In Memoriam - Paul Gehrke

Paul Henry Gehrke

May 16, 1925 - December 1, 2007

Born in Chatfield, Minnesota, Paul spent his early years on a small farm, before his family moved into town. Paul led a varied life, serving in the Merchant Marine in World War II, running a mobile feed grinding business, and eventually entering the farm machinery business as a salesman at a dealership. He later moved on to become a sales reprentative for several companies during his career, including Allis Chalmers, M&W, Stover-Winstead, and Krause Plow Company. Over the years, he serviced territories ranging from central Illinois to portions of the east coast. In 1991, he retired and moved from his then home in Columbus, Ohio to a small acreage near Armstrong, Illinois, where he delighted in helping his son in law Jon Fourez (wife Dee) on the farm.

Paul was a member of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club for many years. He served the club in several capacities, serving on the show safety committee for several years, and spent many long days on the lawn mower keeping the grounds looking good.

In 1947, Paul was joined in marriage to Nora Augusta Dobberfuhl of St. Paul, Minnesota who preceded him in death. Paul and Nora had four daughters, Jan, Jill, Faye, and Dee, one son, Hugh, many grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

Half Century Of Progress Blog

Want to go see the Half Century of Progress III show at Rantoul, but can't get there? You can follow the action on the Blog for the show. Click on the link in "Links" list on this page, or go to http://halfcenturyofprogress.blogspot.com

We'll try to update the blog as often as possible during the show, maybe several times per day.

Gas Engines At Penfield

Over 260 Gas Engines of all sizes filled the exhibit area at Penfield this year, possibly the best turnout ever. In this short video clip, Gary Kinnett lubes and adjusts his big engine.

Oh no, It's RED!!!

In 1968, Jack DeClerk of Taylorville, Illinois was campaigning his JD 4020 on the pulling circuit at a time when International Harvester tractors were dominating. After one pull, he made a comment about "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em", and so an IHC dealer offered him the paint. The first outing at the Ford County Fair had the local JD fans pretty disgusted, but maybe the paint helped as he won the 6,000 pound class at the World Championship Tractor Pull in Sullivan, Indiana.

The old 4020, with it's appearance restored to it's glory days lives on as a tribute to a man willing to be a little different.

Why didn't I have my camera?

I wondered the same thing, but then it was pretty much dark, hard to take outdoor pictures, and I would have probably forgotten to use it anyway.

Saturday evening, at the end of the tractor pull, which was a pretty good show, the Jansen family was getting ready to make an exhibition pull with Herb Beckmeyer's Advance Rumely steam engine. The pull had been a good one, it was nice to see a younger generation on the track with the super stock tractors. The Johnson & Johnson team performed well making it into to the pulloff. Dirk and Derek Harms' "Old Mother McCormick's Beast #3" carried on the tradition of their father Darius who successfully campaigned "Old Mother McCormick's Beast, and Old Mother McCormick's Beast #2" many years ago.

Anyway, back to the steam engine on the track. In the fading light, we could see the Jansens stoking the fire for the pass down the track, and were unprepared for the show to come. As the flag dropped, the throttle opened, and off she went with shower of sparks from the stack. Contrary to expectations, the shower of sparks did not diminish, but soon became a river of sparks and flame from the stack, around the smokebox door, and everywhere else. The crowd came to their feet in stunned silence at the sight. The show continued the length of the track, when they had to stop. The end was met with thunderous applause as the old engine unhooked and returned to the pits. Many spectators said it surpassed the fireworks that followed courtesy of Hogan-Walker John Deere of Watseka, Illinois, and several anonymous friends of John Deere.
The steam engine show was intentional, and was the result of massive quantities of sawdust added to the firebox just before opening the throttle. Bill Jansen commented later that it "really cleaned out the flues in the boiler".

And I didn't have my camera!

(If someone reading this has photos or video, please leave a note in the comment section)

Maybe it's a D minus!

There was a little of everything JD at the show. This sharp looking 2/3 scale D was looking good on friday as it cruised around the grounds. Underneath the great looking sheet metal beats the heart of a JD Model H, slickly modified into the image of the styled D.

15,000!!!!!

