Crankin' It Up

Start the weekend with a snappy Fox-Trot! "Out Of The East" is the flip side of the record we posted last Friday, and it is a peppy one. Have a great weekend!

THIS Is A Gas Engine!

I have said for years that the gas engines you collect should be big enough that you are never tempted to pick them up to move them. Gary Bahre of Sparta, Illinois must agree, but I do believe he could throw out his back if he isn't careful when he rolls it over to start it. Gary shows this behemoth at the American Thresherman Show at Pinckneyville, Illinois. The Bessemer used to work in an oil field power house.

I Almost Forgot!

This is Forest Products Week! Your celebration of this hallowed week can be a deeply personal decision. You can take your favorite board to work, go hiking with a hickory hoe handle, or even celebrate with fireworks. Whatever you do, have a blast!

Hand Made...In America!

Kester's Old Time Collectables now has a website! Until recently you had to find the phone number by various means of divination in order to obtain a catalog, or to order, but now you can browse online for authentic American made farm toys. You still have to call, or send a letter to order. I recommend using the phone, because George is very pleasant to talk to, and you will learn all manner of fascinating facts about steam engines, machine work, and of course, these beautiful models.

Kids of all ages love these toys. Click the link to go to KestersOldTimeCollectables, or go the link on the left side with the Case Roller Russell portable engine.

Rain Delay

The rain last week brought the fall harvest to a screeching halt in Southern Illinois. This combine was parked on the high ground in a Wayne County field. Waterways and ditches were full, and the Little Wabash and its tributaries are up into crops that were ready to pick. The big Wabash was bank-full when we crossed at Grayville on Saturday.

Not My Victrola

Pax41 has posted a very nice Edison recording of "Painting the Clouds With Sunshine", from "Gold Diggers of Broadway". Edison records give you an extra minute, and it is always fun to listen to songs you know from regular discs, to see what the artists do with the extra time.

A Quick Boonville Review

The rains we had on Thursday and Friday thoroughly soaked the grounds at Thresherman Park north of Boonville, and the tractor pull had to be cancelled. Many of the regular gas engine exhibitors stayed away too, because of the mud, but the show still measured up pretty well, with good attendance, and plenty of activities.

Here is Mrs. TBS checking out one of the several mumbooths in the flea market area. The sky cleared off Saturday morning and it was a very pleasant day for fleaing.

The log cabin is always interesting to visit. The little biscuit maker was busy rolling out dough for her grandmother, who was baking with a wood fired cook-stove.

We found plenty to yak about in future posts, so check in once in a while.

Weekend Steam; Where We Will Be

An engineer waters his Kitten at the Boonville Antique Steam and Gas Engine Show. Saturday is going to be cool and sunny; perfect for strolling, looking, and reminiscing.

Crankin' It Up

It rained all day Thursday; it's still raining Thursday night ( I had to record this between thunderstorms.), and rain is forecast for Friday. "Rainy Day Blues" was recorded by Joseph C. Smith's Orchestra on April 23, 1919.

Ooh...That Tingles!

Wayne-White Electric Co-op linemen demonstrate what happens to someone who climbs out of a vehicle with a high-tension line draped over it. This co-op in Southern Illinois performs live line demos for the public, and especially school children in order to educate the public, and to prevent accidents. This week they performed their magic for fourth graders from the schools in White County.