Engine Driven Home-Made Icecream Maker

Over the past few years, the tradition of hand-cranking home-made ice cream at the Mason Steam Show has been a huge and fun-filled tradition for us.  It's helped build commendatory and friendships, and it's enjoyed by both young and old.  Thee rules were quite simple, if you wanted ice cream, you had to take a turn at the crank.
Over the winter, several club members brought up the suggestion of a motorized ice cream maker, or at least a ice cream maker modified so that it could be operated off the PTO of one of our truse on actors.  After months of discussion and debate, the club agreed to purchase a new ice cream maker, as well as the gears and parts to use on a motor.  Andy Overton donated an old two-cycle Maytag motor, and with that it was just a matter of getting the time to put it together and get it running.
This past Sunday, several club members got together and put the motorized ice cream maker together.  They were all surprised at how well their plans and ideas went together.  And of course, we HAD to try it out afterwards to make sure it worked.
And worked, it did!  We made a batch of strawberry ice cream, and it was really good!  With some tweaking here and there, we'll have making home-made ice cream in it down to a science in no time.  Look for us to enjoy ice cream at all of our weekend events from now on!

(Photo credits: Toni Ramsey, Chris Coppernoll, Aaron Childs)

Chris Coppernoll and Dan Sager Sr. putting the wooden frame together

Denis Heckaman, Don, Dan, and Chris Coppernoll talk washers and wing-nuts

Dan helping (l-r) Chris Coppernoll, Chris Hudson, and Don Hudson line up the pulleys

Chris Coppernoll and Don putting the frame together

Don, Denis, and Chris Coppernoll adding the motor to the frame, while Dan and Toni Ramsey look on

"But I'm not a big fan of Rocky Road..." Dan and Toni debating which flavor of ice cream should be made on the test run

There was some vibration from the engine, and the guys were looking to see how they could eliminate it

And now, the moment of truth... a dry run to see if it works...

 

Our home-made ice cream expert, Jeanette Childs, came out to supervise the test batch

While Dan watches, Chris Hudson mixes up the ingredients for strawberry ice cream

Chris listens as Jeanette gives advice on adding the ice and salt to the barrel

It certainly LOOKS like ice cream

And Gary Childs says it certainly tasted like ice cream.  SUCCESS!!!!!

Napoleon Memorial Day Parade

A great day for a parade.  The weather was warm and sunny, with a slight breeze.  We had about a dozen tractors, and about 20 club members come out to the Napoleon parade.  The parade started at the park in the square near the churches, headed west to Brooklyn Road, then cut south to the cemetery.

Trevor Reynolds and his dad Bryant lead our group of tractors

 

Big Tony Moore's always ready for a parade!!!

Is Bob Tefft thinking about that ice cream social after the parade?

Jim MacDonald making sure Farmall was well represented

Margret Stewart showing her daughter Katie Stewart how to drive

Toni Ramsey with her niece Katie Reynolds on "Pinkie"

Andy Overton staying cool on his 1940 Allis Chalmers B

Dan Sager Sr. always has a wagon full of guests that he pulls with 1945 "A"

Tom Wozniak on his 1953 Ford Jubilee

 

 

Leaving the park, and on route to the cemetery.

 

 Making our way through Napoleon

Jackson Moose Lodge Flea Market April 21 - 22

A late minute add to our events, and it was such a last-minute-add, that there was some confusion on the dates of this event.  However, Aaron Childs, Tony Moore, and Bob Kreger brought their tractors out and had a fun weekend.  The flea market was to help raise funds for the Moose Lodge so that they could purchase new tables and chairs for their bingo hall.  While the weather was cold on Saturday, the crowds were good and constant through out the day.  We were in a very good spot: the edge of the parking lot in front of the flea market proper.  Lots of people were looking at the tractors and asking us about the club.  Luckily, Tony had made up a new batch of brochures that week to pass out to everyone who stopped by our table.
WKHM was out to do a remote from the location, and Aaron was even on the air briefly to promote the club.  Gary Childs showed up later on and Tony and him eventually went and brought up Gary's John Deere BR to add to the tractor display.  A little later in the afternoon, Aaron and Tony went on a joy ride by the fair grounds and then down North Street before finishing up back at the Moose Lodge.  The sight of them on the tractors turned a few heads as you can imagine.

 

Sunday was a bit colder than Saturday.  The Moose graciously treated us to a wonderful all-you-can-eat breakfast (every Sunday between 9 and noon, for $5.50, by the way!).  Afterwards, with our bellies full, we were itching to go for a ride.  The crowds were small at this point, so Aaron, Bob, and Tony fired up the toys and took children, vendors, and even Moose members on rides around the parking lot.

Thanks once again to the Jackson Moose Lodge for having us out for their first flea market of the year.  We had a great time, and appreciated the opportunity and commendatory.  Even though having us out there was short notice, the effort they put in to make us feel welcome was really cool. We'll certainly have more tractors out there for their final flea market in October.  And you can bet we'll have a great turn out next spring for the first Moose Lodge flea market of 2013, too!

Napoleon Feed Mill Grand Re-Opening April 14th

The weather was a little rainy and overcast most of the day.  However, we had a good time getting our tractors out for the first time this year.  We had 13 tractors at the feed mill, with several club members coming out tractor-free and just joining us in the fun.  Just after lunch we fired up the machines and had a little "drive-about" through Napoleon, then circled back in to the Feed Mill.  The customers coming and going out the mill sure got a kick out of our procession as we passed.  It was a good time, and a good way for us to kick off what's going to be a busy, yet fun filled, season.

