Rattling and steam filled the air at Higgins Heritage Park over the weekend at the annual Vintage Machinery Show.
Operated by the Nelson Vintage Engine and Machinery Club, around 2000 marvelled at tractors, trucks, engines and other mechanical demonstrations from yesteryear.
The jigger and traction engine trailer rides also spun visitors’ wheels.
Member of three years John Hitchcock is an engineer by trade, with a personal stash of 14 “good old engines” and international tractors aging like fine wine.
At the weekend’s event, he demonstrated manually lubricating his 1908 Tangye, which was used to operate a band saw at a French Pass boat building shed.
“I picked it up off the Guard family, and she’s a good ol’ girl, I bring her out and away she goes every time,” John says.
“They intrigue me how someone was clever enough back in the 1900s to design it, to make it work, and it’s still going strong to this day.
“I felt it was the right thing to support the club and support the district, and the more members the better everything will be.”
Club president Dave Holmes says the 2025 edition of the show was “excellent” and the raised funds from the gate entries would accelerate its 50 to 60 members to restore farm machinery, and the odd building.
