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David Denny Around and About December 2006

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Around and About Starting Sept. 12, 2006
David Denny

Good day---good grief, we are going to be inundated with running kids, tomorrow. The School is having a cross-country race tomorrow! They take the perimeter path, most of the upper part is on the other property but the start/finish line is about even with the south of the border eatery. The last time I had to run like that I had a big Army Sergeant behind me yelling “double time”---that was ½ a century ago!
We are now looking for a Parts exchange next Saturday. The board meeting is postponed for a week due to a Blues concert being held here. This is a busy joint. Thursday an in between everything day. George Bohn came in for the work weekend, and the board meeting that had been postponed. (Quote: “What we have here is a failure to communicate!”)
He spent his day replacing insulation on the steam lines removed while relocating steam pipes, and changing out the main steam shut off valve. That was last January! The insulation (lagging) was left off all joints to check for steam leaks, during last June’s run. It looks complete, now!
A delegation from the blacksmith crew took several pickups and borrowed Dar Jewell’s trailer to haul a load of donated blacksmith’s tools, machines, hardware and just dusty ‘stuff’! A power hammer, forges. Also a big lot of just -- things. Radio, washing machines, and boxes of misc. A load of things to go through! I miss not having dusty junkyards, and being able to prowl!
Saturday morning Sept. 16, we had a very energetic, but (again) small parts exchange. A lot of things changed hands, to the satisfaction of all parties. I do not understand the lack of response for these events. It is not for lack of knowledge of their taking place, for we have been having parts exchanges one month prior to spring and fall shows here in Vista for 30 years. I attended my first one in 1976. The one in February was added a few years later. If anyone has any suggestions for improvement of these Museum functions, drop me a line here at the Museum. I will read them, and I will keep them confidential, unless you request publication. (On the soapbox again!)
Saturday the blues day arrived. It is just not my kind of music I guess. One band I enjoyed, but the rest were too much like rock for me. I repeat this was my personal opinion, but I have been accused of having warped musical tastes before. The crowd was very small, due to, in my warped opinion, not enough planning ahead on the part of the promoter.
We held a small parade between bands, two steamers, some gas tractors a Case tractor and hayride wagon filled with riders, and Virgil and Sharon White and the ’24 Mack truck and old 4 wheel trailer, loaded with ‘things’. This was done to promote the upcoming Fall Show. Hurrah!
The builders in the persons of Patrick Myers, Keith Richards and Jim Goode are working on the weavers building, again. The doors are being completed, and window coverings are being constructed. As previously reported, Pat, Keith, and others drilled the holes for the Handicapped ramp, along the north side of the building. The posts are setting in the holes Tuesday Evening.
It was while helping shovel dirt from around the holes, that Dar Jewell bunged up his ankle. Also he has a massive infection in that leg. Ernie Walker saw him today and reported it was bright red, and swollen severely! Stay off it for a while Dar. Don’t go ramming around for a week or two! You have an anniversary to attend to next month.
Bob Morley has undertaken finishing the trench on the west side of the Weaver’s building. Julius Schnell using our old Ford backhoe started this some time ago. This is for a required retaining wall to keep rain and mud from washing out, and in, and flooding the weaver’s new home. The ground has not gotten any softer or easier to dig and it was a worn out Bob who crawled out of the ditch at the end of the day! No sitting around a campfire that evening!
The rumor is, we are getting a new truck for the collection. A big Available truck. That is the name of the truck manufacturer. I asked Rod Groenewold the inevitable question, “is it available”? Answer-“yes it is”.
Wednesday the posts for the ramp were aligned in the holes, centered, and 2x4 braces fastened to them, so they would not move when concrete is put around them. Thursday, the short pour concrete truck arrived, and Patrick, Keith, and Mike Churchill filled the holes around the poles with concrete. The wanderer, Paul Smith returned Thursday refreshed from his Colorado and Utah trip, also lighter in wallet, due to fuel expenses.
Friday, Bob Morley arrives, and immediately starts hauling. Three trailers filled with many useful items including a complete, in good condition, Aermotor windmill. The tower is in very good condition, the head is rusty, but evidentially in sound condition. There are two large wooden moving boxes filled with goodies galore! Just like Christmas or your birthday!
Saturday the trucks started entering, on the Lewis lowboy trailer. The first one had a fair conditioned flat bed Ford truck, about 1951 vintage, with a shot engine. The trailer returned, carrying a Chevy with a moving van body on it. The third one was a different trailer, with the 1932 Available truck with an old moving van body.
The exterior paint is good, except for the sides and back, where a business name was sanded off, leaving a multi-colored scar on both sides and rear doors of the van body. The original restorers had installed some wood trim around the windshield, and on the cab doors, and varnished it. This wood needs refinishing, the van sides and back need sanding and painting, and lettering with our museum logo, and we would have an advertising or parade piece unequalled.
Stored inside the van are miscellaneous items including a peanut roaster, an icebox and an apparently complete Tangley calliope possibly made in the 1920’s. A Wisconsin gas engine and an air pump power this device. Talk about a parade item, we need a pianist, or more properly a calliopist, if there is such a word, mount this on a truck or wagon, and we can make our own parade! The calliope also operates on “piano” rolls obtainable from Tangley still in business, and on the Internet.

