Yesterday's farm technology gets new lease on life

Ann and John Adams enjoy going to all of the antique tractor and engine shows, and have made friends over several states. They are real crowd pleasers. -Staff photo by Taylor

October 25, 2001 -- When the Rainbow Antique Farm Equipment Club was formed in 1994, little did the members realize how it would change and grow over the next few years.

Today, the Sharecroppers' Antique Farm Equipment Club has members all over South Central Texas, from the Hill Country to the Houston area.

"There's a lot of city people that have one or two tractors, or just have one tractor and they like it. We have tractors and we have fly-wheel engines," said John Adams of Cedar Creek who is the president of the club.

"It's interesting to see how simple things were back then, and yet they still work. I have a fly-wheel engine that's a 1910 model. That's 91 years old. How many engines do you see floating around, today, that you think will be operating 91 years from now?" said Adams.

He also has a 1918 International pickup that they use in parades, and said he doubts any of our "modern" cars will be around and in use in 83 years.

The members of the Sharecroppers may become a regular member, or they can become an exhibitor at the various shows they attend ... as a club ... around the state and even out of state.

As a branch of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association, Sharecropper members have guidelines and access to liability insurance for the shows, which are free to the public, said Adams. Members enjoy showing their various antiques and explaining to the visitors just how the things work.

Many of the younger generation have no idea what a wringer washing machine is, said Adams. He and his wife, Ann, have a collection of antique washing machines that is always a hit.

"We heard about it (the club) and, of course, one of the benefits is your fellowship with people who are interested in the same thing you are.

"What's really neat is when you go to a show and you see a group of people coming along, and you're demonstrating your things. All of a sudden a person looks at something, and a big smile comes on their face. You know they've recognized that piece of equipment ... whatever it is ... and they start explaining, 'Well, I used to have that,' or 'My mother had that,'" said Adams.

Many of the members join at the shows they attend to witness the antiques and how they still function. Many do not have an antique to start with, but Adams said it usually isn't long before they purchase something and join in the exhibits.

"It's kind of like a brotherhood. You go to an old engine show, and you hand this card out and you're not a stranger anymore," said Adams.

"If you have a problem, there's somebody in that club who knows something about that piece of equipment. You know, we have some older people and they operated that stuff and they can tell us."

Although the original membership was mostly older, the younger generation has become infatuated with the older antiques and have been joining these clubs in larger numbers, said Adams.

The Sharecroppers have over 100 on their membership rolls, and while everyone can't be present for all of the quarterly meetings, a newsletter goes out to keep everyone informed on the latest meetings, shows and news, said Sandra Paulus who serves as the club treasurer.

"We have some members who don't even have tractors or engines and just like being around us because we're good, clean, wholesome, family people," said Paulus.

"We have picked up some tractor games we play. We've got about six different games that we offer at the different shows we go to. We play them with our antique tractors," she added.

One of the games involves getting the tractors in a big circle, with a rope around a target in the middle. The object of the game is to continue to move in a circle without allowing the target to touch the ground.

Another game requires a special, roped off area. In this game, the driver is blindfolded and a "navigator" is placed on the tractor behind the driver. This game requires the driver to negotiate around obstacles in order to get to the finish line.

Paulus said that the various exhibitions and games are a big crowd draw and pleaser at the different shows the club attends.

"You wouldn't believe the people that show up when they publicize (that the club will be there)," said Paulus.

"Another reason why we started this club is that antique's are hard to come by, and getting parts for them. There's some places that make a part that is a replication of the original. Trying to locate these different parts is almost impossible, so we can share information," she said.

The most recent challenge has been getting the children involved with the little peddle wheel tractors. They have started setting up exhibits "just like the big people," and it has been very successful, said Paulus.

The group participates in the annual "Ag Day" in counties, and enjoys showing and educating the children the way things were done in the "olden days," versus the modern equipment comparisons.

Any money that is donated during the shows is put back into the next show, said Paulus. Meetings are usually held in Shelby or Industry, since these places are more centrally located for many of the members.

Meetings are held on the last Friday of the months of January, April, July and October, said Paulus. Visitors are always welcome.

Adams summed up the "antique" hobby in a few words,

"We go for the fun. If it's not fun, we'll quit going."