08-05-2025, 01:17 PM
Overview of the Lynden Antique Show
Held in the pastoral town of Lynden, Washington, the Lynden Antique Show is a beloved gathering for enthusiasts of vintage trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment. The event showcases restored machinery from the early to mid-20th century, drawing retired operators, mechanics, and collectors who share stories and technical insights. It’s more than a display—it’s a living museum of industrial history, where each machine carries the fingerprints of its era.
Terminology Clarification
The Lynden Antique Show is more than a technical exhibition—it’s a cultural touchstone for the Pacific Northwest’s logging and farming communities. It preserves the legacy of hard work, mechanical ingenuity, and regional pride. Attendees often share meals, swap parts, and pass down stories that might otherwise be lost.
The Lynden Antique Show stands as a tribute to the machines and people who shaped the industrial backbone of the Pacific Northwest. From rare cabovers to legendary crawlers, each exhibit tells a story of innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship. As modern equipment evolves, gatherings like Lynden ensure that the legacy of “old iron” remains alive—not just in steel and diesel, but in memory and community.
Held in the pastoral town of Lynden, Washington, the Lynden Antique Show is a beloved gathering for enthusiasts of vintage trucks, tractors, and heavy equipment. The event showcases restored machinery from the early to mid-20th century, drawing retired operators, mechanics, and collectors who share stories and technical insights. It’s more than a display—it’s a living museum of industrial history, where each machine carries the fingerprints of its era.
Terminology Clarification
- Cabover: A truck design where the cab sits above the engine, allowing for shorter overall length and better maneuverability.
- Jake Brake (Model 20): An engine braking system used in heavy-duty trucks to slow the vehicle by releasing compressed air from the cylinders.
- Crawler Tractor: A tracked vehicle used for earthmoving and agricultural tasks, known for its stability and traction.
- Cummins 6AT: A lesser-known diesel engine model, originally derived from Onan’s L series before Cummins acquired the brand.
- 1954 Peterbilt 350 Cabover
Once owned by Bob Shore, a hay hauler from Kittitas County, this green cabover was equipped with a 262 engine and a 4x3 transmission. Bob was known for his Sabbath observance and signature chain-drive hat. The truck, marked “Shoreline” with a sailboat logo, hauled hay across the Columbia Basin and was meticulously maintained in a shed between runs.
- 1947 Ford Truck with Cummins 6AT
A rare sight, this early Ford featured a Cummins 6AT engine—an obscure model with roots in Onan’s L series. The engine was short-lived and later replaced by a Korean-built version that also failed to gain traction.
- Holt Caterpillar and Fowler Crawlers
These early tracked machines represent the transition from steam to internal combustion in logging and agriculture. The Fowler crawler, in particular, was noted for its pristine condition and historical significance.
- Cat D35 from Omak, Washington
This machine was recovered from wheat fields in 1990 and restored by a retired operator. It symbolizes the enduring utility of Caterpillar’s early diesel tractors in the Pacific Northwest’s agricultural landscape.
- A visitor recalled climbing into Bob Shore’s Peterbilt in the early 1970s at a diesel repair shop, marveling at its original block and crank. Bob’s tales of descending Oakridge on Highway 58 in winter, before the advent of Jake brakes, painted a vivid picture of trucking’s golden age.
- Another attendee reminisced about the Lynden show’s heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when Ford tractors from the mid-60s to mid-70s were common sights. These blue-and-white machines were staples of small farms and logging operations.
- A retired Maxidyne operator described how his truck’s exhaust stack would emit sheets of flame on long grades, sometimes igniting hay bales. Protective covers and careful driving were essential to prevent fires.
The Lynden Antique Show is more than a technical exhibition—it’s a cultural touchstone for the Pacific Northwest’s logging and farming communities. It preserves the legacy of hard work, mechanical ingenuity, and regional pride. Attendees often share meals, swap parts, and pass down stories that might otherwise be lost.
- The show fosters intergenerational dialogue, with younger mechanics learning from seasoned operators.
- It serves as a reunion for those who spent decades in the logging and trucking industries.
- The event’s informal atmosphere encourages storytelling, laughter, and reflection.
The Lynden Antique Show stands as a tribute to the machines and people who shaped the industrial backbone of the Pacific Northwest. From rare cabovers to legendary crawlers, each exhibit tells a story of innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship. As modern equipment evolves, gatherings like Lynden ensure that the legacy of “old iron” remains alive—not just in steel and diesel, but in memory and community.
