|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Historic Farm Days 2010 honored legacy of M&W |
|
|
|
Wrenching Tales
By Cindy Ladage
This year’s 2010 Historic Farm Days was a welcome sight for Penfield, Ill. Great weather and great tractors were the mainstay of this year’s show.
The International Harvester Collectors Club of Chapter 10 held its Red Power Round Up, and Farmall red was featured along with M&W Products. For those who don’t know the history of the M&W Gear story, the company was started by Elmo R. Meiners and Arthur J. Warsaw. These two men combined their talents to create an attachment that added more power for tractors.
In the Historic Farm Day’s book, Heritage Iron editor Sherry Schaefer is quoted as saying, “... if there is a name that should be associated to giving the farmer more power, it should be M&W Gear.”
Elmo Meiners, the M of the M&W, passed away at the age of 95 in August 2009. At last year’s Half Century of Progress Show, famed agriculture broadcaster Orion Samuelson requested a moment of silence during the show while Mr. Meiners’ funeral procession took place. The M&W Legacy was honored at this year’s Historic Farm Days show.
This show was also a celebration of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Cub Cadet. The TractorData.com website shared a bit of history about the mighty Cub: “Cub Cadet began as a project by International Harvester to produce a heavy-duty lawn tractor. Using parts from the popular Cub series tractors, IH built a small tractor named the Cub Cadet.
International’s Lawn Products Group established in 1981 the subsidiary Cub Cadet Corp. In 1985, CCC built a new factory in Brownsville, Tenn.
This year’s show had strong vendor showing. While there were the traditional tractor parts and literature and memorabilia, there were also several artists on hand. One was Jim Gilmer of Villa Grove, Ill.
Jim has created a series of pencil drawings he calls “Illinois Images.” The limited edition signed and numbered prints depict various scenes of Illinois, from wildlife to country scenes such as “Tired Iron,” the picture of a broken-down tractor by a fence. There is also “Almost Gone,” a picture of an old barn with a planter out front.
Born on a farm, Jim attended the Chicago Art Institute and graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. After working as a commercial artist, he switched to the construction trade and now focuses mostly on custom art such as antique tractors.
“This is my first tractor show. I got the idea when I went to the Half Century of Progress at Rantoul last year,” Jim shared.
He was also featured in John Harvey’s Classic Tractor newsletter. If you’re looking for a customized tractor picture, Jim is willing to draw one. He can be reached at 217-832-9567 or 217-552-0710.
There was also a talented artist who created glass-blown artifacts and a wood worker, as well.
Held at the Illinois & Indiana Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club (I&I Club) grounds, this club, which formed in 1985, has been improving and adding to the show grounds since they moved here in 1996.
John Fredrickson, president of the club, wrote in the show publication: “We hope you enjoy the show and invite you to come back next year when we feature Oliver and Hart Parr and host the Historical Construction Equipment Association’s International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition.”
This show takes place the second week in July each year. Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication. |
| 9/15/2010 |
|
|
|
|
