We wish to extend greetings and express gratitude …… for the
many courtesies extended us when we exhibited at your home state
shows; and……to the one hundred ninety six (196) exhibitors,
helpers and honored show officials for their contributions to, and
being a part of Cheraws second Annual show; and……to the
thousands of spectators for their most gratifying compliments.
Margaret & Robert Rogers, Antique Acres, Cheraw, S. C.
SHOW REPORT – Cheraw, S.G.
ANTIQUE ACRES – APRIL 16 – 17 -18, 1971
Exhibitors, button-wearers, skimmer-wearers, etc. from 21 states
and Canada shook up the 5,700 residents of this little town in
April, 1970.
In April, 1971, you enlarged your numbers about tenfold, you
came from 26 states and Canada, and you shook up patrons of several
multi-state TV networks, radio stations, and the press from the two
Carolinas.
These patrons had missed the show and clamored for views, so
three weeks following the show, fifty per cent of each Farm and
Home TV program consisted of scenes from the antics of Antique
Acres.
Nearly every TV news hour had three to five minute spots.
Cameramen, programmers, splicers, writers, etc. will arrive Oct.
24 to begin putting together TV programs that will precede, rather
than follow, the ’72 show scheduled for Friday, Saturday and
Sunday, April 7, 8, and 9.
Two weeks prior to the ’72 show, approximately 30 top
newspaper writers and photographers, along with a number of TV
newsmen and cameramen, are converging here to receive a good feed,
pictures and material. Instead of covering Dixie with dew, they
plan to cover it with pictures and write-ups of exhibitors and
their engines.
This highly popular Little Steam Train entertains Children while
papa ‘spark plugs’ and mama walks gardens. Jimmy Thomas of
Cheraw is owner-operator of this little gem built in Cheraw by his
father in 1940. Photo by Dayton Nichols, Stafford, N.Y.
Now see what you exhibitors with your engines, humor, badges,
plaques, skimmers, fellowship and antics have gone and done.
This Rebel’s pre-show apprehension, indecision, etc. began
fading Wednesday before Friday’s opening when Dick Spink of
Buffalo and Dayton Nichols of Stafford, N.Y. arrived and stated
that they, together with Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Webb of Beamsville,
Ontario, Canada, would rotate on the mike and keep things
moving.
Then Bus Longrod of Albion, N. Y. and Jim Riley of Rising Sun,
Maryland, arrived and assumed responsibility for the model and gas
areas.
Archie Cline, Bobby Miller, Arnold Broadway and others from N.
C, together with Ken Mattis from Ohio arrived and fired the
traction and stationary boilers.
Exhibitors having over 200 models and 57 gas engines arrived
from twenty-six states and makeshift they did. Never before have I
seen so many self-sufficient people work together. We had
stockpiled sawhorses and plyboards so modelers quickly set up table
extensions. Right there was proof that this fellow should see only
a few other shows this year. Stay home and prepare for 1972 was the
dictate of the day.
Three days of 72 degree bright sunshine was heavenly to those
who left four feet of snow sixteen hours earlier.
Attendance exceed five thousand this year compared to two
thousand at our first annual in 1970. We expect ten to fifteen
thousand in ’72.
Robert Varner, Ashboro, N. C. has promised to bring this two
cylinder ‘Advance’ back April 7-8-9-72. Many of the
components of this engine seem to be marine style. Robert has a
nice collection. Photo by Martin Peterson, St. Cloud, Fla.
Exhibitors signs on these engines hatched an idea. Hereafter our
Headliner (a big big typewriter) will custom make signs having
Exhibitors names and addresses on the two top lines, whereby camera
shots should identify.
For example: The words Acres and S. C. on Jake Hershey’s
homemade engine is easily readable. His name and Gorham, N. Y. is
not.
Albert Johnson brought this 3 HP Fredenberg and Spark plug
collection from 10100 Rexford Road, Grass Lakes, Mich.
Thanks for the idea Ed, now all of you bring’m back next
Apr. 7-8-9-72. Photo by Martin Peterson, St. Cloud, Fla.
One of Margaret’s yardmen overlooked burning a pile of logs
in the camper area and at first dark someone lit it. A crowd soon
gathered and Dayton Nichols, Bus Longrod and others showed movies
and slides. The bonfire group increased in numbers each night as
those staying at motels returned for the activities. The bonfires
or something brought out the poetry in A.L. Spencer of Corning, N.
Y. This is just one of the many cases where exhibitors converted
our omissions into fun for everyone.
