Xenia, Ohio 2001 Show

By Staff
Published on February 1, 2002
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A 1914 10 HP IHC, one of several impressive IHC engines at this year's Xenia show.
A 1914 10 HP IHC, one of several impressive IHC engines at this year's Xenia show.
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John Deere Model 101 experimental, said to be the only one in existence and built between 1941-1945.
John Deere Model 101 experimental, said to be the only one in existence and built between 1941-1945.
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A 1914, 1/2 HP New Holland. These wonderful little engines were in production from 1912 to 1914.
A 1914, 1/2 HP New Holland. These wonderful little engines were in production from 1912 to 1914.

I want everyone in engine land to know that the Old Timers of
Xenia, Ohio, are alive and well. The Sept. 28-30, 2001, reunion of
gas engines and old tractor people in southern Ohio was very
successful. If you remember, on Sept. 20, 2000, an F4 tornado hit
the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia and destroyed the
fairgrounds – we had no show. With the help of many people, the
fair board and other governmental agencies, the fairgrounds have
been rebuilt. The trees are gone, but the new buildings are
beautiful – and the weather was perfect.

The featured tractor was John Deere, and as expected many were
present. I brought a 1938 John Deere E 1-1/2 HP stationary engine,
a 1979 John Deere 214 lawn and garden tractor and a 1951 John Deere
LUC combine engine to the show.

A lot of equipment was already in place when I arrived, and a
large blue and white tent was full of special John Deere wagons,
tractors, toy tractors and a special 1939 Ford Model A pickup
truck. Also in the tent was a restored buggy, a 1946 John Deere BO
Lindeman crawler, a 1955 John Deere 40 high crop, a John Deere
Model H, a 1918 Model R Waterloo Boy and the one-of-a-kind John
Deere experimental 101 tractor made between 1941 and 1945.

On Friday I counted 57 IHC tractors, ranging from about 1920
through the early 1960s. I could not count all the John Deere
tractors present -I would think over 200 were there.

The garden tractor display was well represented, with over 100
tractors, rototillers and other small items shown. One gentleman
had a great display of John Deere patio tractors in their original
colors.

Russell Luse and crew shredded corn and threshed wheat, and each
day somebody else would belt their tractor to the different
machines, including a 1920 16 HP Huber steam engine that powered
the thresher one day.

Bill Finkbone had his portable sawmill working all three days,
and a different tractor was used to saw wood every day, the person
supplying the trees getting their wood sawed free.

The 2000 show was supposed to feature New Holland engines, and
Bill Jones and Walt Saylor had many New Holland engines running
this year, including a 1916 5 HP, 1915 2 HP and a 1914 1/2 HP. Also
on display was a 1920 10 HP IHC engine, weighing in at a hefty
2,200 pounds. The gentleman who owned this engine had a really nice
1914 Booster IHC engine, originally used for power in a train
workman’s small work car.

In addition to being the featured tractor, John Deere was also
the featured engine. I put my 1938 1-1/2 HP Series E engine on
display with another man’s small-scale, working 1-1/2 HP John
Deere E engine positioned in front. The biggest engine at the show
was a really neat 50 HP 1923 Fairbanks-Morse, and another gentleman
had a pair of 1929 2 HP Jaeger engines running, one powering an old
cement mixer.

Although John Deere tractors were the most numerous, many other
makes were present, and I know the following were represented:
Allis-Chalmers, Avery, Cockshutt, Oliver, Ford, Massey-Harris,
Massey Ferguson, Farmall, IHC, Caterpillar, McCormick-Deering,
Minneapolis Moline, Case, Ferguson and Huber. I think my inventory
is accurate, I’m sorry if I left any out. The Old Timers 2002
show tractor was present, and a 1953 Cockshutt 20 will be raffled
off at the 2002 show.

Bigger is not always better, but the Old Timers had a great
display, and with so many different attractions nobody could go
away discouraged. The cost was $2, and Friday was senior citizen
day, allowing half-price entry for senior citizens. If you are in
southern Ohio the last weekend of September 2002, please come to
the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio – you will be
impressed.

Contact engine enthusiast Ken Butterworth at: 2821 Wilmington
Rd., Lebanon, OH 45036, (513) 932-1837, or e-mail:
kbutterworth@mcsd.k12.oh.us

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