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THE IGNITOR NEWSLETTERVOL.15 No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . January 2004"Living the Past for Future Generations"Leduc West Antique Society Executive: www.leducwestantique.com
ANNUAL MEETINGSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28,2004TELFORD HOUSE in Leduc4907 46 street (East end of Main Street in Leduc)at 6:30PMThe doors will open at 6:00 pm. Bring a potluck dish. The Annual Meeting will begin at 8.00 pm. Door Prizes are welcome!! All prospective members are most welcome!! We will again have a 50/50 draw. 50% remains with the club 50% will be split. Agenda for the meeting will include the Financial report for 2003 & an election of officers for the 2004 executive & two director positions. This will be followed by a General Meeting with the new officers presiding.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - Walter BurakA belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!! A special thanks again to all that have been involved in some part with the society. The year 2003 was a very good year for Leduc West with major restructuring changes at the Park. We have now reached the point where we can focus on the future. The year 2004 looks very promising with attention being given to upgrading existing facilities and completion of unfinished projects. The train station is going to be one of the major focuses. Plans are underway to raise the building during the Road Ban this spring. Before our July show the station platform should be completed to compliment our Jigger boys as the rides have become quite an attraction for our events. Another project that needs immediate attention is the completion & gravelling of Vintage Iron Street that was built last Fall. Reseeding of grass areas need attention. Upgrading of the engine building should be completed before the end of June to allow sufficient time for the Edmonton Power Historical Foundation display to be in operation. This will be on a pretty tight schedule; but, with extra manpower we will accomplish it. Marg has booked the Correctional Workers for quite a number of days. To continue with one of our major events at the Park - the Tractor Pull Competitions, it was necessary for the society to purchase a sled. The insurance issue made it very expensive to rent a unit. We are planning to have a fun day for our tractor pulling members during the family picnic on June 6th. Let's perfect this event to see a good presence of LWAS members at the July Tractor Pull and again at the Provincial Pull in September. There is nothing further to report on the insurance issue. We will continue with Compulsory Insurance for all our exhibitors. There is a possibility it may have to extend to Vendors as well. We are very pleased with the events planned for at the Park; but, we are always looking for new ideas and suggestions to improve our Park events. Please contact your event co-ordmator or any one of the executive. We hope to see many of you at Telford House on February 28th for the Annual Meeting. Wanted:A good, used 650-16 tractor tire. Contact Lloyd Stevens at 1 403 729-2451.
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PARK NEWS
Welcome to another exciting year with the Leduc West Antique Society at the Alberta Heritage Exposition Park. Each year we think we achieved the best we can do; but, we always seem to come up with new & better ways to increase & improve the events which take place at the Park. It is all thanks to people like you who assist in some way whether it be financial, promotional, suggestions, ideas, donations, etc. or just good old fashioned work. Remember the Society can't run without your assistance !!! Many Thanks !!! Last January I listed four pages of projects which should be done at the Park. many of them have been done or started or modified. There are still a number of major ones that haven't been tackled to date. However, I do have confidence in the trusted little troop that seems to always come forward to ensure that the work gets done. I wouldn't mind if this dedicated group would get larger; but, that's your decision, we can only encourage you to come forward and assist us. Thanks again to the guys & gals that come forward to help !!!! The north road now extends to Vintage Iron Street. Unfortunately the snow came too soon so we'll have to wait until spring to complete it. Elmer has done a lot of grading and packing. More clay will be required to build it up further before the gravel can be put on. The engine building will be receiving a major overhaul this year. A cement floor will actually be in place along with finishing of the walls and ceiling and proper lighting. See dreams do come true!!! The Edmonton Power Historical Foundation approached the executive with the idea to expand their display, thus resulting in the upgrading of the building. The display will be fantastic with something for all ages. There will be hands on type of learning programs which will be an asset to all children and adults alike. The overall project will take probably three or more years to complete; but, each year something new will be added. This will become a major attraction for the site to encourage more school groups to visit. By upgrading this facility we will have a proper place for some of our other displays, such as, the hammer collection, the boat motor collection, more stationary engines, etc. Now I have another dream to work on and that is to develop the lake area. Can't you just envisage green grass all around the lake, with shrubs, flowers, a boat house to put in the boat motor collection & other fishing & swimming memorabilia, an old wooden boat tied up to a dock, picnic tables around, closed in fire pits, etc. there are endless possibilities. However, before we can proceed with such a project the railroad has to be properly extended. Right now it is a temporary situation just so we could use the rail to transport people to the show grounds and provide a rail for the Jigger Boys to give rides to the public. This was a great asset to the Park. Hopefully, this year we can make the rail more permanent.