Another blunder is evolving into a natural. The Booster Club
erroneously erected their big food tent in a manner that nearly
shut off the view of the blacksmith shop. The blacksmith is now
located between Gold Rush Junction and Mule Town. It is hoped that
if R. 0. Angle of Rocky Mount, Va., Louis Gillinger of Martinsburg,
W. Va., or Sam Osborne of New Oxford, Pa. are not familiar with
blacksmithing gold mine equipment, that they will return with
someone who is. They shod mules that powered our sweep. Mule owners
down here are still talking about ‘de three genelmens dat
shoes.’
Jimmy Thomas of Cheraw is relocating his tracks and will
hereafter run his steam train across the dam, from Central R.R.
Station to Gold Rush Junction, a new railroad station so named
because of its proximity to the Gold Stamp Mill, where young and
old can pan for gold.
Creek water heretofore wasting through the gorge is diverted
through sluices whereby ladies can pan for rubies. A tumbler
polishes the stones. This means operators are needed, so send us
names and addresses of rock hounds, far and near.
The old saying that ‘One man’s meat is another man’s
poison,’ has a lot of merit when it comes to traction engines.
Flue trouble in the 50-HP Peerless must have pleased one man.
Seconds after the boiler cooled, he was inside. He went in
spotlessly clean and suave, but came out drooping and made a
perfect imitation of Al Jolson. After church services Sunday
morning, Margaret (Mrs. Rogers) asked him how he got so clean so
quick. He held his ear lobe back and proudly exhibited a discolored
spot purposely left there. Yep, you guessed him: Dennis Webb of
Beamsville, Ontario, Canada.
Refueling this boiler was a major attraction and a large crowd
gathered. Very few had ever seen a boiler. When members of the
younger generation asked what they were doing, one old
‘funner’ said, ‘intestine transplant.’ They did not
question the transplant, but they could not understand why the
surgeons did not wear white uniforms.
After returning North, five exhibitors mailed pictures snapped
here of themselves in shirtsleeves, along with pictures of their
homes, or sections of their homes, where snow hid the sections from
the windows downward and eaves upward.
Nearly every modeler preferred air to steam. After a brief
delay, a larger compressor arrived. Milo Powers was evidently in
charge of air at Alexander this year and taught everyone some
do’s and don’ts. Well, Instructor Powers, after returning
to Cheraw, two air compressors were belted to two steam engines and
two boilers covered by two sheds. That gas engine you wrestled for
hours in the N. Y. rain was convincing. Our model area is now three
times as large as when everyone elbowed for space last April. How
about it, Milo, you take charge of air here next April?
LeRoy Clark and V.A. Cole from Durham, N. C. are the proud
owners of these engines. 1.5 HP Hercules, 4 HP Witte and 2 HP
Domestic. Ladies from the snow country that like Dried Arrangements
had a field day gathering seed pods that look like small pineapples
from beneath the magnolia in the background. These pods are
troublesome to us, so to the ladies, we say ‘Come Pick
Some.’ Photo by Martin Peterson, St. Cloud, Fla.
Let’s hope that James Riley of Rising Sun, Maryland will
return and record gas engines April 7-8-9-72. Ladies do not bring
fur coats, that white stuff up in trees is not snow, it is dogwood
about three quarter bloom. Jim’s Pix and show button covered
hat did not turn out well.
The T Ford Tractor conversion is being restored. April Midday
sun is forcing a cooler location for Gasoline Alley. The Semi-shade
on left is about right. Photo by Cheraw Chronicle-Cheraw, S. C.
Mrs. Elmer Shaefer was smiling as she returned to Yoe, having
had a successful sale on subscriptions, books, etc. This little
lady intrigues me and I often ponder the name of the physiology she
uses that works so perfectly. At one of the shows up North her
table disappeared before she used it. That little lady raised heck
on top of heck. Have you ever trotlined all night for catfish way
deep into Hell Hole Swamp, Berkley County, South Carolina during
alligator mating season? Right then this Rebel decided that never
would Mrs. Shaefer’s table disappear if she ever exhibited in
Cheraw. As good luck would have it, Mrs. Shaefer, Elmer, Mrs.
Ritzman from Enola and the Dave Egans from Mechanicsburg, arrived
and asked for a table. After Mrs. Shaefer approved table size and
location, a pick handle was given my best ‘order follower’
and he was told not to let anyone near that table until that little
lady returned with supplies and took possession. The effect of Mrs.
Shaefer’s remarks up North reminded me of a story I tell about
a child-bragging sister. When sis enrolled her child in school she
told the teacher that her child learned fast, was well behaved,
would give no trouble, and that the child was not to be spanked.
