HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-09-08, Page 33ROLLING...to the
32nd Annual Pioneer Thresher
and Hobby Association Reunion
on location service unit
523-4742 After hours 522-1629
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Relics of the past
This 1927 Huber stands in a place of honour at the beginning of this still life
parade of antique tractors that line the Highway 4 property of Bob LeBeau.
WE EXTEND OUR
Best Wishes
to everyone attending the 32nd Reunion
of the
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association
OUR ELEVATORS ARE
READY TO RECEIVE YOUR
1993
CORN & SOYBEANS
SNELL FEED
AND SUPPLIES LTD.
523-9501 WESTFIELD R.R. 3 BLYTH
Welcome to
0,‘„eicive3sh2eNr.8, Hots
40
<2` dt
.6 Anniversary °c:b
I
Sept. 10, 11, 12, 1993
-t Fair Grounds 9
Blyth, Ontario
A Message For
You Folks!
Friends, we are very
proud of our show and
this is our special
invitation to you. Feel
free to join in our
entertainment and
competitions, and ask
our exhibitors about their
hobbies.
Bring the whole family
and friends and make
yourself at home!
President - Ray Hallahan
Friday - 8:00 a.m. Senior Citizen & Handicapped Day
$2.00 (Friday Only)
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Admission $4.00 per person
Members must have 1993 memberships
Children - 12 & under $1.00
Children - 12 & under accompanied by an adult - free
TILE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1993. PAGE A-I 3 .
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1993
Man's hobby grows to full-time business
By Bonnie Gropp
For several years the Huron Pioneer
Thresher Reunion has had the work of a
Brucefield area businessperson on display.
Bob LeBeau has been doing custom
tractor restoration work since 1972 when he
began collecting tractors with his father Mac
and brother Rick. It eventually ballooned
into a part-time business and by 1985 the
collection had grown to 45.
At that time the family began selling
them and by 1989 Mr. LeBeau, now on his
own, was in the business of doing the
restoration solely for others. Four of the
family tractors, a Rumley, circa 1920, a
1927 International DW 12, a 1947 General
and a 1930 Cockshutt with tiptoe wheels
were sold to a man in Austria. Mr. LeBeau
remembers that it took 150 feet of chain to
tie the tractors into a container which then
transported them to Montreal where they
were loaded onto a boat bound for Austria.
He really got into the business he says
after placing a number of refinished tractors
at the edge of his property by Highway 4.
"They caught the eye of people who would
then stop in and tell me they wanted one
done." Since then it has mushroomed to a
full-time business. Once the owner of a large
amount of farm land, Mr. LeBeau has sold
the farms and is down to 50 acres of
property. "This is easier than farming,
right?"he says.
Through the years, he has had several
challenges though he says there hasn't been
any he couldn't restore. "An Allis Chalmers
B' was brought in and the engine was
completely seized," he recalls, adding"The
guy is farming with it now.
Working completely on his own, Mr.
LcBcau says that he has done as many as 18
tractors in one year, but says that was too
many. Each project can take anywhere from
one to three months and he says he always
has at least one tractor on the go in each of
his three shops.
The first step in his restoration work he
says is to bring them into the workshop to
get them running. Then the wiring and rads
are removed after which it is moved' outside
to sandblast.
The next stop is the paint room where
Townsend Tires is called in to take the tires
Continued on A-14