FIFTEEN THOUSAND Tickets were sold on the 2007 raffle tractor!!!! The 1010 Special will not have a long trip to it's new home, the winning ticket holder is from Farmer City, Illinois.

As a result of making the 15,000 ticket goal, I&I President John Fredrickson and VP Darius Harms (both staunch IHC men) took a tour of the Parade route around the grounds following the announcement on Sunday before the start of the parade. Darius climbed aboard the 1010 and John followed on a JD Gator. It seems there had been a friendly bet as to whether the 15,000 goal would be reached.

How many were there?

How manyJohn Deeres were on display at the show? Several people counted, and the consensus was right around 500 John Deere tractors at the show. One exhibitor brought 29 tractors, mostly 320's, 420's and 430's in many variations.

There were at least two Deeres with mounted 1 row pickers, a 120 and a 127. Another came to the show with a mounted 237 mounted picker. There were a number of vintage JD combines on hand, several 12A's, 30's, two 40's, one older, and a later seldom seen version. A couple of 55's representing different versions, one with a 315 JD corn head.

Also in the harvesting line, a rare JD "grain pump" type elevator in good original paint. This unusual elevator used an auger hopper to feed a chain fitted with round paddles running through a round tube. The unit was usually fitted with a JD flywheel engine.

Five 8020 four wheel drives were in attendance, along with Darrel Fischer's WA-14 and WA-17 four wheel drives as well. That's a good turnout of the some of the rarest Deeres, only 100 8020's were built, and 65 0f the WA's. Some model variations had much smaller numbers, but few tractor, models approached the rarity of these four wheel drives. Also in the "big" tractor area were several 5020's and 6030's, including a 5020 re-powered with a Kinze V8 Detroit Diesel engine kit.

Though not really considered antiques by most, a number of 30 and 40 series tractors were there as well. Though the majority of these tractors are still working hard on the farm, the newest 30 series are approaching 30 years old, certainly an age that would qualify as vintage.

July 13, 2007

It was a beautiful day at the show, moderate temperatures and light breezes made for comfortable conditions for all. Over in the truck exhibit, a wide range of trucks from the 1930's to the 80's ranging from carefully restored trucks of all ages to trucks still hard at work and in their work clothes. From semi-tractors to pickups, all types were there.
In the John Deere area. nearly 500 tractors put on a good show. Numerous rare machines were on hand, some of which are very rare model variations with as little as 3 units produced. JD 330 tractors were low production units anyway, and some here represent the rarest model variations. Among "newer" tractors, the first production 6030 is here, and has been restored in better than new condition.
Charles Q. English brought his one of a kind "Gold Leaf D". This is an otherwise normal John Deere D that was painted gold to be used in special promotion activities in 1937, the 100th anniversary of John Deere's first steel plow. The tractor was eventually repainted green and sold through a dealer in Oklahoma who requested it. The tractor must had a long life in the field, when English acquired it, he described it as the "most worn out" tractor he ahd ever seen. Now thoroughly restored and restored to the gold color, it will now lead a life of luxury.
Nora Fourez's 1937 John Deere "A" has an interesting story, it was the first JD A delivered new on rubber from the dealer in Allerton, Illinois, and 9 year old Nora is the second owner of the seventy year old tractor. Her older sister Jennifer is the third owner of a 1928 John Deere D, both of which came from the same family, and have always been shedded.

Wes Wheeler's Battle Creek Band entertained people in the Pavilion with well played country music in the evening.


To view album of todays pictures, click on the link below.
http://s72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/historicfarmdays/2007%20Penfield%20Show/

More to come about show later....

Opening Day

We got to the show late this afternoon, and what a sight, John Deere's everywhere! A great display of antique and vintage trucks. This is going to the one great show. I did not get to see a lot before having to leave, but I saw a great representation of the John Deere line through the years. Nearly all model series are there, and many model variations as well.

On the main corner of the John Deere exhibit, I saw a Waterloo Boy, "Spoker" D, GP with three row planter, and more. There will be a more detailed description of the show tomorrow and some pictures as well.

See you later!

Penfield is Turinng Green!

