The Citizen, 1998-09-09, Page 24• Fresh Apples • Apple Cider
• Apple Products
& other in
season produce
Welcome to the
celebrations at the
37th Annual Pioneer
Thresher Reunion
At Manning's
We've got all the
RIGHT STUFF
You can save on the cost of home
repairs and improvements when you do the work
know-how, a little
patience and the right
tools. We have all the
tools and supplies
you'll need to get
professional results.
Gary will be happy to
offer advice or
answer your ques-
tions.
MANNING'S BUILDING
SUPPLIES LTD.
Corner of Hwy. #4 and Hamilton Street
A warm weteome to everyone attending the
37th Annual- Pioneer 'Thresher Reunion
Printing is our business
We can do it all!
• Colour Printing • Business forms
• Posters • Brochures
• Letterheads • Flyers
• Envelopes • Carbonless Forms
• Business Cards • Labels
B LYTH F'? Pr"! G
Blyth 523-9211
PAGE A-4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY „SEPTEMBER 9, 1998.
1998 HURON PIONEER THRESHER REUNION & HOBBY SHOW
Model A a labour of love for Londesboro man
By Allison Lawlor
Citizen staff
Travelling north on Hwy. 4 from
Londesboro, you might pass Gordon
Radford driving in his 1931 Model A
Ford.
Radford inherited the old car from a
relative in Clinton over 30 years ago and
turned it into an antique.
"To be an antique car, everything about
the car has to be the same as the original,"
said Radford.
On the Model A, this means not
installing side mirrors, turn signals or a
heater because they weren't part of the car
when it was originally built.
Radford, a certified mechanic and
founder of Radford Farm Machinery in
Londesboro, restored the car in his own
shop. He said compared to earlier models,
finding parts for the Model A has never
been difficult.
"You can still get a lot of the parts
because there were so many cars made.
You can buy a new muffler for the car and
it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg."
The Model A Ford was built after Henry
Ford's first car, the Model T. At one time,
Radford said he dreamed about getting a
Model T but that dream has since passed.
He wanted a Model A because he worked
on many of the cars when he was a young
mechanic.
When the Model first came out, Radford
said you could buy one for $800. During
the war years the price jumped to $1,000.
Today a restored, antique Model A is
worth over $5,000.
The car has a four-cylinder motor, three
forward gears and a reverse. It travels
comfortably at 40 mph and runs on gas.
The gas tank is located at the front of the
CONTINUED FROM A-3
on a Rumely is neither fast nor smooth.
There is no rubber on the steel wheels to
soften the ride. Rubber wasn't put on
tractor tires until the early 1930s.
Like other old tractors, there isn't a fan
on the engine of the Rumely, instead, air
enters the engine through grates in the
hood. In addition, 26 gallons of coolant
run through the engine to keep it cool.
McBride said his Rumely was mostly
used for running thrashing machines and
sawmills in southwestern Ontario.
Collecting and restoring antiques runs in
the family. Brad not only helps his father
car and holds eight gallons of fuel.
The engine has all the same components
of an engine today, said Radiord, only it's
smaller. Two people can sit comfortably
in the car and there's room for another two
in the hack. The passangers sit where you
would expect the trunk to be.
Radford re-painted his car to its original
dark blue colour. He said at the time the
cars were built there were only two
colours, black and blue.
The car doesn't have all the luxuries of a
car today. One day when Radford was
taking someone out for a ride in Huron
County, she asked him if the car had air-
conditioning. He rolled down his window
manually, pushed open the front
windshield and announced, "that's the air
C on di ti on i ng ."
Radford has driven his car as far as
Niagara Falls. When he travels that far he
said he takes the back roads.
"Too many cars would be passing me,"
he laughed.
Growing up near Goderich, the Huron
Pioneer Thresher Reunion and Hobby
Show is familiar to Radford. He
remembers going to the first show back in
1961 and paying no more than 50 cents at
the gate.
Years later, he started organizing the
antique car show at the reunion. When he
first got involved, there were only 10-12
cars at the show. Now there are close to
60. Radford said compared to the over 600
cars at the Zurich Bean Festival the Blyth
reunion still auacts a small number.
Radford also arranged for Clinton Auto
Shop to donate a trophy for the best
antique car. While others compete to win
the trophy at this year's reunion, Radford
said he will stay out of the competition
and simply enjoy the show.
restore tractors he has a special liking for
fly-wheels. He also organizes the gas
engines at the thresher reunion.
The women in the McBride family stay
away from old tractors, although they still
like antiques. Brad's wife Trina, collects
old washing machines and will be
bringing five of them to the show in Blyth.
Wayne's wife Pat, collects old china.
It's certain if the McBride's
grandchildren continue to show an interest
in old tractors their grandfather will keep
them busy. There are plenty of tractors
waiting to be restored at the "Rumely Oil
Pull Tractor Retirement Home".
CRUISING
Gordon Radford's pride and joy is a 1931 Model A Ford, which he inherited over
30 years ago. Radford organized the antique car show at the Reunion.
McBride Rumely was used
for running threshers, sawmills