Home (What´s New?)   Search this site   About this site   About R & T   Overview   History   Membership   The Whistle   Photo Albums   Reg. Events   Special   Articles   Visitors Info   2008 Schedule     Tractor Pulls   Regulations   Register form   Exhibitor Info   Gift Shop   Organization   Officers&Dir's   Committees   Volunteer Corner   What is it?   Contacting Us     October 2, 2000		About Rough and Tumble   ROUGH AND TUMBLE ENGINEERS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION is a unique museum in that we don't clean the dust off our artifacts - because we're often out kicking up the dust WITH them. During our show days almost everything on the grounds is run! And during our annual Threshermen's Reunion EVERYTHING on the grounds that will move under it's own power can be seen in our daily Parade of Power, a ninety minute parade of antique and obsolete machinery and automobiles.   When Rough and Tumble is not having a show, you can still find its members on the grounds - working and fixing something up so that it can be used. We're always busy - but never too busy to take the time to talk. Some of our members 'remember when' the piece of machinery they are restoring was used daily - a wonderful improvement over doing the same job by hand. Some of our members are younger and love Rough and Tumble as a place to come and get involved in reliving the history of the Good Old Days.   What Can You See at Rough and Tumble We feature many types of fascinating historical equipment, most of it having to do with the "yester-years" of farming, but also including steam railroading and antique autos and trucks. Specifically, at Rough and Tumble you can see - Mammoth Steam Traction Engines that used to roam the prairies and power threshing and other farm machinery.   Kerosene and gasoline powered farm tractors going back to the early days of 1900. The variety of these machines is unbelievable, and many are one of only a few remaining of their species.   Stationary Engines powered by steam, kerosene and gasoline, including some truly huge pieces retired from factories and ships but functioning in our museum.   "Hit and miss" and other smaller stationary engines that were the utility engines of their day, whether in factories or on the farm.   An operating, full size Saw Mill powered by the "engine du jour".   Threshing Machines, sometimes linked to old Bailing Machines that do live threshing of local grains during some show days and draw especially large crowds at the annual Threshermen's Reunion.   Miscellaneous other equipment. For example, you'll see shingles being made the old fashion way with power from a hit and miss or other "early American" power source.   Our Shay Railroad is a big hit and provides rides around our large museum grounds.   For the little folks, we have the "Little Toot RR" which is a miniature steam engine pulling open top cars full of children.   Model Engineering is a growing activity whereby people interested in steam and internal combustion engines can really get into the subject building miniature engines that operate just like the big ones, but for far less expense and space consumed.   Antique Autos and Trucks are a recent addition to Rough and Tumble and complement the early 1900 farm machinery seen throughout the grounds. To learn about all of the fascinating equipment and activities of Rough and Tumble, you should explore the depths of this web site. The photos sprinkled about the site and the Photo Albums of recent Threshermen's Reunions provide a glimpse of the wide variety of equipment making up our museum and events. For a little background and perspective on the organization, click on the links below (or in the left menu column) and we'll tell you how the organization started, how to become a member, and a glimpse of our newsletter, The Whistle.   Overview This is a brief history of Rough and Tumble that gives you the "flavor" of the organization, its members and its activities.   Our History This is a reproduction of "The History of Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association, Inc.  1948 - 1988" as told by Marie Bongiavonni. This history appears as the introduction or preface to a fascinating and entertaining book of instructions for operators of farm and traction engines written many years ago by James H. Maggard. The book is available from the Rough and Tumble Gift Shop. This history is also available in an easily printed format by clicking here.   Membership This page provides information about membership and a form that you may print and mail to Rough and Tumble in order to become a member.   The Whistle The organization's newsletter is a look at the many activities of Rough and Tumble, its managing members, and schedules of upcoming events and tidbits about the organizations special events.
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