The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 9THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 7, 1994. PAGE A-9.
___________Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
Classic cars lifetime hobby for Listowd man
By Bonnie Gropp
There are not many people bom in 1935
who can say the first car they ever owned
was a 1924 Model T coupe.
Eldon Vines of RR1, Listowel, has always
loved old cars. In 1951 when others his age
would be looking at something a little more
modem, Eldon began what would become a
lifetime passion with the purchase for $50 of
his first antique auto.
Every car he owns has a special
attachment to him and his wife, Ruth, he
says. "It's nostalgia, it's old memories," he
says of his hobby. The story behind his
1926 Model T goes back to a childhood
illness. "When I was six years old I was in a
body cast. My dad made a stretcher to go
across the windows of his 1926 Model T."
His 1935 Ford coupe is from the year he
was bom, while the 1957 Ford is like the
first new car he and Ruth had following their
marriage. "It cost us $2,700 new and to put
that into perspective that's what Ruth was
making annually as a teacher."
Over the years Eldon has built his
collection to as many as five cars, (he also
presently has a '68 Chrysler New Yorker and
a '63 Chevy convertible) which he says is
more than enough to keep maintained in top
show condition. "They take a lot of cleaning
to have them looking good for shows. And if
they aren't cleaned they really stick out."
Maintaining and restoring his collection is
something Eldon is hoping will keep him
busy in the near future. "It's a hobby that I
can do when I retire. I don't want to sit
around, I've got to have something to do
every day."
Eldon will be showcasing his collection at
the annual Thresher Reunion in Blyth, as he
has for the past four years. Ironically, his
participation came about over a different
interest. "I've always preferred old
machinery," says the businessman/farmer.
"My combine is 36 years old and I have a
1951 Case tractor with a stook loader."
Someone spied that loader in Eldon's yard
and told him he should take it to the
Reunion.
He's been there every year since and last
year for the first time donated what will be
Qood as new
This classic 1935 Ford Coupe is the pride and joy of its owner Eldon Vines. Each year he brings several of his classic
automobiles to the Thresher Reunion.
an annual award for the best original post
war car at the show. "The people at the
Reunion are good people to deal with. They
like to satisfy people and carry on a
tradition. I think it's important we don't let
that past disappear."
Eldon does wonder what will happen to
this particular part of the past as time moves
on. "Some of these cars have been in my
possession for 20-25 years, but now the
value of the Model T isn't increasing much,
because the owners of those types of cars are
passing away and the interest is shifting to
the classic power machines. There's where
the tradition is falling off."
There's little danger of that in the Vines
family, however, as Eldon's son has started
his own collection of antique farm
machinery and autos. "I guess when you
hear about it every day it gets in your
blood."
CT/ie way they were
This 1939 McCormick and stook loader was one of the first exhibits that
Eldon Vines brought to the Blyth Thresher Reunion four years ago.
HAUGHOLM BOOKS
Brucefield, Ontario
(519) 522-0248 Allan J. Haugh
CLASSIC TRACTOR, CAR & ENGINE BOOKS
Decal sets for older tractors 2nd gas engines,
spark plugs and spark plug wires for older engines now available
Always open, \fhome, but please call first
__________1 mile east of Brucefield on Cty. Rd. #3
CRAIG HARDWOODS LTD.
Five generations
of Craigs have
operated sawmills
since 1866;
originally at
St. Augustine ...
Since 1946 at
Auburn.
ft classic
Eldon Vines 1926 Model T has made several appearances at the Blyth
Thresher Reunion.
Craig's Sawmill as 3een about 1950
With over 128 years in business
we welcome all the participants in the
33rd Pioneer Threshers' Reunion to
our area,
AUBURN 526-7220