The 26th International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition
Quality construction equipment can last more than 100 years. It’s a statement often enjoyed by the Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA), a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the construction, dredging and surface mining equipment industries. At its 26th annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition in July, the organization featured venerable and aged equipment that looked and ran as well as they did throughout the early- and mid-1900s.
Hosted by the I&I Tractor Club at their Penfield, Ill., show grounds, the show featured many products, but especially old machines from Cletrac and Oliver. Between construction equipment and related machines, over 140 exhibits from as far away as Alexandria, Va., joined hundreds of farm tractors shown by the I&I organization. Much of the construction equipment worked during the show in public demonstrations.
Several rare machines were on hand, including: a Washington Scale Co. crawler tractor; 1951 Schield Bantam ABM51 truck backhoe that was built for military airborne service; 1951 Ford 8N wheel tractor with a Dearborn motor grader conversion and berm leveler; and all three varieties of Cletrac’s raised-sprocket model F crawler tractors from the early 1920s.
The HCEA’s 27th Annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition will be held September 14-16, 2012, at the National Construction Equipment Museum in Bowling Green, Ohio. This will be a special event, as the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owner’s Club will also be holding its annual show in conjunction with the HCEA. Over 70 machines from the Museum’s collection will be on display, with many of them being demonstrated, and the public is welcome to attend and bring additional equipment.
The HCEA was founded in 1985 and has over 4,300 members in 25 countries. In addition to its magazine and hosting an annual working exhibition of restored construction equipment, it operates the National Construction Equipment Museum and archives in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Information about the HCEA and its events is available at www.hcea.net, or by calling 419-352-5616 or e-mailing info@hcea.net