The teacher asked her what she was supposed to do just in case the
child did misbehave. Sis said, ‘just in case she does, slap the
child next to her and that her child would catch on and discontinue
doing wrong.’ Mrs. Shaefer sure as heck mowed down enough
people for the guilty table-snatcher to get the message. At any
rate, I caught on, and nobody got slapped. Now, Mrs. Shaefer,
don’t get mad; Margaret and I think you are the greatest.
While this story was being told to the group, a messenger stated
that the titan 10-20 was running unattended and that it was
knocking. Sherwood Hume from Milton, Canada, volunteered to fix it.
He returned shortly and one of the ‘funners’ asked him if
he ‘wrenched it, sistorized it, or Shaeferized it, i.e., did it
correct itself after he threatened it, or did he have to slap the
surrounding engines?’ We have 30 or 40 unrestored engines that
need to be wrenched with loving care, sistorized or Shaeferized.
‘Come wrench some. Come Shaeferize some.’
Margaret is proud of her gardening accomplishment as a result of
praises from exhibitors’ wives and especially proud of a front
page color photograph on a Philadelphia Sunday paper, accompanied
by an article entitled ‘Flower Power Down In Dixie.’ I told
her that Dan Roberts of Candor, N. Y., Ken Dennis of Florida and
Dick Spink of Buffalo, wanted landscaped camper spaces with their
names permanently mounted on them. She readily agreed when I told
her that Don and Ken would take charge of camper reservations,
registrations, needs, etc. A few tears appeared when I told her
that we may have to move about 30 of her 30-year-old azaleas,
camellias, etc. to make room for more campers. Her problem is that
she has ‘Mo-‘n-Mo-itus,’ i.e., she wants Mo-‘n-Mo
campers and Mo-‘n-Mo flowers but cannot get Mo-‘n-Mo land.
She likes steam and exhibits models that include an overhead crank
and a walking beam. She wants camper exhibitors and has had me busy
running water and electric lines to newly landscaped camper areas.
More exhibitors are bringing campers in ’72. They liked the
72-degree weather, hot showers, shade trees, stream, water falls,
water wheels, etc.
Many would-be members are not; the membership register was
frequently blocked by numerous bucks crowding around the four young
ladies in charge. How we blundered through and registered 222
family memberships, goodness knows. 1970 family memberships totaled
eighty-six. Why don’t some of you wives get together on a
rotation basis and ‘come register some?’ Whatsay, Irene …
Dot?
Two-horse wagons, one-horse wagons, buggies, sleighs, huckster
wagons, hay rakes, spray machines, and nearly everything that has
wheels have been modified and equipped to replace two large tents
and their fixed tables. Stainless steel steam tables from which
meals will be served buffet style have replaced conventional beds
on two wagons.
Equipment for preparing and serving French fries, hots, burgers,
barbecue (hot and not hot) are mounted on individual wagons spotted
throughout the area. The ice cream set-up is on a two-horse
sled.
Wide table-high flats have replaced conventional wagon beds.
These mobile tables can be used by flea markets, for eating, and
general use.
Each of the twenty wagons has its own overhanging roof, some of
which are of the covered wagon species. Stainless steel is used
wherever food is present.
About ten new rides will supplement the steam traction and steam
train rides.
Our working equipment, etc. have more than doubled. About 181
operators, etc. are needed to keep them going.
We anticipate from 10 to 20 thousand attendance in 1972, for the
simple reason following the show. People phoned and came for the
’72 show dates. Our direct mailing list exceeds 6,000 and will
be read by about 20,000.
Those exhibitors wearing our buttons and ribbons, and more
especially, their home state ribbons on their shirts and hats,
really woke up the merchants in Cheraw. The Chamber of Commerce and
Merchants’ Association is expressing appreciation next year
with tours for the ladies. There will be many exciting going-ons
all over the town during the ’72 show days, including home
tours, classic auto show, art displays, etc. Please wear your
insignias, etc. when you sightsee and shop.
Harold Ary and a whole wad of Darke Co. Steam Threshmen and
their wives brought loads of restored engines, a scale saw mill, a
scale Case traction and plenty Hoosier fellowship. This Lambert
Steiner by Harold seems to be fresh out of Uncle Charlie Ditmers
‘Steam Engine Beauty Shop.’
Uncle Charlie is VP of Darke Co. He registered as Member but not
as VP. This ‘after sight’ and ‘dig out’ of ours is
producing a lot of Names to be included in future HONOR ROLL
LISTS.
Both Harold and Mildred (Mrs. Ary) are listed as exhibitors but
neither are in the HONOR ROLL LIST which is most embarrassing.
Please help us with omissions, corrections etc. We want all
Names.
Mildred is Secretary of Darke Co. and is familiar with the
problems of ‘Lists.’ I hope she will allay for my
omissions.
