1201 Snowdon Drive ,Knoxville, Tennessee 37912
For the 6th time now, the Smoky Mountain Antique Engine and
Tractor Association put on a show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on
June 17, 18 and 19. As usual the weather was in the 90’s, but
we still had a great time. For all you folks who haven’t
visited one of the souths finest shows, our show is located in the
foothills of the Smoky Mountains and is truly one of the most
versatile areas to visit that you can imagine.
Womenfolk and children who have seen enough of the engines and
tractors can visit the many shops and entertainment that are in the
area, or drive up into the Smoky Mountains. There are lots of
things to do and a shuttle bus leaves from the show area frequently
to many of the local attractions. As of now, we plan to have our
show at the same place and the same weekend next year (June 16, 17,
and 18, 1989).
Our club starts planning this show months prior to show time,
because, as most of you know, it’s not an easy task to be the
host of such an event. This year we had 214 exhibitors and that
took 523 people from 18 states to show off 423 engines and 77
tractors!! We had events such as slow races for the tractors,
tractor pulls, and parades for the kids (no age limit). The engines
were powering such exhibits as: corn grinding, washing machines, a
miniature grist mill, water pumps, printing presses, Oliver North
grinder (paper shredder), and really a lot of unique
applications.
We had three outstanding steam engine displays this year. One
that belonged to Joe McCraw from Mason, Tennessee was a beautifully
restored steam engine turning a working cotton gin.
Several of the tractors and engines were restored to perfection,
like Jerry McDowell’s Mogul engine from Greenville, TN or James
King’s International tractor from Sevierville, TN, or Jack
Bible’s John Deere D from New Market, TN. The list goes on and
on, but thanks to them all.
There was a lot of buying and trading going on, including James
Richardson from Rogersville, TN, who brought a trailerload of
engines that were auctioned off one at a time, including the
trailer he brought them on.
We want to express our appreciation for all the kind folks that
did all the getting ready, driving here, being great exhibitors,
and most of all being our friends here in East Tennessee. The
attitude of engine and tractor people has a quality that is hard to
explain. When an old gentleman comes up to observe a tractor or
engine and tears come to his eyes, that’s when our unique hobby
comes alive. Listening to the stories that he remembers when he was
a child on the farm with his father, all these things bring back
fond memories for these people. We listen attentively and help them
relive the past the best we can.
Answer in full the young people who ask, ‘What is that? What
does it do? That engine just hits once in a while, what’s wrong
with it? What was it used for? Where is the spark plug?’ One
man, explaining to his young son about an engine that had some
steam coming out of the water hopper, told how the engine was
powered by steam. Kenneth Leach from Knoxville was digging a well
with an old well digger powered by an L.B. International engine.
Nearby, Cowan Clabo had an engine pulling a water pump that was
recirculating the water. A woman came by and asked Clabo where that
water was coming from and Clabo said with a straight face,’
‘Out of that well that Kenneth is digging over there!’
Again, we want to thank all those involved with making our
annual show an event for the Smoky Mountain Antique Engine and
Tractor Association to remember