Above September 29, 2006 Gary Pollard, Walter Britton and Bill Rafnel (left to right, lower right picture) spraying the second coat of Urethane on the inside of our Weavers new building.
The Weavers building is progressing right along. Every Thursday a group of them forgo setting up looms and working, (playing) instead, they are putting in their time fixing up their new quarters. The inside has been given two coats of urethane clear to seal the walls. The next job will be the floor. Maybe they can get some looms over for Show time. Still lots to do on the project, however.
SOCIETY NOTE: Saturday, September 30, 2006, Dan and Ashley Jaques re-affirmed their wedding vows at the Rancho Guajome Adobe. Both of their families and many friends including Museum members attended. Guest parking was at the Museum, and guests were driven to the ceremony on our ‘people mover’ hayride wagon pulled by a Case Tractor, driven by Richard Green. The Bride was driven to the ceremony on the platform of the 1911 Fairbanks Morse Tractor, chauffeured by Virgil White. Paul Smith officiated at the ceremony in fine style. After a wedding dinner prepared by Museum Food Service Chefs, Dar Jewell and Bob Morley, the Bride and Groom returned to the Museum on Dan’s Diesel 60 Caterpillar! The reception was held in the new Assembly Building. Refreshments were served.
Sunday was a quiet day, here. What else is happening? We have not received any new donations for several days, so we have not had anything to do lately! Ha! Dar Jewell is back on the job, semi mobile being real careful. He with assistance from Beverly Jewell, and Bob Morley put together a hamburger and hotdog lunch for the Rotarians Wednesday. Saturday, a group from the Order of Alhambra ‘special and handicapped’ children was in for their yearly outing. In the evening Saturday a dinner for the Kewanis Club, Possibly 150 guests. The Museum grounds and Food Service are busy.
Cecil Morton put a battery in the 1932 Available truck, and tried it using his temporary gas can. The old gas tank smells like a mixture of varnish and skunk scent, not what one would like to try out an engine with! The engine started on the first try. He and Paul Smith warmed it up tried it out and it drives and stops just like a truck should. It and the contents temporarily reside in the west end of the Jack Collins Museum Building, protected from night time moisture and vandalism.

