On Saturday 6th March of this year, Ruth and I went to an A & P show at West Eyrton.
I had seeen in advertised in the Email Newsletter which is put out by the Kaiapoi Promotions Office.
We left home late in the morning probably about 11 a.m. It was a leisurley drive and we probably did
not arrive until about 1230. It was a nice day with reasonable sunshine.
One of the events there was ploughing. Although transport was provided from the main venue to the ploughing, we were not all that interested and we did not go over.
I told Ruth that we were not going to spend long there but we were thorougly enjoying the afternoon and did not leave until about 4 30 p.m.
It was like stepping back into the past. There were heaps of steam engines there, about a dozen of them. They are fascinating things. I have never really looked closely at them but I could not help thinking that the actual power plant on them is not very big.I was surprised to hear that one of the smaller ones was only 4 h.p. I spoke to the driver of one of the bigger ones and his was 8 h.p.
There was a fair ground organ there. At about 2 p.m. it started playing music. I was surprised how enjoyable it was. Some of the music was quite modern. One was the Royal Airforce March.
There was a 20 ton traction engine next to it. It was in tip top condition. It had a large electric generator mounted on the front and cables were running from it
to the organ to power it.
It worked by feeding in large cardboard cards each about ten inches square. They were like computer fan fold paper. They were fed into a mechanism and drawn through by a rotating cam powered by the Traction engine. Apparently the pass over an opening where air is passing through and the air can only pass through the holes cut in the card. This allows the notes to operate.
There was a West Coast White bait stand next to this and Ruth and I had a very nice white bait sandwhich each. There were only $6.50 and very nice.
There were also Clydesdale horses there and what beautiful animals they were.
I enjoyed the day, the music from the organ and the smoke from the engines.
I notice the big 20 tonner had a sign describing its history. It was built about 1890.It carried 8 (hundred weight) of coal - enough for about 25 miles.
There were vintage tractors there and also some vintage cars - my favourite being a mark 1 zephyr Police car - probably owned now by Barry Thompson - x police officer and historian from Ashburton.
not arrive until about 1230. It was a nice day with reasonable sunshine.
One of the events there was ploughing. Although transport was provided from the main venue to the ploughing, we were not all that interested and we did not go over.
I told Ruth that we were not going to spend long there but we were thorougly enjoying the afternoon and did not leave until about 4 30 p.m.
It was like stepping back into the past. There were heaps of steam engines there, about a dozen of them. They are fascinating things. I have never really looked closely at them but I could not help thinking that the actual power plant on them is not very big.I was surprised to hear that one of the smaller ones was only 4 h.p. I spoke to the driver of one of the bigger ones and his was 8 h.p.
There was a fair ground organ there. At about 2 p.m. it started playing music. I was surprised how enjoyable it was. Some of the music was quite modern. One was the Royal Airforce March.
There was a 20 ton traction engine next to it. It was in tip top condition. It had a large electric generator mounted on the front and cables were running from it
to the organ to power it.
It worked by feeding in large cardboard cards each about ten inches square. They were like computer fan fold paper. They were fed into a mechanism and drawn through by a rotating cam powered by the Traction engine. Apparently the pass over an opening where air is passing through and the air can only pass through the holes cut in the card. This allows the notes to operate.
There was a West Coast White bait stand next to this and Ruth and I had a very nice white bait sandwhich each. There were only $6.50 and very nice.
There were also Clydesdale horses there and what beautiful animals they were.
I enjoyed the day, the music from the organ and the smoke from the engines.
I notice the big 20 tonner had a sign describing its history. It was built about 1890.It carried 8 (hundred weight) of coal - enough for about 25 miles.
There were vintage tractors there and also some vintage cars - my favourite being a mark 1 zephyr Police car - probably owned now by Barry Thompson - x police officer and historian from Ashburton.
