The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) will hold its 36th annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition September 23 to 25. The show will be held at the HCEA’s National Construction Equipment Museum, 16623 Liberty Hi Road, Bowling Green. The event is open to the public.
The show features live demonstrations of antique construction machinery powered by horses or mules, steam, electricity, gas and diesel. Equipment and vehicles built or powered by International Harvester are being featured, along with the National Construction Equipment Museum’s collection of more than 180 machines. Many of the machines being shown were built in Ohio communities, including Marion, Galion, Lorain, Euclid, Cleveland and Columbus.
Members of the Black Swamp Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society will be showing their vintage trucks on Saturday, and they will be joined by members from other chapters in the area. There also will be an exhibit of antique farming machinery owned by members of Power of Yesteryear. Other attractions include hit and miss engines, historical displays, memorabilia vendors and a sandpile for children to play in. All owners of antique construction equipment, trucks and engines are invited to bring their machines for display; past shows have had equipment from as far away as California. The last HCEA show in Bowling Green had almost 400 exhibits. Show hours are Friday, from 9 a.m. to dark; Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission per person 16 or over is $10 daily or $20 for a weekend pass. Those younger than 16 are admitted free. All proceeds go to the HCEA operating fund, to help fulfill its mission of preserving for public education the history of the construction, surface mining and dredging equipment industries.
For more information, visit www.hcea.net or call 419-352-5616.