No more shall I complain about not receiving any donations for a day or two! Virgil and Sharon White came in Friday afternoon in the International roll back truck. On the truck were 3 items. Their Chevrolet to go home in, a Holt 5-ton tractor -- pictured above, and a 15 HP Fairbanks Morse type Y horizontal hot head diesel engine, from 1919. Pictured above with Dan Jaques, left, and Eric McConnon. The engine and Holt Caterpillar are a donation from Tim Rice. So far we have not had a chance to place an age on the 5 ton Holt, but it is earlier than 1925, because later than that it would be a Caterpillar, not a Holt!
The weekend was highlighted by a couple or three events. We hosted the International Order Of Alhambra, an organization dedicated to the well being of handicapped and mentally disabled children (and some adults also). They do enjoy being out here for a picnic and burger and hotdog cookout. They also enjoy loud music they ‘dance’ to! Event number two. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were the ‘Bob Morley work weekend’. Cleanup and fix up for show weekend. A very small turnout but a lot was accomplished, nevertheless. The ropes are mostly up, Guy Horton and his grandson worked the north end of the show grounds, while Rudy Dremely worked on the south end. It is quite a chore, sorting posts and untangling rope and getting the right one at the right place! The bleachers are back in place, and the shades over them.

A crew placed the headers over the doors in the Weavers building, Saturday -- pictures above. They are heavy, but not that heavy. However, Paul Smith ‘walked’ the Bucyrus Erie crane to the Weavers building, lowered the boom, rigged the timbers to the cable and gently set them in place. It went smoothly, and without a hitch! Also it made a photo-op for would be photographers like me!
A few days later Paul walked the crane on to the brush pile, to the north of the sorghum patch. The Park Ranger says that the brush pile has to go! Haul it off, chip it up, but get rid of it! No more brush, it is a rat, snake and other varmint harbor. Also a couple of castor bean plants that came up volunteer must be eradicated! EDCO disposal brought in a big roll-off dumpster and Paul Smith and a long time friend, also a member of the traveling club took the ‘new’ Clark fork lift and loaded the big stumps from the trees around the grassy area. That is just the start, however! ALL brush must go.
Tuesday Rich Eckert and Pat Mackin are in from Prescot AZ! They claim the road gets longer every time. Pat said, if “we are not wanted, just say so. No need to turn on the big fans to try to push us back”. They met headwinds most of the way and this does nasty things to gas consumption besides making nasty driving!

The first of the campers have started arriving -- pictures above. It is just Wednesday, and there is still a lot to do. Roy Volk and Bill Cue are in to start setting up the threshing area. This time of year there is no actual harvesting to be done, for the work was done in the spring. Sometime between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, depending on rains, the wheat is planted. The cutting and binding and shocking were done before the June show.
The dried bundles of wheat were then put on wagons, and hauled in to the threshing area. Approximately one half of the harvest was run through the separator for the June show, the rest was left on the wagons, covered by tarpaulins (tarps) and saved for the October Show. Now all they have to do is set up the demonstration area put up the ropes to keep spectators away from the dangerous belt area, line up tractor and separator, crank up and go to it!
You can see there is not much to this farming stuff, after all, is there? Of course there is plowing or discing, or both, and getting an ancient seeder (drill) ready, also working on antique tractors to make them ready to go every season, greasing and oiling machinery. Also putting a 75-year-old threshing machine in top running condition, keeping belts in condition to operate, and storing them where no rodent damage can occur. No, there is not much to this farming stuff.
The Campground is lined, display areas are ready, a lot of tractors are in already, and also engines are in and ready to go. You’d think we’d done this before, maybe thirty years worth. Saturday rolls around. Weather was warm and sunny.

Trucks, pickups with trailers arrive loaded with Tractors and some engines. I think a good investment opportunity would be stock in paint companies, especially those selling red and green paint. I never saw so many pretty red and green tractors, at least here! Still need the engine people to get some out, ‘tho!

