Circa 1948

The Buckley Old Engine Show has just celebrated it's 45th year.  My husband and I were fortunate to be able to attend this year, and WOW, we never expected it to be such a huge event.  They announced this year that they were expanding into a newly purchased 60 acres of land, but it already felt like at least that, if not more.  The parking lot goes on forever, and if you don't take the shuttle in from the parking lot you'll be tired out before you get there!  There were over 900 old engines on display.  There were 500 vendors participating in the flea market.  Food booths were plentiful.  This event is held each year on the 3rd weekend in August.  We'll be sure to go again.

Once I got over the awe of it all, I started looking at the dates on some of the older tractors.  Then I found myself searching out engines that were as old as I was, hoping that I looked better then those pieces of rusted metal.  Many of the tractors had been rebuilt, and were living a very pampered life.  I was impressed!

This 1948 Ford work truck doesn't look like it's been restored.  A cool old truck!

This old steam engine was giving rides, but the lines were so long we decided to pass this year.

A new addition to the show this year is the Spirit of Traverse City.  It's a 1/4 scale steam train that was built in 1948, and for thirty years gave many people rides around the Clinch Park Zoo in Traverse City.  Their plan is to get it up and running again so it can give rides along with it's big brother!

There was lots to see.  At this shop they were making bowls out of long planks of lumber.

You could even buy the bowls that they were making.

If you're a John Deere fan, you would have went crazy here!

Check out this 1948 Farmall, isn't it a beauty!

I really loved this 1947 Silver King.  Didn't see too many of these, which makes me believe they are few and far between. 

Here's a 1948 Jaques.  Not many of these around either.

This 1948 McCormick Deering was a beauty!

There must have been at least 10 steam powered whistles on this tower, and they consecutively went off starting at noon.  We were having lunch only about 100 feet from it, so it was pretty loud.

Lots of cool things to see.  And it was such a delightful day!

If you've found this post at all intriguing, you may want to mark your calendars for next year's show, August 15-18 in Buckley, MI 

Hope you enjoyed today's post!