There’s nothing quite like a country show!
A bit of geography to begin with. I live in the Australian state of Victoria (that’s down the bottom right), and about 30km inland from the state’s second largest city, Geelong (pop. about 290,000). We moved down here in ’92, and knew we’d be taking the kids to the Show each year, so took out a family life membership. Paid for itself after five years.
The big attraction for me has always been the vintage machinery. Not that I have ever worked with it myself, but there is something appealing about the relative simplicity of these beasts; it’s technology I can look at and understand almost immediately. No mysterious black boxes full of magic, just straight cause and effect. I can relate to that. The pavilion has a boiler which supplies steam to several large vintage stationary engines which operate throughout the Show, and the vintage tractors and stationary engines on display vary from year to year. There’s not only steam power, but oil, kerosene, semi-diesel, diesel, you name it. One year there was a steam traction engine meandering around the grounds; insurance probably put a stop to that.
We’ll begin by looking around the pavilion, then wander through the display outside. I won’t show everything (sighs of relief?), and I’ll identify as much as I can from the information (sometimes) provided. We’ll see some brands you’ve never heard of; just remember we’re a long way from anywhere else down here (except NZ), and our conditions on the land are often different, and vary a lot from region to region, so it made sense to develop our own specialised farming machinery. Government tariffs probably helped there.
Now for a wander outside.
1914 Mogul
I was able to sit and watch the owner get this Mogul up and running. A lot of prior lubrication and checks required.
A couple of old ‘as found’ Fordsons
McCormick-Deering W12
Earlier, heavier McCormick-Deering.
Minneapolis-Moline, with an early closed cab.
1928 Ronaldson-Tippett SuperDrive, made just up the road in Ballarat
Unusual to see a Lanz that’s not the famous Bulldog. Unusual not to see a Bulldog here this year, for that matter.
Small 11.8hp John Deere Model B, mid-30s to early ‘50s.
McDonald Imperial Super-diesel. Why Super? No idea.
Classic Aussie tractor, the Chamberlain C6100. The company started in 1949, and was taken over by John Deere in the seventies, and killed off soon after.
Lister Auto truck, sort of like a motorised pallet truck with a 600cc JAP engine. Made from 1926-54.
Some small stationary engines.
Even smaller. Stunning to think of the knowledge and skill needed to make your own model steam engine.
Another famous local brand. There was only the one Jelbart this year, resting in the shed.
That’s it for this year. See you around!
Nice collection of steam power! I take my 1950 Ford 8N to a local show that usually has 5-10 steam ‘traction engines’ in attendance. The highlight of the show is the “Parade of Power,” held after dusk, with huge plumes of sparks flying out the smokestacks of these beasts. They also have a sawmill and threshing demonstration, both steam-powered.
Very cool! And to think my John-Deere garden tractor has more power than that Model B. And every time I hear Geelong, It reminds me that could be a city in China too!
Always love to see and hear these old engines running. I try to make it to our local show, a big one, every couple of years.
I recall my first look at a county fair in Illinois. There was a tractor pull, steam tractors vs. internal combustion. The steam tractors always won, even against multiple diesel tractors.
Thanks for all the great pics! Those shows are always fun. Amazing to see how far technology has come.