The antique truck club brought some fine examples of BIG old trucks -- pictured above -- (also some small ones). The military equipment was represented, also. These were not painted pretty, just correctly. Lot’s of visitors, the parking lot was filled most of the day. From preliminary indications it looks like we had a record-breaking show, Saturday! Sunday promises to be good, also.
I have to give thanks to all that said they enjoyed reading this around and about column. I spoke to many who said they did so. I think they exaggerated, but I hope not, for I try to keep readers informed of all happenings, except of course I try to filter out the bad! There is some bad however, but I try not to see it. Hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil. Anyway thanks to all members, and other readers who said good things about these writings, I try.
History lesson: This is our 30th anniversary here at Vista. However we should remember this organization was founded in 1969 as Branch 9 of the nationwide EDGE&TA. We dropped out in 1976, when we formed the Southwestern Antique Gas & Steam engine Museum. The southwestern was dropped when the museum re-organized. Then we merged museum and club, abandoning all traces of the original name. We still are the originators of all engine and tractor collector organizations in southern California however, and all other groups split off from this one. So in 3 years, in 2009, we shall have another anniversary to celebrate!
Monday October 23, the day is warm and sunny, and early the trucks start rolling in, this time containing not pretty tractors but several hundred tons of ground asphalt for the roads. It should make the drives more user friendly. The problem turned out to be that very much of the ground asphalt was not ground up enough! When we get the projected rainy season it may mash down into the road base and firm up the road.

One of the disagreeable chores of doing this recording of happenings is the reporting of a member’s death. Long time member and a personal friend M. W. (Maurice) Dollard has recently passed away. He was 88 years of age, a Navy veteran of WWII and a retired truck driver. He is survived by his Widow Carolyn and a son and daughter. Maurice displayed engines at our shows for many years, however has not been active for some time. He donated the blue Bolinder Diesel fishing boat engine displayed on Gas Engine Row. I for one shall miss him!
Member Bob Campbell made a trip out from Illinois for a couple of weeks. He is picking up his very nice 55 Buick from storage. Rudy Dremely is trailering it back to Illinois for him. Returning, Rudy is detouring to pick up a set of wheels and front axle for our 1909 Case steamer that is under restoration. This traction engine has a damaged axle and incorrect mismatched wheels. The steam team had found the proper set in Illinois, however the shipping would be more than the cost of the set. Rudy volunteered to haul them and other parts back to the Museum! We wish him a safe trip.

Saturday was another good day, both weather wise and attendance wise. Not as good as last Saturday, but GOOD. The ‘Flagman’ riding on Jack Fraser’s 1927 Graham Bros. truck opened the show. (Oceanside CA Flagman, Alex Kapitanski, pictured above) Sunday was very good also. We need more engines though. Lot’s of tractors, and not many engines.

A grand Event! The steam team steamed up -- pictured above -- our Buffalo Pitts steam roller for a while! No, they did not fire the unsafe boiler, they used the 1912 Case traction engine’s boiler, and a high pressure hose, and steamed up the engine and drove it back and forth a few feet. Jake Williams has volunteered to take on the roller project, possibly transferring operation of the Advance traction to John Alling. All however are working on the 1909 Case to get it in operation. $$ And manpower are the stumbling blocks!
The second weekend we sort of made up for the lack of engines for display by bringing out the Museum ‘show’ trailer from the storage area. It had the usual operator, Earl Wolf, back from his home in Prescott, Arizona and Leo Zugner also from Prescott. (Leo, if I spelled it wrong, complain next time you are out!) Next show we’ll bring out the other trailer also, right from the start. If we don’t have operators, we will call it a static display!

Eric McConnon has been working on and around the 200 HP western gas engine. He started from the outside and worked towards it, cutting a forest of chest high weeds, cleaning, wiping, oiling and in general making it look presentable. He carried a corrugated steel tank from the outback and is making use of the discarded top to the old gasometer off the 120 hp Western. This will allow the engine to intake a large ‘gulp’ of fuel gas (propane) at low pressure. This is the way it was done when these big engines were new. With some good advice from all concerned, Eric had the 200 running, for the first time in a couple of years. He will need to come up with a cooling system, before running it very much. Did I say Eric is 14 years old? Hows’ about some paint on it, Guys?

