Antique Engine and Tractor Show displays machinery
Walter Giddings, 82, of Little Hocking takes off on his 1957 420 John Deere tractor during the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Beverly on Tuesday. (Photo by Peyton Neely)
Paul Tingler, a member of the Wood County Flywheelers, looks at part of the “Do Nothing Machine” displayed Tuesday at the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Beverly. (Photo by Peyton Neely)
Walter Giddings, 82, of Little Hocking takes off on his 1957 420 John Deere tractor during the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Beverly on Tuesday. (Photo by Peyton Neely)
Paul Tingler, a member of the Wood County Flywheelers, looks at part of the “Do Nothing Machine” displayed Tuesday at the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Beverly. (Photo by Peyton Neely)
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BEVERLY -- Antique machines dating from the early 1900s filled the baseball field behind Fort Frye High School during the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show.
Many antique tractor and engine owners look forward to when July rolls around and the event is held.
"I've come here every year for as long as I can remember," said Little Hocking resident Walter Giddings, 82.
Giddings brought with him his 1957 420 model John Deere tractor. He said he's owned the tractor for about two years and participating in this event is really enjoyable.
"You meet all kinds of different people," he said. "And the tractors and engines you see are amazing. No two of them are alike. They may be similar but none of them are identical."
Over 20 antique tractors and an additional 20 plus engines settled in for the show. From oil pumping engines to a "Do Nothing Machine," there was a variety of machines for the public to enjoy free of charge.
Dave McCray, 59, of Marietta brought a 1909 engine with 15 horsepower. He said he purchased the engine from someone in Pennsboro.
"This machine was used to pump oil wells. We got it off of a mountain in Ritchie County," he said.
McCray said he's been coming to this antique show for a few years. He restored the 1909 engine, got it running and built the trailer upon which it sits. The over-100-year-old engine was finished with red and black paint and the trailer matched the same color scheme.
"This is just such a fun hobby," said McCray. "I enjoy the people and we all think alike because we have the same interest. The people here are such good people from all over the region."
Showing off his "Do Nothing Machine," Wood County Flywheelers member Paul Tingler explained how the machine worked and what it's used for, which is nothing but a creative collaboration of farming equipment, lights, golf balls and door knobs.
"We are a group that collects and restores antique engines and farm related equipment for shows like this," he said.
The group is made up of about 40 members, according to Tingler.
"This piece is basically a living, moving museum. It was built by a man named Jim Perry and we think it dates back to the late 1960's into the early 1970's."
The "Do Nothing Machine" has 54 door knobs, a sewing machine, a meat grinder, hand crank, and more parts of bigger equipment moving all together in a perfect motion.
"We want to take this piece to as many places as we can clear into October," he said. "I was so excited at the opportunity we had to rebuild this piece this past winter. I would have loved to have met the man that created this because you can clearly see how creative he was."
The machine runs from one power source and even has a robot woman on the front that opens and closes her mouth while her eyes light up.
"I'll see people come over here and look at it once, then twice, then come back a third time just to find something new they didn't see," he said. "You can always see something new on this machine. Events like this are something we really want to bring this out to and show off."