Antique Machinery Show in Port Hope adds classic snowmobiles to display this year

The 26th Annual Antique Machinery show in Port Hope saw lots of antique machinery on display, including some classic snowmobiles which were new additions to the show this year.

“The Hope Agricultural Society, they approached us about adding some more diversity to their show and asked if we can bring out some vintage and antique snowmobiles which we’ve done,” said Alex Lamore, a representative from the Antiques and Classics Snowmobile Club of Canada.

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For a $5 admission fee, visitors saw machinery that dates back to the 1940s.

“We have tractors here, then we have lawn vehicles, and lawn tractors, and many types of those, and there are plows for plowing, and then there are combines,” said Barry Adamson from the Hope Agricultural Heritage Club.

It’s a day where people can get hands-on and feel the history of the machinery. They can drive, work, plow and play with the farm machines. President of the Hope Agricultural Heritage Club, Earl Ashby, says many places won’t let you do that.

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A unique component to the show was a competition for best original and restored tractors. The original tractors are the original ones that came out of the factor about 25 to 40 years ago. The restored tractors are the ones that have been altered with new parts, paint, and shine to make them look like new.

Organizers hope people honour the role these machines played many years ago.

“Share with people the heritage. The heritage of how farming built this land. Farming was when you first came here all there was trees so the farmer had to take the trees down, clear the land, till it, and that’s how we got fed,” said Adamson.