Full speed ahead on the weaver’s building with the announcement of a very generous donation of funds to finish construction! Show’s over for the year. The last of the campers have departed, the Arizona connection has departed, and all is quiet again and already we are starting to put things out for the November Auction! Things are coming off the hill, and out of the storage area. A few items have arrived, on consignment. More will follow, we hope. This will be the last scheduled Museum event for the year.
The weavers building now has most of the wiring in and getting things hooked up. Illuminated exit signs are on, outside lights are over the east and west doors, and more. The restroom is now framed in, back in the southwest corner. All this done by ‘outside’ builders, while our builders are busy building ramps and doors and shutters. Kent Graham now has doors hung on the east end.
Saturday November 4th we hosted a fundraiser for Boy’s and Girl’s clubs of Vista. The food service group, Dar Jewell, Bob Morley, and Keith Richards cooked for them. Hamburgers, hotdogs and a tri-tip plate for adults. Some adults wanted burgers, also. Everything seems to have gone well. Late functions now have to have a floodlight for the parking area Insurance requirements. Makes sense, sort of.

As they say in Hollywood: “Lights, Camera, Action!” Or is it Auction? The portable lights have arrived, people with cameras (including your Editor and I) are going up and down the rows of ‘treasures’ looking for photogenic lots. And there is action! Trucks and trailers of likely looking things were arriving all Thursday morning, when the unloaders were looking for a lunch break, when Holy Smoke! A large yellow semi- tractor trailer rig driven by Mike Bouris from Bouris Ranch followed by two smaller trucks arrived with a load of huge old concrete mixers and a multitude of other treasures. Paul Smith and the Bucyrus Erie Crane were enlisted for this operation. That stuff was heavy! I think Jack in the Box did a late lunch business! Tractors and items keep coming in and by Friday the sales area is threatening to overflow. Yes, we are going to need those lights Auction night. A very nice load of small gas engines have arrived, nothing rare, but they will add to somebody’s collection.
How’s about a turned around John Deere tractor, with fork lift forks? Or a wrecked Toyota for parts? The white Dodge pickup left before the auction however. It will not be missed! Saturday has arrived, let’s see what transpires more and more things arrive, both ours from the ‘outback’ and consignment things. Auctioneer Tony arrives, his co-horts, and helpers, bringing all their usual assortment of nuggets from north, south, east and west! The lot is filling up rapidly. Brrrrr! the weather has cooled off considerable. It feels damp and everyone is apprehensive about inclement weather for tomorrow. Cross fingers, hope, stay dry for one more day,( or two) we need to get the majority of this loaded out, then let it rain, we hope. The day is here, and the auction starts.
It lasts until way after dark, the floodlight towers roar, and to help with illumination of the last row I drive my cart over, and use my one light to help out. Last lots either sold or passed on. We’ll see how fast they leave, now. Bob Morley has a Ford ‘N’ tractor (9 or 8) to deliver from the Auction. Buyer was not home, so Bob left it on the trailer, to deliver later. Coming soon, Thanksgiving. A turkey dinner? Or Baloney sandwiches, or a can of Spam I have duty on that day!
Saturday November 18, Board meeting day, and a work weekend for the Steam Team. They have a number of projects going. First of all they were working on the ‘new’ case, Dean Alling is working on his Minneapolis, removing wheels to make them a little tighter on the axles. Also a welding job on the Russell portable, making it sturdy enough to stand a move out for display. Dean Alling also had a bright and shiny green steering wheel for the Case. Oh! What some good paint will do.
Bob Morley was going home Saturday, but he and Dar Jewell were going to do some work on the water pipe for the Weaver’s building. About 30-45 minutes worth of job? All afternoon and a lot of $%%^&#@@(&^ later they finally got the hookup ready. So Bob goes home Sunday.
The weaver’s building is going right along. About ready for the concrete at the foot of the handicap ramp. Next a railing for it. Monday Phil Green helped Cecil Morton get a tube back in on the ’new’ Farmall Diesel, a big tractor! Tomorrow is deadline day, so anything in the future will be recorded in a future issue. See you all at the winter general membership meeting. Load up food for the potluck, for we all will be hungry!