If you read my posts, I have surprises for you, and often things I enjoy repeating. Today was a repeat, albeit different. I remember as a pre-teen a hit-‘n’-miss engine at a car show I was at with my Dad, and I was fascinated. Love to own one, but have enough engines to worry about, but that does not mean I cannot enjoy them. I introduced Alex to these versatile engines in Orange, Massachusetts in 2015, and first attended the Dublin meet in September of that year, last year in 2016, and again today. Click on the highlighted links above for those experiences. Today in attending the 46th Annual Dublin, New Hampshire Gas Engine Meet the plan (besides simply enjoying) was to document and share with you anything I had not seen before, nor shared in the above posts.  I was not disappointed as you will see below.

I arrived a tad after 11AM today, Saturday the 9th, and was waved onto the field at no charge to park in the exhibitor area. BLUE BELLE settled in about where she was last year.

Near her were other “old cars” but I am most attracted to unrestored and original, and many were near BB2. The 1914 Metz on the left below was probably repainted in the 1950s, and the 1926 Chevy is totally original with great upholstery (remember, when you see my images side by side, that is a gallery that you can click and open up for larger images.)

The theme for this year’s show was vertical engines, and several were on special exhibit near the entrance – by the way, as I entered a warm chill came over as I saw the largest crowd I had seen there.

this engine is just so colorful it had to be shared.

around the corner was this amazing contraption – a combination lawn mower and roller powered by a hit and miss – what a heavy monster to manage.

on a trailer in the “flea-market” area, each for sale at $500 each was a hay machine, and a cement mixer. Trust you can see the installed hit-‘n-miss engines.

you should know that mini-trailers from the 60s and 70s are all the rage now (think tiny house craze). He is one appropriately towed by a 1960s pickup. See what is in the bed of the pickup?

Yes, American Pickers Mike and Frank (and Dewey) – an INDIAN

I know, kinda campy a toy Ferris wheel driven by a hit-‘n-miss engine, BUT

the fascinating thing here was the opposing cones that as the belt is moved back and forth regulated the speed at which the drive belt moved, thus the speed of the Ferris wheel.

how about a Rock Crusher driven by a hit-‘n’miss – or in this case the drive wheel off an old John Deere???

of course you want to see it in operation

Most people I know buy their wood already split, but here is a DIY outfit.

and this hit-‘n-miss gas powered saw can be put on any log and put to work

as you can see here

sitting down I hope?  How about a loader (think moving stuff into a dump truck or rail car) powered by a massive mounted engine. Note the toy loaders on the trailer fender.

I think there may now be easier ways to shuck corn.

The gentleman who owns this tree spraying device answered all my questions as to the flow of the pump (and the bypass to change the flow and resulting pressure). You could buy this rig complete with the engine, or without the engine if you want to use the one already on your farm.

many clubs exhibited member’s models or related collections. I may have a new quest – if you watch American Pickers you know brass bladed fans have a premium, but did you know that brass bladed fans predate electricity? How about this assortment of early 1900s models powered by alcohol and water. Heat from a kerosene or alcohol lamp heated air in a piston, which turned a crankshaft with a fan blade attached. Off tomorrow on the hunt.

BB2 can attract attention, and when I was almost done and stopped for some water I started chatting with a couple fellows from North Walpole who walked by and admired her (she should be a chick magnet, but great conversation always welcome). We had fun, and I learned a great deal from them. But it was time to head back, but I thought I would be different (last year I took roads home previously unexplored by RAB) and took 136 north off 101 heading towards Hancock. Was going to reproduce a map for you, but want you to explore your paper map on your own. If you are on the right road(s) you will be surprised that Fall is upon us. No kidding, the below is this afternoon just south of Hancock common.

From Hancock I continued on 137 to Bennington and then north on US 202 to Antrim. Both new “discoveries” having never been to either before. From Antrim I took Route 31 to Route 9, turned south until reaching 123 west — and home.  Check out the route on your maps.

I still owe you some more from my route to and from Fall River last month – in time. But, if you have have a chance to see these old gas engines, or a farm implement related show may I encourage you to do so — they are fascinating. Yours, RAY