Thousands turn out for LaGrange Engine Show
Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram
WELLINGTON — Imagine baling hay by hand — or with a team of horses. It would have been a lot of work.
That’s why machinery such as the 1910 International Hay Press was such an innovation in its time.
Matt Mole and a crew of helpers Sunday demonstrated the machine drawn by an old steel-wheeled gasoline tractor at the 38th LaGrange Engine Show at the Lorain County Fairgrounds on Sunday.
“You really had to work,” said Mole, of Grafton Township. “These days you can sit in an air conditioned tractor and bale a whole field, but with this old machine, it takes at least five workers.”
Mole’s brother, Daniel, said the whole family enjoys demonstrating the old machine.
“It’s a neat way to reconnect with the past,” he said.
Thousands of people turn out for the yearly engine show, which features equipment from days gone by, said LaGrange Engine Club President Jim Schmitkons.
This year, Allis Chalmers tractors along with Nelson Brothers engines were featured in the three-day show, which ended Sunday.
Nearly 100 old American Indian motorcycles also were a big draw, thanks to local members of a club headed up by Harold Hartman Jr., 65, of Wellington. He said he learned to love American Indians alongside his father, Harold Hartman Sr., 86, of Huntington Township.
“Any Indian rider will tell you they offer a better, smoother ride than a Harley-Davidson, but any Harley-Davidson rider will probably tell you the opposite,” the younger Hartman said.
The elder Hartman said he first began riding an Indian when he was in high school. He said he needed it to get to school on time after doing farm chores. He bought an Indian for $100 that now would be worth thousands.
The elder Hartman still loves to ride but uses an Indian with a sidecar for better stability.
The Indians have become even more popular following the 2005 Anthony Hopkins film “The World’s Fastest Indian” about New Zealander Burt Munro, who used a modified 1923 Indian Scout to set a number of land speed records.
Eventually, Munro exceeded 200 mph on the motorcycle built to go 70 to 75 mph, Harold Hartman Jr. said.
“I saw his bike after the record was set,” the younger Hartman said.
Although the original company ceased production in the 1950s, the Indian brand name was later picked up by other manufacturers.
For more information on the LaGrange Engine Club, call (440) 233-6828 or (419) 929-0828, or visit www.lagrangeengineclub.com.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram September 22nd, 2008 in Local and State. Popularity: 1% |
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