By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

BRADLEY, Ill. — The rain was unexpected for the Fourth of July, in Bradley – weather pundits thought it would stay to the south or at least last only until noon, but such was not the case for those who drove to the 33rd annual Thee Olde Time Farm Show held in the Perryville Park.

Kent and Jane Elliott of Godfrey, Ill., usually make the trek each year for this unique show that is home to the former David Bradley plant. Bradley moved his manufacturing operation from Chicago to here in 1854. The town, which had previously been called North Kankakee, was renamed Bradley.

Sears took over the plant in 1910 and the company sold David Bradley tractors and implements until 1966, when the company was finally taken over by the Newark Ohio Co. The sale of David Bradley equipment from there ceased in 1968. The plant closed in 1983 and was transferred to the Village of Bradley in 1984, but was destroyed in part by a fire two years later.

The show in part celebrates the long history of the David Bradley Co. Situated in a park, the show is near a children’s museum, picnic facilities and plenty of parking, making the area ready for family fun. At this year’s show, along with the tractors, there was also a petting zoo and vendors set up with their wares.

With an antique tractor show combined with a car show, the event usually has something to please almost everyone.

While rain made travel to and seeing the show a bit more difficult, it didn’t daunt the Elliotts and other brave souls who made their way to what turned out to be a great place to see a collection of antique tractors. Numbers were down from the lovely Friday before Saturday, July 4.

That didn’t bother Kent Elliott, who observed, “We didn’t have to face big crowds.”

This year’s featured brands were Graham Bradley, Avery and Orphans. Earl Morin, a local, has been bringing his 1938 Graham Bradley to the show for years. He has been a member of Thee Old Time Farm Show club since 1984, and it was an image of his tractor that graced the 2009 show button.

Another collector from the Springfield, Ill., area also brought his 1939 Graham Bradley standard. The two Grahams shared space with a Sears Suburban lawn mower and a rare Montgomery Ward’s Twin tractor.

“Graham Bradley tractors were far beyond all others in styling, comfort and convenience in the year 1938,” the show brochure stated. “This tractor was available with live hydraulic and cushion seats were standard. In fact, the most popular tractor (John Deere) never came close to this styling and comfort until 1960, when the 4010 was released. There were just 2,243 of these tractors built.”
Morin kept visitors entertained with stories about collecting and his life, including how his Graham Bradley survived a tornado. While this holiday had steady rain, no truly dangerous weather intervened on July 4.

Many are not aware that Montgomery Ward sold tractors. Over the years it built the Wards Twin Row, the General, Cleveland and Avery, all of which were manufactured by the Cleveland Tractor Co. Also at the show was a wonderful assortment of Cushman scooters on display. Cushman also manufactured golf carts, beginning in December 1954.

At the end of the day, everyone headed back home, accompanied on their drive by the dim light of fireworks in a rain-filled sky.