Photos from the Southern Indiana Antique Machinery Show

[Lane Ranger 11,125]

We flew the Wheel Horse flag at the 33rd SIAM- Southern Indiana Antique Machinery Show in Evansville, Indiana on June 8, 9 and 10th at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Spoke to folks from Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Michigan at this big show.

Lane (Lane Ranger) and David (TravlinDave) Ralph took two RJ's and a their uncle Don Redding took

a custom 317 John Deere "Bulldog"!

We had a very nice visit on Saturday with Ken Smith ( (KC9KAS) another Red Square member. Also visited with Roger Parmley of Greencastle and Larry Greener of Winslow, Indiana . There were several there at the show.

[Ken B 3,165]

Excellent pics! Looks like you had yourself a nice time.

[bowtiebutler956 650]

Thanks Lane!!! Living so far south, I just can't make the shows, but I sure like seeing the pics! I appreciate it.

Matt :flags-texas:

[neil 2,410]

Superb photos Lane looks like it was a good show , just need to ask what that wheelhorse thing is that is sat on top of the little case in the eigth pic down from the top

looks to be some kinda brick of some sort?

thanx for sharing the pics.

[VinsRJ 723]

Looks like a great time! Thanks for the pics....

[Wheel Horse Kid 105]

Great looking pictures and tractors! Thanks for sharing!

[larryandnell 3]

Hi Neil That is limestone with Wheel Horse carved out and painted.

[AMC RULES 37,146]

Were some gorgeous 's in attendance there. :text-coolphotos:

[stevasaurus 23,065]

Real nice pictures Lane...looks like the Red Horses were well represented. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

Looks like a great show! Wish I could have made it. Jake

[Lane Ranger 11,125]

Antique tractor collectors gather for Evansville's 2012 Classic Iron Show

By Megan Erbacher

Updated Friday, June 8, 2012

[DENNY SIMMONS / Courier &amp; Press Joe Kautzman parks his 1960 Gravely tractor, sporting a removable riding sulkey and rotary mower blade attachment, for display at Southern Indiana's Antique &amp; Machinery Club's 30th Annual Classic Iron Show at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds on Thursday afternoon. The show continues through Sunday.]<http://m.courierpress.com/photos/2012/jun/07/114872/>

Photo by Denny Simmons

EVANSVILLE - Gerry Blackburn didn't enjoy being towed in a wagon behind her husband Charles Blackburn's tractor. She preferred riding shotgun with him, so to solve the problem, he custom built a second seat on his 1954 Ford tractor so she could sit proudly next to him.

The Blackburns and their two-seated tractor will be participating in this weekend's 30th Annual Classic Iron Show hosted by the Southern Indiana's Antique & Machinery Club<http://siamclub.hypermart.net/> at the Vanderburgh County 4-H Fairgrounds on U.S. 41 North.

Opening at 8 a.m. today with activities continuing into the evening, the show goes through Sunday It will feature antique tractors, hit-and-miss and steam engines, crawlers and other types of equipment.<http://siam-club.hypermart.net/linked/classic%20iron%202012%20shedule.pdf>

Activities will include a Giant Flea Market, toy show, working demonstrations, antique tractors, food vendors, a garden tractor pull Friday evening, live music by the SIAM Playboys on Saturday afternoon and a Saturday evening antique tractor rodeo.

The Lawn and Garden Tractor Extravaganza chose Evansville as the site for its 2012 show. It will feature more than 500 lawn and garden tractors.

Admission is $4 for people 13 and older, or $7 for a weekend pass, which includes the evening events.

The Blackburns, who are from Mount Vernon, Ind., have been members of the club for six years, and have attended the show for 15 years. They rarely see other tractors with two seats, and Gerry Blackburn, 74, loves the ride.

"I'm glad he did," she smiled and said. "I enjoy it. I never got to do anything like this until we got married eight years ago."

Charles Blackburn, 82, has been collecting, buying and selling almost 30 tractors since 1992, and currently owns three. He's had his favorite, the 1954 Ford, for 41 years. For more than 30 years, he used it to mow grass, but retired it from that duty. His three children surprised him and restored it for his 80 birthday.

"That's part of the family," he proudly said.

His other tractors are a 1950 International and a 1973 140 John Deere Lawn Tractor.

"We like getting together with all the other guys and wives that do the same things and talk tractor," Charles said.

Gary Mann, a club member since 1980, said Southern Indiana's Antique & Machinery Club has about 200 members, but expected at least 100 people traveling from out of town - Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan - to display their equipment.

"We restore and take care of antique tractors, equipment and engines," Mann said. "We try to keep things going for the future. You restore the past for the future so kids can understand that this was the way things were done many years ago, and it was a hard, rough labor with equipment then compared to what it is today. And a lot of the stuff we have out there, some families and kids have never seen before."

Cynthiana, Ind. resident, Joe Kautzman, 70, was brought up with Gravely tractor's, and that's all he owns.

"My dad bought a Gravely when I was in grade school, probably a '50 model, and I used it all the time," he said. "We had a big garden, and I used it in there all the time ... And I've had them ever since."

He stays busy with the upkeep of the more than four dozen tractors that he owns. Other than the pieces he uses for parts, he keeps all tractors in use, including a 1940 walk behind Model L.

"My neighbor buddy, I got him converted," Kautzman smiled and said. "He's got about a half dozen now."

Mann said there's something to please everyone, the event doesn't favor tractor lovers. A barrel train is an attraction for the kids - wheels are attached to 12 55-gallon barrels and hooked together, then pulled by a tractor.

"We take them around the displays and drive real slow to let them look at things," he said. "And the parents get a break, too, cause they can go get something to eat or drink then come back to wait for the kids. Some adults even try to crawl in and ride. We haven't had anybody get stuck yet."

Neil: Henry Bullington of Tenn. had two limestone carved blocks on top of metal cases that had Wheel Horse logo cuttings on them. Very nice and unique.

Here are some other photos from the Lawn and Garden Tractor Magazine posting on facebook of the SIAM show:

http://www.facebook....02934784&type=1

Also here is an article from the Evansville Courier Press about the show:

[1maidenfan 202]

Great pics

That Toro tractor is some thing different, the one with the little trailer :text-goodpost:

[Wheel-N-It 2,971]

HUGE THANK YOU!!!!

[dclarke 4,058]

Thanks for the pics Lane. Looks like a good time. :thumbs:

[Lane Ranger 11,125]

Denny: Don't forget the Jacksonville, Illinois show at the end of September that we are planning to atttend. I hope we can get you to come with your tractors and a few other folks as there was only one Wheel Horse tractor there last year and it was really just a lawn mower!

Here is the link to the show in Jacksonville at the end of September:

http://www.prairielandheritage.com/

[dclarke 4,058]

It's on my calander Lane. With the early spring planting we could be in the field then, I'll have to wait and see. :angry-banghead:

[meadowfield 2,651]

fab ! :woohoo:

[tractorchick 399]

WHAT a show it WAS!!

Having it again next year guys. Plan to come on out and bring your Horses! I'll have mine by then too...my 500 Special. We had 475 lawn tractors in attendance! whoo hoo!!

[neil 2,410]

Hi Neil That is limestone with Wheel Horse carved out and painted.

Those lime stone blocks are real cool , Who made them does anyone know

[Lane Ranger 11,125]

Here is a Magna-Trac photo from the SIAm show on June 8, 9th and 10th in Evansville, In. They had three of these at this show!