Spring is in the air, which also means it’s time to grease and oil those old machines and prepare them for their big weekend at the Rusty Iron Rally.
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The 23rd incarnation of this popular event will be held, as ever, over the Fathers’ Day weekend, September 1 and 2, at the Macksville Showground.
And, as always, there is a special theme to attract those niche enthusiasts – this year it is the celebration of 100 years of John Deere Tractors, with Australian-made engines, Holden and Ford cars and Kenworth trucks also sharing some of the limelight.
The John Deere story in brief:
John Deere is a name now synonymous with agriculture and lawn maintenance and it is all thanks to the Vermont-born son of a tailor, who revolutionised farming in 1837 when he forged his first steel plough in his Illinois blacksmith shop.
The story goes that Deere noticed farmers kept coming into this shop with broken ploughs, which at that time were made from wood and cast iron and not suited to the heavy Midwest soils.
He hit upon the idea of using a broken saw blade, which he polished and sharpened, to create a plough that could better cut through the soil.
Forty years later the company was making 500 ploughs a day and selling more than 50,000 annually. It is now one of the largest producers and sellers of farm equipment with the brand known worldwide.
The Waterloo Gasoline Engine:
At the turn of the last century John Deere was watching the progress of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company and the mounting quality of its product.
What he saw was an organisation with many years of experience and firsthand knowledge of what farmers wanted in a good tractor. The purchase of the Waterloo Boy Gasoline Engine Company was a logical step. This took place in 1918 and brought the plant facilities and employees of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company under the John Deere umbrella.
Pooling their thinking and knowledge, the improved Waterloo Boy was the result and by 1921 this tractor had established itself as a leader, operating on low-cost kerosene.
The Rusty Iron Rally’s publicist, Elaine South, said she had seen collectors selling Waterboys for more than US$88,000.
“There is one coming to the rally, which is really exciting,” Elaine said.
“And this year the Kempsey Aero Club will have a fly-over of their vintage planes around noon on the Sunday.
“There will be two parades daily, one for the cars,bikes and trucks and the other for the tractors and other farm machinery.
“Ladies of the club are having a display and sale of handcrafts in the pavilion and Cr John Ainsworth will do the opening honours on the Saturday at 12.30pm.”
She said organisers were expecting more than 150 exhibitors plus there would be markets and a swap meet.
Gates will be open from 9am to 5pm, entry is $10 adults, $5 school age children and seniors concession, under 5 free and family $20.
For more information phone John on 6569 3190 or Ted on 6562 6985 or email southpk@bigpond.com.