Travels of Jackie and Randy: The Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum

I always anthropomorphize animals, so it should come as no surprise that I can do the same for inanimate objects. Not all objects, of course, but some. And given my affection for dinosaur bones, cow skulls and old tombstones, it is natural that the inanimate objects I find most appealing are old ones. I didn’t actually know I felt this way until we joined our cousins at the Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California. This entry is going to have a ton of pictures, because I fell in love with the place.

We went there because our cousins restored a 70 year old tractor and put it in the Gas and Steam Engine Parade. The tractor used to belong to Jack’s dad in Missouri years ago, and this summer Jack gave it a much-needed overhaul. It’s a Farmall B tractor and although it looked pretty rough before, it looks great now.

The Museum grounds are home to a wide range of old machinery in various states of repair, or more accurately, disrepair.

It was as I walked among these machines that I started to feel like they had personalities. Farm equipment and earth-movers - they seemed to me to be patient and loyal as they sit quietly, waiting for the next chapter in their existence.

And because they are here, their next chapter is likely to be a good one. Most of these belong to the Museum and Club members can “adopt” them and fix them up. It takes a lot of money and work to restore one of these, so you know that folks who do it for machines they don't even own are doing it because they love the old things. These machines are a remment of our own past and they remind us of times when families worked together to build their own future. Every one of these machines was, at some point, someone's dream-come-true, someone's hope for a better life. Some are so far gone now that they just provide parts for others, but even that fate has dignity because it contributes to the continuity of their history. So they sit in the California sun, waiting for their turn to be restored or used.

They sort of reminded me of old farm horses from an even earlier time, retired as times changed and they are not needed anymore. Now they must rely on people valuing them for themselves, instead of the work they used to be able to do.

Not all are farm machinery. They have almost two rows of old Caterpillar tractors . . . which is how I learned that they used to print "Caterpillar" in cutesy, curvy script.

Some of the more fragile machines, including some old cars, are stored under a shed cover.

And they are very democratic here - size really doesn't matter!

Some engines didn’t actually really do anything, but they are still restored with loving care. This huge thing runs like a champ, although it’s not attached to anything.

There's another big machine running that only makes loud noise and pretty smoke rings.

At the other end of the spectrum, some guys displayed small engines that they built or restored, and they loved to answer questions about their treasures.

And how about this old toaster? To me it looks like an accident waiting to happen, but in 1915 it was the latest technology and housewives were glad to get one.

Club members put on several demonstrations over the weekend. They did a great demo with an old thrashing machine and tractor, and what it took to get all of these machines working right and together I can only guess.

All weekend they used an old word-burning stove to bake cookies. Randy was interested in how it works; since it doesn’t have a thermometer they just learned by trial and error how much fuel and damper is needed and they turn the cookie sheets a lot. It works just fine; they made some mighty fine chocolate chip cookies in that stove.

There's one big building full of looms and spinning wheels. I asked a weaver if she felt this was a dying art and she said no, there is a growing number of young people taking it up; one of their best weavers is just 19.

They even have a couple of old braiding machines that they use to make jump ropes. The guy in charge of these spends most of his evenings and weekends finding, cleaning and repairing them.

And they have a working wheelwright and a blacksmith shop. The day we were there a young lady was demonstrating blacksmith techniques.

The "Gas and Steam Engine" parade ran both days of the weekend. These folks - men, women and even children - love this and they came to have fun!

This machine was fascinating - the engine is cooled by running fluid over the screens that form the teepee shape over the engine. So you can see the radiator fluid doing it's job as it goes by.

The parade included lots of tractors, of course, as well as some machines I could not quite identify.

Big old earth-movers were there, too. There is no rule that says a machine has to be prettied up - it just has to run, which in some cases is tricky enough.

And then there were the steam engines. Here was the surprise for me - I fell in love with these big, powerful engines with their intricate gears and wheels. I just could not see enough of these old machines. I was so glad that someone put in the time, effort and cash to get these vintage machines working again.