Boyd, Minnesota, 56218
Sunday, July 29, 1973 was a very successful day at the Roy
Lindblad farm southeast of Dawson, Minnesota, when Roy had his
third annual gas engine show. There were about 500 people in
attendance despite threatening rain clouds and high humidity.
People were registered from as far away as Tacoma, Washington,
Detroit, Michigan, Oregon, California and many from Iowa, South
Dakota and Minnesota.
Roy showed about 125 engines of his own. Also shown were two
steam engines, one owned by Knute Thompson of Minnesota and one
owned by Henry Schrup of Montevideo. Both of these were grinding
feed. Knute also showed his water wheel. This was gas powered, run
by a Maytag motor. It pumped water over a large water wheel which
powered a churn and a man sawing wood.
Each engine Roy has purchased, he has had completely apart,
cleaned, repaired if necessary, put back together, put on a truck
and painted.
There were interesting crafts for the women to look at and to
buy.
People assisting for the day were Dale Norman, Arron J. Olson
and Elmer T. Thompson of Montevideo; Don Holtan and Thorvald Boe of
Dawson helping with the motors; Clayton Toombs directed parking.
Mrs. Luverne Dumke and Hans Larson registered people and sold
tickets.
Roy has been interested in gas engines for many years. However,
it wasn’t until about four years ago while he was delivering
seed corn to Charles Doose of near Boyd, Minnesota, that he
actually got his collection started. Doose had an engine at his
place that his children had enjoyed playing with. Roy asked if it
was for sale. Doose sold it to him and that was his beginning. He
now owns about 130 engines, all of them in good running condition.
They are all painted up and are on trucks.
Gas engines of Roy Lindblad at his show in 1973.
He has many rare engines. A favorite of his is a McVicker he
purchased at Albert Lea, Minnesota. It was made in early 1900.
Other old ones are a Mogul, 1910; Alamo, 1903; Stickney, St. Paul,
1907 or 1908; R.N.V., 1905 and an upright R.N.V., 1903.
He converted his hog buildings to storage space for his engines
when hog prices got too low to stay in the hog business.
Congratulations go to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lindblad for the very
fine collection and showing of these gas engines. There were many
recollections of by-gone days as these were viewed by guests.
Comments of ‘I remember when’ I or Dad or Grandfather owned
and used a similar engine.