Antique Iron in Action

[MikePhua]

Picture a sprawling fairgrounds in early September 2010, where vintage mechanical giants—some nearly a century old—roared to life. This historic exposition drew in thousands, all eager to witness antique construction machinery at work in ways that textbooks can’t replicate.
Event Overview
Held September 10 through 12 at Richmond, Rhode Island’s fairgrounds, this exposition was the 25th annual gathering of enthusiasts and restorers of antique construction machinery . The site buzzed with activity from early morning to dusk, showcasing horses, early gas and diesel engines, cable and hydraulic shovels, cranes, tractors, and trucks spanning the 20th century .
Mechanical Highlights
Across the grounds, around 232 restored and functional vintage machines, including trucks, earthmovers, and farming equipment, were either on display or put to work . A highlight was the 1928 Wilford Model B Shovel—an undersung hero of heavy iron built by William Ford, son of Henry Ford—whose cable-driven mechanism moved earth with power and grace, drawing admiring crowds ﹙“An 82-year-old move the earth” in modern terms﹚ .
Other featured iron included:

• A 1930 United grader
  
• A 1940 Allis-Chalmers bulldozer
  
• A 1942 Buffalo Springfield roller
  
• 1930s-era Cletrac crawlers and 1929 Coleman dump truck
  All operating in choreography to reshape landscape—excavating a hillside, hauling spoils, grading, crushing, and splitting rock .
  

International Interest
Attendance numbered in the thousands, with visitors from across the U.S. and as far as Canada, Australia, Brazil, England, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland . One local organizer with a sense of humor noted: “The parking lot was full by 9 a.m.; ‘All of them’ showed up,” highlighting how overwhelming and packed the event proved on Saturday . The crowd’s enthusiasm affirmed the enduring appeal of mechanical history.
Behind the Scenes
Organized by the grassroots volunteers of the local Northeast RockBusters chapter, the show reflected years of dedication. That chapter is the largest of the 17 grassroots chapters under the national association . Their efforts turned the fairgrounds into an immersive machine theater.
Historical Context and Institutional Support
The organizing body was founded in 1985 as a 501©(3) nonprofit, driven by the mission to preserve and interpret the history of construction, dredging, and mining machinery . Today, it includes over 4,300 members in 25+ countries and stewards a museum and archives near Bowling Green, Ohio, with thousands of documents and dozens of restored machines .
Terminology Clarified

• Cable shovel: Excavator powered by steel cables rather than hydraulic fluid, often characteristic of early machines like the Wilford B.
  
• Hydraulic rock splitting: A demonstration technique where hydraulic force is used to drive pins (feathers and wedges) to fracture large boulders cleanly.
  
• Spoil: Material excavated from one site and reused on-site—for instance, improving fairground parking areas using hillside spoil.
  
• Working restoration: Fully functional machinery preservation, not just static display—highlighting both aesthetics and operation.
  

Anecdotes from the Exhibition
One notable sight: a 75-year-old operator named Mike, whose family’s gravel business had a centennial milestone the following year, joyfully commandeered the vintage shovel, remarking that “…it feels like a kid again,” exemplifying the emotional resonance these fossils of iron still hold .
The national leader of the association also attended for the first time. He reflected: “If you take the people out and leave the iron, you wouldn’t want to be here. It’s about friendships,” revealing the deeply human undercurrent tying enthusiasts together across decades .
Supplemental Insights

• Economic impact: Estimated over 5,000 visitors attended on Saturday alone; local vendors and vendors offering parts, memorabilia, food, and gear likely benefited from the influx of enthusiasts.
  
• Educational outreach: Rock-splitting demos, crane rodeos, and hands-on participation by vintage machine operators offered experiential learning, bridging generations.
  
• Equipment origin stories: Many machines—like the 1956 Lima power shovel—originated from local working sites and were brought home to the museum after the show, preserving regional industrial heritage .
  

Practical Takeaways for Organizers and Restorers

• A mix of static display and working demonstrations energizes the audience while conserving practical restoration skills.
  
• Highlighting one “star” machine—like the Wilford—creates focal interest and story arcs for media coverage.
  
• Volunteer coordination and chapter grassroots energy are invaluable; events of this scale rely on local passion.
  
• Preservation efforts benefit from cross-generational involvement—both veterans who operated such machines and younger enthusiasts who document and chronicle them.