The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 15HIE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1994. PACE A-1S
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
Interest in antique tractors turns into active Hobby
"David has always come out to the shop and
lent a hand during restoration, but recently
he completed work on a 1952 W9 Inter
national McCormick," says Mr. Thomson.
Mr. Thomson expects to sec approx
imately 150 antique tractors at the Blyth
Thresher Reunion.
Another event, new to the Reunion this
year, is the antique truck category. Mr.
Thomson has a 1961 Mac Highway truck
which he is in the process of restoring and
hopes to have ready for the 1995 show.
The class is of special interest to the
Thomson family because the trophy,
awarded to the best restored Mac, is named
in honour of Mr. Thomson's father, Donald,
who was a truck driver for many years.
For those interested in the classic
machines, the 33rd Annual Thresher Re
union is the place to be.
John ‘Deere enthusiast
A collector for almost 15 years, Bruce Thomson hopes to display three or four of his restored antique tractors at the
33rd Annual Thresher Reunion and Hobby Show in Blyth from Sept 9-11.
By Janice Becker
Just a casual observer of antique tractors
in 1979, Bruce Thomson, of Whitechurch,
soon became so interested in the hobby that
he says he now has bought and restored too
many machines to count.
The owner of 11 antiques, ranging in age
from 36 years to 56 years, Mr. Thomson
says he has bought the tractors in various
states of disrepair, as winter work projects.
Mr. Thomson says the first tractor he
bought was a 1935 John Deere AR and they
have constituted the bulk of the tractors
restored.
"The most difficult one to get parts for was
a 1929 John Deere D. I located the necessary
parts at Smith Tractor Parts in Saskatch
ewan," he says.
"The most time consuming was the 500
hours invested in the reconstruction of a
1938 model. When I purchased it, it was
completely dismantled. Most of the pieces
were there, but one or two could not be
found."
Mr. Thomson says the average time spent
in restoring a tractor is 300 hours. "I believe
most people do it for the pleasure of the
hobby. There really is no money to be made
because of the time invested."
Mr. Thomson plans to take three or four
from his collection to the Blyth show,
including one restored by his son David.
Bruce Thomson of Whitechurch has
a 1961 Mac in the process of
restoration. Antique trucks is a new
category at the Thresher Reunion
this year.
‘The oldest of many
Antique tractor collector Bruce Thomson proudly displays this 1938 John
Deere amongst the 11 he owns and restores.
Two PTOs,
No Waiting
many volunteers behind
event comefrom all comers
Il's amazing to be al lhe fairgrounds when
a meeting of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and
Hobby Association takes place. The people
wandering in come from all corners of
southwestern Ontario.
Il takes thousands of volunteer hours to
pul on an event like the Thresher Reunion,
everything from putting up snow fences for
crowd control to mapping out where
everything will be, from arranging
transportation for the larger piece of
equipment to staffing the gales during lhe
three days. Blyth gels the credit for lhe
event, but it wouldn't happen without the
people who help out.
Members of lhe executive of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association
arc: president, Jeff Thomson; 1st vice, Mike
Andrews; 2nd vice and director, Gary
Courtney; past president, Raymond
Hallahan; treasurer, Carman Craig;
secretary, Marian Hallahan; and directors,
Bruce Thompson, Jim Sloan, Gordon Gross,
Jack Henderson, Jean Fox, Edgar Daer,
Continued on Al6
Forget the belt The 24-hp engine of the John Deere 855 tractor
uses a simple mid-PTO No slippage, no belt wear, no aggravation
Just slide a mower deck under, hook up and go. In fact, everything
about the 855 is user-friendly, from the clutchless hydrostatic drive
and standard power steering to John Deere's Duik-Tatch” system
for fast implement changes
See it for yourself today
NOTHING RUNS
LIKE A DEERE’
A
wrnr
Iwrrtirt
1X1■ ■ ■ U HD fl 11 Sales Department I nUnUll Blyth 523-4244
1 TRACTOR p80?2^5;9^2.
Exeter 235-1115I KMHMH 1-800-265-4220
* Ask about our low rate financing