Thousands attend S.C.R.A.P. event over Labor Day weekend

Rain held attendance for the Sandusky County Restorers of Antique Power show to slightly less than normal in Gibsonburg over the weekend.

"We had over 8,000 people," said S.C.R.A.P. president Elwood Dick, noting that annual attendance averages around 10,000. The event, which ran from Friday through Monday, saw rain that made for muddy conditions Sunday and Monday. A few hiccups are always present, but this year's event went off without any major problems, Dick said.

"Everything went well," he said.

Each year, S.C.R.A.P. features a particular make of tractor, as well as a certain type of garden tractor. This year's were Cockshutt and Wheel Horse, respectively. Dick said the featured tractor for 2023 will be Buckeye Allis, with the garden tractor featured to be determined.

This year's S.C.R.A.P. festival included thousands of tractors on display from area farmers, tractor pulls for adults and children, a large flea market, quilt and other displays and concessions. Monday's consignment auction went on for several hours, with five auctioneers selling more than 10 acres of items including tractors, farm equipment, antiques, and miscellany.

Richard Weaver, of Arcadia, said he enjoys the event and has attended many years.

"It's been a long time," he said, adding that he had sold some of his items in the auction, including a large cast iron bell and a six horsepower Economy tractor from the early 1900s.

"I've done pretty good," he said.

Sparky Weilnau, Milan, brought a Cockshutt 20 tractor to sell at the auction, hoping to get $4,000. The tractor sold for only $2,400.

Dick Secord, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, lived, years ago, in the country outside of Jerry City and was in town for Elmwood High School's 50th class reunion. Secord, who attended with his brother-in-law, Randy Pollard, Marengo, joked that his wife would not permit him to buy another chainsaw, on threat of divorce.

Secord leaned on a rusted antique corn sheller, waiting to bid on it.

"We're waiting for a few things to come up here," Secord said. "My wife says, 'Don't buy anything big; the pickup truck's loaded."

Secord added that he was thrilled to return for the fare at Gibsonburg's Ideal Bakery.

"I never had such good donuts," he said.

Jim Cox, who farms in Sandusky County, just outside Risingsun, said he began attending the S.C.R.A.P. show many years ago.

"I think I started coming in the eighth season," he said, noting that he only took off a couple years, when his late wife was ill. Now he attends with his present wife, his son, Mike, and Mike's family, including Mike's son, Tyler. Cox said he and his grandson displayed a total of 22 tractors, including a rare 1932 Eagle.

"I was the only one here this year with an Eagle," Cox said. They're hard to come by. There are hardly any of them left anymore."

Farmer Chris Nieset, his wife, Donna, and their family, run their Helena farm and work in the area's petroleum industry. Nieset brought out several interesting antiques, including a 1950 Willys pickup with a front, engine-driven winch and an implement drive system in back.

He also displayed several "hit-and-miss" flywheel engines. Two of Nieset's engines, each weighing more than 1,000 pounds, came from the SM Jones Company, of Toledo. One, called a "Crosshead Jones," and sporting an additional coupling between the drive shaft and piston, is the only known existing example, Nieset said. The family, he said, still puts the large flywheel engines to use in the oil fields.

"We still pump oil with these," the farmer said. "Both of these are pretty rare."

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