What say Mildred–you register ‘Honored Show Officials’
April 7-8-9, between your balancing acts on that traction engine
teeter-totter being built here mainly for you? Photo by Martin
Peterson, St. Cloud, Fla.
On behalf of the City Council and the citizens of Cheraw,
Honorable Miller Ingram, Mayor of Cheraw, wrote a thank-you for
coming and please come back letter to every registered exhibitor,
worker and show official.
Certain areas, camper spaces,’things,’ etc. will be
named after exhibitors. For example:
‘Sage City’ is an area recognizing D. C. Sage, Bradford,
Pa., who gave us an early day oil well pump that we activate with a
water wheel.
‘Spinks Spot’ is the name of Dick Spinks permanent
camper space. Dick is from Buffalo, and was head M. C. in 1971.
‘Strayers Strut’ is for Bill Strayer, Dillsboro, Pa. For
some reason, unknown at present, ‘something should be named
‘Strayer Strut.’ Bill was not an exhibitor in the true
sense. So far as we know, he just strutted around, talked, and
soaked up sunshine for a few days. A lot of curious Carolinians who
had not heretofore heard of a steam-up, after talking to Bill, went
home better enlightened (experts) on steam-ups and as a result of
this enlightenment, every exhibitor, be they for steam, gas, flea
or what not, all will be appreciated more. So instead of saying
‘Come tend some,’ to Bill, I say, ‘Come strut
some.’
Dick Spink, Buffalo (in shade) and Dayton Nichols, Stafford, N.
Y. take time off from MC’ing while Mrs. Dennis Webb,
Beamsville, Ontario, Canada takes turn on the mike.
Bus Longrod, Albion, N. Y. is editor of FLY WHEEL NEWS that
lists forty seven Western New York Gas and Steam Engine Association
Members that were here last April.
Rumor has it that Dick will probably be next President of
WNYGSEA. There is never a dull moment when the mike is gripped by
Dick, Dayton or Marge Webb.
The ‘yellow blooming’ dogwood kinda framed by Dick and
Dayton is one of our five ‘yellows’ that is in first
bloom.
Paul Russell, Apex, N.Y. must have about one hundred engines to
select from but it suits if he brings this little Nanzy, Hot Air
Engine, and New Holland back April 7-8-9-72. Photos by Martin
Peterson, St. Cloud, Fla.
Having received plans on how to make a ‘self-powered
rotating display turntable from Floyd W. Cook as shown on page 26
of Sept.-Oct. 1968 GEM, I managed to turn out a fair copy of this
interesting idea by using a Fairbanks-Morse model Z, typed D2 Hp.,
a washing machine stand and caster wheels from a washing machine to
turn on and a worm drive gear from a I. H. C. corn binder. It works
real good, but had to use an engine with geared down pulley;
otherwise it would take to flying in a circle.
Shown here is a ‘double-header’ belted to a pump jack.
It seems that our water ‘pulls’ quite hard pumping so that
it requires lots of power. The engine with the white lines on the
flywheel is the I. H. C. L. B. 1? to 2? Hp. The other one is the
John Deere VA Hp. Type E.
This is a Waterloo Boy, 2 Hp. It runs good. It was standing
outside for ten years without running.
1? Hp. I. H. C. gas engine. It was at a show in Florida. The
engineer is Robert Rugenstein. The engine came from Western
Kansas.
A. C. Eshelman of Elliott, Iowa owns this C H & E engine. We
do not know the horsepower or what C H & E stands for. It is a
very heavy engine and runs quite smoothly. I believe Rich Parsons
of Indianola, Iowa enjoyed ‘playing’ with this one at the
3rd annual 1971 S. W. Iowa Threshing Show.
Here is a picture of A. C. Eshelman’s 30-60 Rumely Oil Pull.
The shot was taken at the 3rd annual 1971 S. W. Iowa Antique
Machinery and Threshing Show. This tractor appears cumbersome but
in reality it is quite easy to handle.
EXHIBITOR HONOR ROLL
The Exhibitor Honor Roll section of our Bulletin Board provides
headings for Canada and fifty states. Exhibitors’ names and
addresses embossed on metal, are permanently mounted thereon. Help,
everybody, let me know of omissions.
The Honor Roll is being published in two parts.
This Honor Roll begins in 1970 with D. C. Sage, our first
exhibitor, and will be kept current. We define exhibitors as
individuals who operate their own equipment or our equipment,
workers and participants in a broad sense. All are considered our
ambassadors, and they are leaders in their home state associations
as well as this one. Most of them have pictures, slides or movies.
Please contact them or write us. They will ‘Tell it like it
is.’
The best to all and, ‘Come tend Some.’