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Speaking of the railroad - much work will be required to improve the display. There are two magnificent pieces of equipment sitting at Ireton for us to take. They would be a real asset to the Park. The huge snowplow would look fantastic at the west end of the station to signify an end or beginning to the rail line and a focal point to the entrance to the Park. Shrubs, flower beds, etc. could be placed around it. However, Perry can't move them alone. He requires some help. I understand they could be dragged on rail to the site. Also some of the existing cars on display either need major work or should be destroyed or moved to the bone yard. Once the station is raised the platform can be completed around the station. The grass will require a reborn & probably some shrubs will be replaced. The proposed walkway around the site will require major work to get it useable. A good portion of the work was completed last Fall; however, trees, grass, & weeds have a mind of their own and continue to grow the way they want not how we want. But, once it is in place maintenance should be minimal. There are trees to prune, grass to mow, twigs & branches to rake up, grass to whip along the fence line, weeds to spray, etc. Also if anyone made or bought a bird house these will have to be mounted. If we decide to put benches down we'll have to think of a maintenance free way to place them so that they don't have to be moved each time grass is cut. The grass was so long & thick & overgrown along the road line that the mower couldn't cut it. I cut several days with the small mower & I didn't quite get finished. Consequently, Elmer is building me a small cart to pull behind the golf cart so I can transport the small mower more easily, & pick up branches right away. By the way did anyone build a small rake so we don't have to do all the raking by hand? The other two projects that still didn't get completed for the past two years are the ceiling on the dance floor & the siding on the bleachers. Bill Smith has purchased the material for the ceiling & we already have the siding for the bleachers. There must be someone in the society that could under take these two projects. It would only take a week at the most. We need your help !!! The floors on the stages need work. I'd hate to see a dancer go through the boards. The floor boards on the entertainment bleachers could use a touch up. They should be removed and put through a planer to remove Bud's orange paint. We have scraped, sanded, and repainted twice already. I can't find another paint to cover over it. Well it looks like we are going to have another busy year at the Park & just when I thought we were catching up. That's Life !!!! We will be having the three major events at the Park again this year with a slight variation. The May 22 event has been changed to a "Country Swap Meet". Therefore, more items will be for sale, not just antiques & collectibles. This will open it for more participation from our members. As I know many of you would like to sell and since we can't have you selling at the July show this will give you an opportunity to sell at the May event. The price for an inside table is $20.00 and $10.00 for an outside table. Please let me know well in advance if you are interested in participating. Call #986-0054.
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The July event is on the 24th and 25th. This year we are featuring "Odd and Unusual". I am not to sure what type of articles will come; but, I'm confident there should be quite a collection from, tractors, trucks, cars, homemade vehicles, etc. Some of the tractors that fit into this category are: I have booked the display from Onoway of Doug Fibke. He has an interesting display of articles made from the tabs off the pop cans. He has a tractor, barn, well, man, etc. made from the tabs and displayed in a trailer. It will attract quite a number of visitors to the show. Also, the llamas will be back, the tractor pull event with our own self-propelled sled, the tractor square dancing, three new bands for entertainment, the gymkhana events, etc. The Fiddler's contest will be replaced with a "Banjo Jamboree". It will be a lot of old time music, as well as, Blue Grass music. This will also attract a new crowd of visitors. It will be held at the entertainment stage right after supper. All details aren't worked out; but, John Bachinsky has offered to sponsor the event. Anyone interested in helping with the Jamboree can contact Kathy at 985-3898. Kathy has a variety of numbers booked - with the prospect of Alfie Myers the fiddler champion. Let's put on our dancing boots and break in Bill's dance floor. There will be events for the kids and the fashion show for the ladies. The Jigger Boys are waiting to get their cars rolling. Hopefully, they will be out several times during the year. We always encourage as many exhibitors as we can attract to our show. Our policy last year went into effect that all exhibitors must carry the $1 000 000.00 liability coverage. Each exhibitor must sign stating they have the coverage. We do not have to see the insurance form. This did not affect our attendance last year & many indicated it was no problem to get the coverage. This year when I received a call from the 14th Annual Canadian International Truck show requesting to come, I was overjoyed. There could be up to 150 trucks displayed. A possible location will be just north of the playground on the other side of the swale. With the display of other trucks we get each year it should be one fine showing. Perhaps other car clubs will join the Edmonton Antique Car Club and we'll get an unusual amount of cars displayed. Since we aren't featuring one particular tractor I hope we will have an unusual variety of tractors out. Let's fill up the whole show area. If it looks like our parade will be too long, we'll work out the details - perhaps two side by side or some one day and some the other day. The Tractor Pull Event has been operated by the Markerville Club for the past number of years. For which we are very grateful. Now that we have our own sled we will require more Leduc West members to run it. Ellen Widdlefield is a LWAS member & will be operating it again; but, she will require more LWAS members to help and give her a break. One of the biggest jobs is in the recording - not only the weight; but, also the distance of each pull. If you are interested Ellen will work right along with you. There is also getting the track ready, putting up the pegs, levelling the track after each pull, etc. I order all the trophies & get the sponsorship. Another major area is in the announcing. We need someone qualified that knows the pullers & their tractors, and can keep the crowd entertained. We booked Len Nichol for the summer show and the Country Harvest. Anyone interested in helping with this event, please call Wally at 986-0054.
