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Highlights at Antique Tractor, Engine and Machinery Show
 
Wrenching Tales by Cindy Ladage 
 
Highlights at Antique Tractor, Engine and Machinery Show
The 35th annual Antique Tractor, Engine and Machinery Show, sponsored by the Kalamazoo (Mich.) Antique Tractor, Engine and Machinery Club, had many highlights – perhaps the most fascinating aspect was just it being held at the Gilmore Car Museum.
During the show, the museum opened its doors to their collection so attendees could immerse themselves in everything with wheels from cars, to trucks, to motorcycles to tractors. While no relation to tractors or cars, the Miniature Museum is also part of the Gilmore Car museum and provided a wonderful collection of miniatures for visitors during the show.
Graham Bradleys and Avery tractors were the featured tractors. The late Joe Harvath, a member of the Kalamazoo Antique Tractor, Engine and Machinery Club, along with his friend Jim Fitzjohn had set the plans in motion to bring the Graham Bradleys to the show. Jim and Joe’s widow, Pat, along with other club members, completed the plans after Joe’s passing in the fall of 2013. At this year’s gathering, James Fred, editor of the Graham Bradley newsletter, reported there were 43 tractors total that collectors brought to the show and these included 14 Sears Economy tractors, five Bradleys and 24 Graham Bradleys. “There were 85 people at the banquet, representing 12 states,” James said. “Those that traveled the farthest to the show were from Nebraska, Louisiana and South Dakota.”
The banquet was a shared event between the Graham Bradley group, which is comprised of collectors of tractors sold through the Sears catalog, and the Avery collectors. One of the highlights of the Avery display was an amazing neon sign exhibited outside its tent.
At the banquet, a moment of silence was held for Harvath, out of respect for this beloved collector. The show offered yet another story of loss and love in the beautiful 1952 Chevrolet 3100 short box pickup that belonged to Howard Eichenauer of Middleville, Mich.
“This was supposed to be a father-son project,” Howard said. “My son, Rusty, was killed by a drunk driver in 1990.”
After letting it sit for a while, Howard restored the truck in Rusty’s memory. He has put together a touching story, told through the eyes of the truck, about himself and Rusty and the restoration. Rusty’s love of this lovingly restored truck lives on, as Howard has been displaying the truck for the past 18 years at the show.
Lawn mowers were on display as well and offered variety for visitors. Lawn and garden items are getting more popular because many can fit in the back of a pickup and don’t take up much room. One new item available at the show was a Mini-Beep (fun fact – it will travel both on land and in the water, making it amphibious).
Besides the Mini-Beep, a 1946 Willys CJ2A farm Jeep was also on display. Jeeps were popular and many were used for farming after World War II.
Surplus Jeep parts were used in the production of the Empire tractor, and collector Carl Osterbaan had his beautifully restored Empire at the show.
The show had an array of vendors and some exhibits. One of the most popular was the saw blade used for cutting water melon.
The show had a good turnout with an amazing array of equipment to keep the Graham Bradley tractor collectors “oohing” and “ahhing” when they were not drooling over the rare vehicles at the Gilmore Car Museum.
Next year the Graham Bradley group will meet in Baraboo, Wis., at the Badger Steam and Gas show. For details, log onto www.badgersteamandgas.com or visit the Graham Bradley connection on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GrahamBradleyAndSears SoldFarmTractorsClub

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.
10/2/2014