were having a club meet at the Steam-O-Rama. As members,
we were invited to join the tour of the R. H. Sheppard Company. We
live about five miles from the Hanover, Pennsylvania, factory.
We were greeted by Peter Sheppard, who had an SD #1, air cooled
garden tractor on display. We were taken by groups through the
foundry, machine shop, paint room, assembly room and a water and
oil cleansing plant. The plant no longer makes Sheppard diesel sit
now makes power steering units. We also saw a toy Sheppard in the
test area. After an excellent box-lunch at the Sheppard plant, we
loaded up our gas engines and headed to Windsor.
We set up our display in the gas engine area. We are always
interested to see the variety of engines and the many ways to use
the old-time engines. After settling in, we were off to see the
Sheppard display. We were amazed to see so many Sheppard diesels.
In our area we seldom get to see one Sheppard diesel at a show!
There were many SD1, SD2, SD3, SD4 tractors and a few power units.
Farm implements made for Sheppard tractors were also shown, and a
few Farmall conversions were on display. There was a large tent
where you could talk Sheppard, join the club, and purchase Sheppard
literature, shirts and hats. Original Sheppard signs were on
display.
We were glad we could see all the Sheppards in one place, as my
husband, as a young man, worked for R. H. Sheppard and he often
wondered what had become of the tractors. He enjoyed listening to
the engines run on the test block.
Farm implements made in York County, Pennsylvania, were the
theme of the show. Sheppards were made in Hanover, Auchey corn
planters and a rare wooden Auchey threshing machine were made in
Codorus (Jefferson). The York gas engine and farm implements by
Farquhar and Hench and Drumgold were on display. A rare engine from
1888, the Manley made in Hanover, was also there. A tent was set up
to protect the rare pieces. In this tent literature and factory
pictures were on display.
In the stone stable area of the barn, a very nice lantern
collection was shown. As we also collect lanterns, we enjoyed this
display.
There were all makes of tractors and garden tractors. A small
gauge railroad gave rides. Excellent food was available! The flea
market had something for everyone. We will remember this
Steam-O-Rama for a long time.
