By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

VAN WERT, Ohio — A Darke County man hopes his century-old New Idea manure spreader will lead to an appreciation of farming’s past.

The spreader, a Model C, was built between 1904 and 1909 at Maria Stein, Ohio. It will be on display Thursday through Sunday during Old-Fashioned Farmers’ Days at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

“I’m trying to preserve some of the old pieces and bring them out to the public,” said Richard Bashore, who has owned the spreader for more than 10 years. “I enjoy saving this equipment for the future and the next generation.”

The spreader’s previous owner made contact with Bashore after he saw Bashore with another spreader his family had restored. They agreed on a sales price and Bashore was able to add the spreader to his collection.

Unlike some of the other New Idea equipment he owns, Bashore said he won’t be restoring the spreader.

“It’s 100 percent natural and I’m not going to touch it at all,” he explained. “I want to keep it original. It still has the original printing on the sideboards. You can still see the red paint in back of the wood. It’s in good shape.”

The spreader was built in Maria Stein before New Idea began making equipment in nearby Coldwater, Ohio. And while other spreaders built at Maria Stein during that time may still exist, Bashore said as far as he knows, his is the only one people may see on display.

“I grew up in Coldwater and I’m trying to share the history of New Idea. They started in Maria Stein and moved to Coldwater. Today’s modern technology has moved on. I’m hoping people will come out and see it.”

The 34th annual Farmers’ Days will feature New Idea equipment, as well as Allis Chalmers tractors and equipment.

In addition to the spreader, other New Idea pieces expected to be on display include a one-row transplanter, a horse-drawn haymower and a Model C manure spreader built 1915-1917 at Coldwater.
Admission is $3 per person. A three-day pass is $7. Children 12 and under are free. For more information, see http://vanwert.com/offa/index.html For information on displaying a piece of equipment, contact Joyce Alig at 419-678-2614 or histalig@bright.net