Annual Compton antique machinery expo coming up
For 25 years now, the Eastern Townships Antique Machinery Club has been preserving, restoring and exhibiting a variety of old gas engines, toys, models, tractors, machinery, tools, and other antiques. Continuing that tradition Gordon Barnett, President of the club, is inviting history buffs, machine enthusiasts, and anyone else looking to see rare and interesting objects from the rural past to spend the weekend with the club this coming weekend in Compton.
Starting in 1992, blossoming from a founders meeting at the Ayer’s Cliff hotel, the club has been having expos every year to show off their members’ collections, according to Barnett.
“Each year we have 50 or 60 exhibitors,” he said. “Most from Compton, but many others from the Eastern Townships and Vermont. We showcase arti-
facts used in rural areas in the past.” The Antique Machinery club counts between 40 and 50 people. Barnett, being one of the founding members of the club, has been involved since the beginning. Together the group has a collection of hundreds of antique tractors, stationary engines and thousands of old tools, toys and artifacts.
“We are people who are interested in preserving the heritage of our society,” explained Barnett. “The mechanization of farming has had an extremely important role in development. We went from needing 90% of the population to work to get enough food to feed everyone, to 1.5% of the population. It has significantly reduced farming requirements.”
The club president commented that the exhibitions are a good way for people to see many objects and machines that they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to. He added that many of the objects are completely restored and usable.
“What we get varies every year, sometimes they’re rare. Last year we got old washing machines from the 1930s that were still functional. We have two groups that bring huge collections of old chainsaws. Some are so big they take two men to run,” he said. “There’s also a man who brought a knitting machine once. It’s always a surprise. There are lots of different things, you never know what will show up.”
“There’s no real comprehensive collection of artifacts like this. We want to
make sure that the materials are all used, and restored to their original condition. Most museums, for example, don’t take much interest, or do much restoration of antique machines. It takes a lot of room to store, so we do it. We preserve history and give it to the public.”
Barnett is looking forward to the event, which according to him, is quite successful every year.
“We get around 500 visitors, I’d say,” he commented. “We also get a number of American visitors. I think people enjoy coming. They are interested, they enjoy talking and seeing our collections.”
Barnett said that the event takes a lot of planning. The club begins preparation a year in advance and every year the expos have themes. According to the president, one year they had the expo focus on machines with pulleys. Another was exclusively about water pumps.
“Each exhibitor brings stuff. This year it’s Massey equipment; tractors, balers, toys, antique tools and household utensils,” he explained. “Massey Ferguson was a big Canadian company that produced farming equipment. They were our first and biggest multinational.”
The expo will be on August 19 and 20, though Barnett said that tents will be put up starting Thursday, so that collectors can come install their exhibits. According to him, there will be music, a flea market on site, and a Saturday night mechoui and auction, to help pay for the
club’s considerable insurance fees on all their antiques.
“Each exhibitor gets a dash plate and a medallion, as a souvenir,” said Barnett. “We also give trophies and plaques. There’s one for best exhibit, best engine, best restoration. There are other categories as well, like a prize for the longest distance travelled to get to the expo, or most effort. Everyone who comes to the expo gets a little sheet of paper where they can cast their vote.”
He hopes that the success of these expos will transmit an interest for antique machinery.
“Hobbies and collections like these, they’re dying. It’s an issue,” commented Barnett. “Organizations in our society, they don’t have enough young people. I think that with age, we reflect on our youth, and the things that were a part of it, like the old tractors, we come to value them as we get older.”
The Eastern Townships Antique Machinery Club expo will take place at the Bolduc Farm, known as the Fromagerie de la Station. Visitors will be invited to try out the farm’s famous cheeses as well. To access the site, there will be a $5 fee. The event is free for children 12 years and under, with family passes available for $10. Mechoui tickets cost $20. To become a member of the club, or for further information, call Gordon Barnett at the 819-837-2261 or visit machinesdantan.com.