Here's a couple of videos we took.  First is Gary Childs unloading his 1936 John Deere 'A' before the event.  He makes it look pretty easy, doesn't he?

Club Treasurer Denis Heckaman gave Gary a helping hand, and unloaded this 1943 John Deere 'BR'.  You can tell Denis has done this a time or two, can't you?

As you can see in this picture and video clip, W4 Country's Tyler Crawford was out doing a remote broadcast at the Feed Mill.  We got him up on Bob Kreger's 1945 John Deere 'A' and took him for a ride as he was live on the air on his cell phone during his remote.  We all enjoyed it, and Tyler's now a fan of antique tractors.

The Florida Winter Chapter of the Jackson Area Antique Tractor Club, at their March meeting/dinner.
(L-R Fran Kellenberger, Henry Kellenberger, Jeanette Childs, Tom Peek, Tracy Peek (peaking out from behind), Gary Childs, Mary Van, and Moe Van)

UPCOMING SHOWS

Here's a list of some events we're going to be at this spring and summer.


MAUMEE VALLEY STEAM AND GAS ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION'S
18TH ANNUAL SPRING (WINTER) TRACTOR AND ENGINE SHOW
Friday, March 30th - Sunday, April 1st
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Rd.
Fort Wayne, Indianan


NAPOLEON FEED MILL GRAND REOPENING
8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday, April 14th
Napoleon Feed Mill
120 Depot Ct.
Napoleon, Michigan


EXHIBIT AT TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
10:00 am - 3:00 pm, Saturday, April 14th
Tractor Supply Company
1448 N. Eaton St.
Albion, Michigan


SHEPHERD MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL
Friday, April 27th - Sunday, April29th
Shepherd, Michigan


TRACTOR DRIVE
Saturday, May 12th
Jackson, Michigan


EXHIBIT AT TRACTOR SUPPLY COMPANY
9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday, May 19th
Tractor Supply Company
2805 Springport Rd.
Jackson, Michigan


B&B HARDWARE PROMOTIONAL EVENT
10:00 - 4:00 pm, Saturday, June 2nd
B&B Hardware
102 W. Brooklyn Rd.
Napoleon, Michigan


JACKSON COUNTY ROSE PARADE
1:00 pm - ???, Sunday, June 3rd
Jackson, Michigan


68TH ANNUAL NATIONAL THRESHERS ASSOCIATION REUNION
Thursday, June 21st - Sunday, June 24th
Fulton County Fairgrounds
Wauseon, Ohio


VAN WERT COUNTY OLD FASHION FARMER DAYS
Thursday, June 28th - Sunday, July 1st
Van Wert County Fairgrounds
Van Wert, Ohio


GRASS LAKE 4TH OF JULY PARADE
Wednesday, July 4th
Grass Lake, Michigan


HANOVER 4TH OF JULY PARADE
Wednesday, July 4th
Hanover, Michigan


JACKSON HOT AIR BALLOON JUBILEE
Friday, July 20th - Sunday, July 22nd
Ella Sharp Park
Jackson, Michigan


MICHIGAN STEAM ENGINE AND THRESHERS REUNION SHOW
Friday, July 27th - Sunday, July 29th
Michigan Steam Engine And Threshers Showgrounds
Corner of Barnes and Hull Roads.
Mason, Michigan


CORNWELL'S TURKEYVILLE U.S.A. CAR, TRACTOR, SEMI TRUCK SHOW
Saturday, August 4th
18935 15 1/2 Mile Road
Marshall, Michigan


RUST & DUST
Friday, August 10th - Saturday, August 11th
Hanover, Michigan


WHEELS OF YESTERYEAR ANTIQUE POWER SHOW AND FESTIVAL
Friday, August 10th - Sunday, August 12th
Wells County 4-H Park
St. Rd 1
Bluffton, Indiana


BUCKLEY OLD ENGINE SHOW
Thursday, August 16th - Sunday, August 19th
Buckley, Michigan


MAUMEE VALLEY STEAM AND GAS ANTIQUE ASSOCIATION'S SUMMER SHOW
Thursday, August 16th - Sunday, August 19th
1702 S. Webster Rd.
New Haven, Indiana


MID MICHIGAN OLD GAS TRACTOR ASSOCIATION (MMOGTTA) SHOW
Friday, August 17th - Sunday, August 19th
17180 W. Ferden Rd.
Oakley, Michigan


5TH ANNUAL MACKINAW BRIDGE ANTIQUE TRACTOR CROSSING
Friday, September 14th
Mackinaw Bridge
Between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan


TOMPKINS FREEDOM FESTIVAL
Saturday, September 15th - Sunday, September 16th
Tompkins Historical Museum
10138 N. Tompkins Rd.
Rives Junction, Michigan

Some Club Members And Their Toys

Bob Kreger with his John Deere, Mackinaw Bridge Crossing, 2011

Denis Heckaman with his Allis Chalmers, Mackinaw Bridge Crossing, 2011

Aaron Childs with his Ford, Mackinaw Bridge Crossing, 2009

Jeanette Childs on her John Deere, Grass Lake 4th Of July Parade, 2009

Big Tony Moore on his 1954 Farm-All, Grass Lake 4th Of July Parade, 2009

Danny Sager on the pimped out John Deere, Grass Lake Parade, 2009