Show was for looking, not buying

We weren’t really looking for anything, but when you go to the annual antique engine and tractor show you never know what you might come home with.
I’d been out at the fairgrounds earlier in the week looking for photos and feature stories at the Tri-State show, but Saturday was the first time Connie was free so that the two of us could make the pilgrimage together.
We dodged golf carts and garage sale shoppers about mid-day and parked on the track near the grandstand.
There was no method to our trek, no plan, no system, no goal. It was just a chance to rubber-neck, run into some old friends and enjoy the atmosphere. And, who knows, we might just pick up a bargain or two.
The roundhouse was our first stop, and my eye was caught by some cool looking old surveyor’s equipment. Connie, meanwhile, was attracted to some equally old microscopes. But since neither of us surveys or currently has a need for a microscope, we moved on.
By then we were already over-hearing a few repeated comments. “I used to have one of those when I was a kid.” “I think we have one of those at home.” “Now where in the world would you put that?”
The antique — and, let’s face it, junk — business follows trends just like any other endeavor.
This year, for instance, there seemed to be more old fishing lures for sale than in the past. They were still outnumbered by the pocketknives, but there sure were a lot of them. And the prices were off the charts.
Old Coleman camping lanterns — the scary kind that had to be pumped up and seemed certain to set the campsite on fire — are increasingly popular. Folks were exhibiting collections, and dealers were selling still more.
Need an old airplane propeller? I saw at least three for sale.
How about a lightning rod? Plenty of inventory was available.
Our eyes were glazing over by then so we headed over to check out our favorite old engines, the big ones clustered around the Tri-State Association’s Fairbanks-Morse masterpiece. These are the oil field engines, and they are just fun to watch and listen to.
By Saturday afternoon, the area north of the original fairgrounds was beginning to empty out, so we circled back toward the green 4-H building and the dealers along the west drive.
Did I see anything I wanted? Well, there was a funny little folk art statue of a jazz band drummer made of bits of tin and junk. That intrigued me, but not enough to ask the price.
And there was a battered old weathervane of a great blue heron. The great blue has always been a favorite of ours, so this time we did check the price tag: $550.
That’s about when I knew it was time to head home.
As we were leaving, we ran into former Jay County Sheriff Ray Newton and his family, who were just arriving.
“Did you buy anything?” asked Ray.
The answer: “Two sausage sandwiches and two small lemonades.”
Maybe next year.