Club member Jon Fourez reports that over 400 bright green and yellow John Deeres are on the showgrounds as of Wednesday evening, with more on the way. ONE exhibitor has brought in 29, that's right-- 29 two cylinder Deeres. A dedicated John Deere man indeed! There have been email requests from as far as Texas, Florida, and New York for information about this years show.

As Wednesday drew to a close, Club members, exhibitors, and vendors are putting the final touches on the grounds, the exhibits, and their displays in preparation for the big opening Thursday morning.

***** I'll be traveling most of the day tomorrow on the way to get the to the show, and hope to have a report tomorrow night on the day's activities. See you later! *****

Vintage Trucks on the road to Penfield

We get kind of carried away with the John Deere Feature, and sometimes don't give enough coverage to the other features at the show like the Antique Truck Historic Society represented by the Kickapoo Chapter.

Dave Olson left a comment on a previous post with a picture of his truck loaded and ready to head for Penfield.

A great looking rig, and a great addition to the show. Another example of the quality pieces that will be on display at Penfield.

Thanks Dave, for the link to the picture of your truck.

Equipment Arriving Daily

Equipment is arriving on the grounds for the show. As of Saturday, at least 30 tractors were already there, and more will be arriving Sunday. The grounds have all been mowed and groomed, and are looking good. In the next few days equipment will be pouring in, as some exhibitors bring in several loads of tractors and equipment.

The John Deere committee is well along with their set up plans and has secured several vintage dealer signs to add interest to the John Deere areas.

John Deere will not be the only brand on the grounds, as non featured tractors are welcome as well. Hart-Parr No. 3, and the IHC Ht-340 Turbine Tractor are on loan from the Smithsonian and housed in the I&I Historic Farm Museum. The Hart-Parr was built in 1903, and brought back in to running condition in 2003 for her centennial year. She is arguably the oldest running gas engine tractor in the world, and she will be running during the show. The HT-340 was built by IHC in 1961 to test the feasibility of using gas turbine engines in farm tractor. It also used and innovative hdrostatic transmission. While the tractor performed admirably, the turbine's high fuel consumption and dirt ingestion problems resulting in the concept being a footnote in farming history. While not in running condition, the tractor still is an interesting machine to see.

Nine Days and counting

Show time is getting closer, and some equipment has already started arriving at the site! This promises to be a big show, the John Deere committee is estimating turnout could top 700 pieces of the famous green and yellow equipment.

Many thanks to the volunteers who have been working hard on the big 6 cylinder Chicago engine in the old bus garage, with their efforts, the engine may be running by show time this year. This big engine came from an oil pipleine pumping station in Missouri and has been several years in the restoration process. The natural gas burning engine will be a great addition to the show. This actually one of two identical engines the club acquired several years ago, both of them were removed from service just prior to the club acquiring them.

There have been some changes in the layout of the grounds this year, with a new camping area established south of Buck Creek, and some minor changes in the featured equipment area.

Getting ready for the show

As the days count down to the opening day of this years show, club members are busy sprucing up the grounds and making things ready. Mowing, trimming, painting and all the little details that make for good looking grounds.

There will be a lot of green and yellow this year as the John Deere committee is getting the feature tractor area ready, and the "Extreme John Deere Fireworks" at dusk on saturday promise lots of green and yellow in the night sky above Penfield.

New entry signs are ready to be installed and the street signs will be going back up soon. I takes a lot of effort on the part of many individuals to make an event like this work smoothly.

A little bit about us

We are the members of the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club, now over 500 strong. A long way from our humble beginnings near Alvin, Illinois when a group of friends and neighbors got together to reminisce about the "Good Old Days" of pitching bundles, threshing, and plowing with the old tractors of their youth.

Now 31 years later, we have a permanent home in Penfield, Illinois and are growing every year. Our two main events are Historic Farm Days, an annual event in Penfield each July with many activities related to antique power interests. And, the Half Century of Progress, a "Vintage Farm Progress Show"event featuring vintage harvesting activities held at Rantoul, Illinois on odd numbered years a few days before the Farm Progress Show opens at Decatur, Illinois.

Welcome to our blog

Welcome to our blog!

We'll be posting here during the Show this July, so look here July 12 to 14, 2007 for news of the best antique power show in the midwest.