Vintage machines cranked into life
The rumbling sound said it all: the annual crank-up at Geraldine’s Vintage Car and Machinery Museum was a roaring success.
Families and machinery enthusiasts turned out to see dozens of ageing machines brought to life by their custodians on Saturday.
Over the day, about 40 farm machines and other vehicles some dating from as far back as the1890s - were powered up.
A 1914 Italian Bianchi motorcar and a 1927 Chrysler provided rides around the South Canterbury town.
Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club member Jennifer Wilson said they contributed to a ‘‘very popular’’ day out.
‘‘It’s always a very successful day. We also had a lot of members who turned up as well,’’ Wilson said.
The museum has a collection of about 70 cars, and about 100 tractors, as well as other farm machinery.
Club vice-president Phillippa Sanders said most of the machinery was gifted to the museum by local people, and were cared for by their owners throughout the year.
Among the working machines was a steam-powered pump which dated from about 1898.
Shearing and milking machinery was also out on display.
In pride-of-place was the Bianchi motorcar, which was topof-the-line when it was made.
The museum’s collection also featured a working, New Zealandmade ‘‘Gnat’’ - the precursor to three-wheeler and four-wheeler motorbikes - which was taken around the museum grounds on Saturday.
‘‘Then we’ve got your old farm bikes and threshing machines, and others in the back sheds.’’
Sanders said the museum was very proud of its collection, and retired mechanics who belonged to the club helped keep the machines in working order.