WMT's Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade 2013 - Day 3 Finish

Day three of WMT's Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade 2013 concluded at noon today after a trip from Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids to nearby Swisher, Shueyville and Ely. This was the third loop in three days of riding from Hawkeye Downs to various locations nearby. Interesting note to self: On day 3 the Tractorcade runs a short route as to be back to the starting point by noonish. Above is the second to last group of tractors heading for home base. 

Ron and Jamie Ginkens of Chariton, Iowa load their 1963 Farmall on a flatbed trailer for the 140 mile trip home. After tying down the tractor Ron and Jamie made their way to the Tractorcade luncheon on the Hawkeye Downs property.

Ron told me this was the last production model for the 560 which actually sold into 1964. A decade later he bought this Farmall as his working tractor. Now, after refurbishing the tractor he parades the 50 year old machinery any place he can.

Some 530 tractors and riders made their way around eastern Iowa for three days. The weather was perfect with only today's potential for severe weather developing. Many farmers left the grounds as soon as they returned from the loop today to get ahead of the weather. But the balance of the riders and their supporters came in for a brat and hamburger lunch. Many will see each other in other regional tractorcades this summer. Radio station sisters WMT (Cedar Rapids) and WHO (Des Moines) both sent announcers to the site for live updates and interviews. Check it out next time when Tractorcade rolls near you. Sunday staging photos here.

WMT's Tractorcade 2013 Ready to Roll on Monday Morning

Radio station WMT (600 AM) annual Tractorcade is ready to roll. The procession of new and vintage tractors staged this evening at Hawkeye Downs in preparation of running three routes in three days. 

Staging for the three day event was made convenient on the Hawkeye Downs property and nearby hotels. Each day will find the drivers covering a different route in eastern, Iowa but returning to Cedar Rapids by evening using a hub & spoke logistics plan.

If you encounter a column of these slow moving tractors be sure to slow down or pull over over and watch them. You'll see a wide range of tractor brands from several decades. I saw a hand crank Oliver from the 1940s and late model John Deeres on the track, both shined and ready to go.

Update: Day 3 photos here.

A Stroll Through Grapevine Antiques

Antique stores, like Grapevine Antiques in Amana, Iowa offer glimpses into the past and what is currently popular with collectors. For some collectors it may be certain glassware types, others want to recreate what they had as a child. Still others collect for resale if the price is right.

Another feature of local antiques stores is historical local items. At Grapevine the regional reach of material can span from the Amana area to Cedar Rapids and Iowa City plus other sections of the state. A recent stop in Davenport and Moline offered another element to the regional mix – that of the Mississippi River and local rail road headquarters.

Today Grapevine highlighted a ball and claw table foot for $35, a set of old time children’s books from the 1940s and ‘50s, and the ever popular pocket knives.

Collectors look for things to start or expand their collection. However sometimes an item sells because of an emotional connection with the purchaser, but not in all cases.

A few weeks ago a women came to the store looking for a 1940s era radio for her business’ new historical display. She mentioned that the radio did not have to be functioning because she would gut it and place modern speakers in the shell to broadcast the company’s history in the display she was creating. A quick search of the store turned up no radio candidates. 

My own collection of radios may have helped but I couldn't let a fully functioning tube radio become stripped for a display.

RCA Victor Radios At WWII Prices

A newspaper ad for a radio? Back in September 1941 the sight was apparently common - but with a warning. This Iowa City Press Citizen newspaper ad for the Checker Electric Supply store promotes, among other things, a selection of radios in spite of the approaching scarcity of electrical merchandise. World War II was three months away. Still you could get a wide selection of RCA Victor sets with varying number of tube performance at this sale. Today collecting old time radios is a way to admire the designs of wooden or plastic working models while enjoying the warm tone sounds that these objects can still produce. Know that.

Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar

Some of the best XM listening can be found on the Radio Classics channel - XM 164. There you'll find a variety of 1930's, '40s and '50s radio shows including "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - the man with the action-packed expense account. America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator." Veteran radio actor Bob Bailey (above) played the part of Johnny from 1955 -1961 and was generally regarded as the best of eight Johnny Dollar characters. The CBS Radio show ran from 1949 - 1962 and is credited as being the last dramatic radio series from the golden age of radio. Bob Bailey appeared in nearly 500 episodes as Johnny until the show moved from California to New York City in 1961. Bob died in 1983.

Many of Johnny Dollar shows exist today numbering 720 out of the 811 original episodes. Since the availability of satellite radio (XM and Sirius) several old time radio series once again prove why they captured the attention of audiences long ago and continue to do so again. The Bob Bailey versions of the series are well written, acted and scored. Today you can find the series playing on XM or on the Internet. Know that.