SHOW NEWS
Box 24, Bluff City, AR 71722. Photos by Max Gunnels of Magnolia,
AR 71753.
Rusty Wheels members have been quite busy the last several years
completing two major projects. First, an 85 HP Bessemer engine used
during the 1920’s for cotton ginning was donated to the club by
Mr. and Mrs. John Burke and Mrs. Gilbert (mother of Mrs. Burke),
all of Hope. Second, a structure had to be built to house the
historical antique engine. Hope’s Fair Park was selected as the
construction site. The engine would serve as an unusual exhibit at
the annual Hope Watermelon Festival and Rusty Wheels Annual Engine
Show.
After all the long hours, weekends, mad wives, near divorces,
thousands of miles of travel and 100-degree weather in the Hope
area, satisfaction finally came. The 1987 Hope show proved to be
the best ever with the Bessemer running and the building virtually
completed. There were 112 engines, four tractors, a hay baler, two
grist mills, and two Model T Fords on display. Guests arrived early
from Greenville, South Carolina, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio,
and Linden, Texas. Arcadia, Louisiana and Nashville, Tennessee were
represented as ‘first timers.’ The tall, shady loblolly
pines proved to be very comforting with the typical August
weather.
We wish to thank all those who traveled from near and far to
attend our regular shows-the Jonquil Festival at Old Washington,
Arkansas in March; Hope Watermelon Festival at Hope, Arkansas in
August; Forest Williams Show in Cabot, Arkansas in September; and
the Heber Springs Arts and Crafts Festival at Heber Springs,
Arkansas in October.
A special thanks goes to the Joe Freeman family for their help
in the reassembly and the startup of the Bessemer engine. The old
engine runs perfectly thanks to their fine tuning and adjustments.
Also, thanks to Erwin Kretzschmar of Floresville, Texas, for
letting us get a photocopy of the manual for the Bessemer engine.
The building was completed quicker with the help of several
non-members and people interested in our projects.
Interesting observations on some of our members:
O. C. Scroggins baled the same hay for three days at the Hope
show and still has the same number of bales he arrived with. O.
C.’s home videos at shows proved to be very interesting.
Glen Scroggins’ cold drink sales were the best ever with the
little F/M ‘D’ taking only minor breaks for refueling. See
July 1987 issue for Glen’s equipment.
Jim Ingram always brings his unrestored, not-for-sale collection
of engines to the Hope show. Other club members say he starts them
once a year whether they need it or not.
Don Shilling, our club president, took time off from flying to
start up two engines he purchased at Waukee, Iowa.
Max Gunnels, a one-year member, only intended to buy one small
engine-he now has five restored, running engines.
Forest Williams (owner of Miss Smoke Rings) has a new design on
a Model A Ford that Henry Ford didn’t think of.
A. J. Scott continued to collect bargain engines at Waukee to
store in his backyard.
Paul Best is selling off his extra Stovers to Duane Hutchinson,
who is assembling quite a collection of igniter type hit-and-miss
engines.
Earl Henry has trapped a mongoose that has its own private cage.
The ladies love to check it out.
Willard and Henry Wilks continue to restore engines to
perfection. Their engines start early in the morning and-run until
late in the afternoon.
Bud Kelso is still acquiring Maytag engines and accessories. He
won best display at Forest Williams’ show.
C. E. Perry finally showed his engines this year. Everyone
enjoyed seeing the Foos Jr. run.
Oren Robertson had decided to show strictly the miniature steam
engines and his recently restored Model T. He travels the most
miles to attend our shows.
Rick Horton completed his tenth Williams Grist Mill
restoration.
Come and enjoy the fun grown men have with their toys. We always
have engines that need expert advice on tuning and repair.
