North Carolina Group Features Antique Equipment

North Carolina Group Features Antique Equipment The Foothills Antique Power Association (FAPA) of North Carolina has expanded greatly, starting with a modest three-hour event in 2010 to several action-packed events in 2025. “We strive to entertain and educate visitors about vintage equipment and use a hefty portion of our income from admissions and souvenir sales to benefit local charities,” says board member Wilson Sigmon. “In the past 14 years, we’ve donated more than $150,000 to local groups.” Visitors to the FAPA events now see vintage tractors, farm implements, autos, trucks, chainsaws and stationary engines, all in good working condition. Threshing, shingle-making, grain grinding, blacksmithing, and steam engine operation captivate visitors, who also see hand and horse-powered equipment. Sigmon says they have a two-day event on the third weekend in May at the American Legion Fairgrounds in Hickory, N.C. It’s their main venue for displays. Complementing the demonstrations are a lawn mower pull, a pedal tractor pull, and a truck-and-tractor pull. FAPA members who own equipment participate in parades, festivals and shows throughout the area. The Murray’s Mill Fall Festival in Catawba, N.C., is another major event for FAPA. Over the years, FAPA members have acquired, restored and displayed a variety of steam engines, old tractors, threshing and milling equipment. In 2017, FAPA displayed a Peerless 7-hp steam engine owned by the Conrad Moretz family in the back room of their General Store building. The engine dates back to the early 1900s, with a patent date of April 13, 1875, cast into the metal smokebox door. The Geiser Mfg. Co. built Peerless Portable steam engines. Peter Geiser founded the company in 1855 to sell threshing machines and soon began producing the engines to compete with Frick Eclipse and other models. At one time, the company offered several different models; however, farmers soon turned to smaller ‘tractors’ powered by internal combustion engines. Geiser and its parent company, Emerson-Brantingham, were slow to adapt, and the business struggled. In November 1928, the J.I. Case Company of Racine, Wis., acquired its manufacturing facilities and 28 key patents. Emerson-Brantingham was the last of more than 800 implement companies to fall victim to tough economic times. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Foothills Antique Power Association, 5851 St. Peters Church Rd., Conover, N.C. 28613 (ph 828-256-8818; www.foothillsantique.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.