15th Annual Cumming Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Show

November is a busy month for shows in the Southeast Upstate Region. One last chance before the holidays and the onslaught of Winter shut things down for the year. With that in mind I packed up my gear and headed down I-85 toward Georgia.

The town of Cumming, Ga. has a small  population itself but the entire area is rapidly being engulfed by the Atlanta Metro sprawl. This becomes abundantly clear when you turn off 85 onto Ga.-20 and start the slow crawl past the miles of strip malls through Buford, Ga. I hadn’t anticipated running into bumper to bumper traffic 40 some miles from Atlanta on a Saturday morning.  About fifteen miles down the road you arrive at the fairgrounds on Castleberry Road, the venue for the show.

The Cumming Antique Power Association was founded in 2002 with the mission to: “Promote and preserve any and all antique power equipment”. 2016 marked the 15th year they have held their Steam, Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Expo. If you are a steam engine enthusiast, this is a must see event because they have one of the largest collections you are likely to find in this region.

According to the town’s website ( www.cityofcumming.net  ) the Forsyth County Steam Association has also been holding a steam engine 4th of July parade through the town square since 1957. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the usual firecrackers and bottle rockets next summer, check it out.

There was the usual contingent of tractors.

Plus some things you don’t see everyday.

Barry Mundy brought his gently modified ‘52 Allis-C.

Some things you could buy. This Farmall A will work for restoration.

And a whole bunch of other interesting exhibits  that we’ll take a look at in future posts.

With the sun setting on the 2016 show season it was time to load up the trailers and head for home. Like a bear or a groundhog larded up for the Winter the Mule had a camera full of good stuff to make it through the bleak cold months ahead.

Visit: http://www.capa-ga.com for more information about the Cumming Antique Power Association and next year’s show.

Richland Creek Antique Fall Festival 2016

Richland Creek Antique Power Association presented their 21st annual show on November 4th through the 6th 2016. Headlining the exhibits were this 1913 40hp Case Steamer and a pair of Rumely Oil Pulls.

 

 

More than a show with tractor pulls and antique exhibits it’s an open house at Richland Creek Farm located a few miles outside of Saluda, SC. For three days in early November visitors can wander around this working farm and peruse the extensive collection of antique machinery assembled by the Berry Family that could carry the show by itself.

 

 

 

 

The exhibits that roll in through the gate are icing on the cake.

 

 

 

 

Permanent exhibits like this 50 hp Fairbanks Morse stationary Diesel engine powering a working sawmill are in operation throughout the show.

 

 

 

 

As you walk around the site you might find a demonstration underway behind any of the numerous out buildings.

 

 

 

 

And parked along every fence row you can find some interesting piece of history, hopefully awaiting restoration.

 

 

 

 

Like most shows there are vendors selling everything imaginable. Replacing your old drafty windows? Don’t take them to the landfill. You can sell them for good money to some artsy type who’ll paint a picture on them and sell them for even better money. I know. That’s what I did with the ones I tore out of my house this summer.

 

 

 

 

We’ll take a closer look at some of what was there in future posts. For more information about the Richland Creek Antique Power Association and next year’s show visit: www.richlandcreekantiques.com