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We are planning little fun pulls for LWAS members on weekends. The first one will be when our picnic is on June 6th. Paul Fehr will be there to show us how to operate it. So bring out your tractors & let's have a good time. Since this is only January I'll have more details for the May newsletter. Also if anyone has other suggestions for the show, please call and let me know. I would be only too happy to incorporate them if possible. REMEMBER: We need as many VOLUNTEERS as we can get. Please call one of the committee heads soon so we can expect you. The Country Harvest on September 11 will have the traditional harvesting events. I would like to see the plowing demonstrations turn into a bigger event with more competition. Perhaps someone would be interested in organizing the plowing competition. We will again have the Provincial Antique Tractor Pull Championships. The raffle will be drawn on that day. Vendors available. More details later. I have tentatively booked an auction sale every month throughout the summer. The dates will be included in the May newsletter or watch the Web Site. NOTE: The Leduc Antique Mall has been sold. Perry & Pat wish to thank all those that have supported & patronized them at the mall for the past two years. Please continue to support the new owners. Pat & Perry look forward to your support with their new adventure of Global Auctions. Anyone wanting to list in their auctions can call #986-2550. There will be two major dog shows during the summer: LWAS operates a concession at these events. Volunteers are most welcomed. Gymkhana practices are Sunday afternoons beginning Mother's Day, weather permitting. This year we are having a church service once a month in the St. John's Lutheran Church. The tentative dates are: June 6th, July 25th, August 22nd, September 11th. All of the dates already have something on that day. So we hope to see a large turnout for the service.
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June 5th is the RCMP & Victim's Services BBQ at the site. The Correctional workers will be out this summer. We could use LWAS members to help with these work bees. The following dates have been booked:
I would like to see more members come out for coffee. When we're out there the coffee pot is on. We could even throw on an extra couple burgers. If you wish to stay and help that's fine. If not just pop in to say hello. We love listening to stories about the old days or some good jokes. Desserts or fresh garden vegetables are always welcome !!!! Denis keeps us supplied with fresh lettuce & onions. (We miss Elsie's apple pies & banana loaves.) IN MEMORIUMWe are sad to announce the passing of two more members of the society. Both of them will be missed very much. GORDON FRANK passed away peacefully in his home on November 16, 2003. He had just come out of the bath and sat down to listen to some of his favourite Country Gospel music. When Norma went to see - he was gone. As Norma said he probably is one of very few who can say they died in clean underwear listening to their favourite music. He also had just come back from attending a Hobby Show in Toronto. This Fall he had cleaned up all his machinery before putting it away. The good Lord must somehow give us a warning; however, we probably don't always hear. Gordon was active with the Modeler's Building at the Park. Last winter he donated $1000.00 to have the verandah finished on the building. Gordon's love of meccano will live on as the collection was purchased by a Leduc West member & I'm sure some parts of it will eventually make its way to the Park. VIC WOJCIECHOWSKI - By Ann Yaholnitsky, his sister My brothers Zig and Vic loved music and people. When Leduc West came into being in 1990 they were there in the bush on a flat bed performing. They were "The Adams Brothers". They continued performing every year until Zig's death in 1999. Vic continued to entertain us and was there to help me make the hamburgers at the concession. He brought many of his friends and fellow musicians to entertain us all at our show. Now, Vic is gone. He passed away on January 7, 2004 in his home. He has once again joined Zig in harmony and love. They will remain forever 58 years young, smiling and singing and joined by sister Joey from time to time. Cancer has claimed Vic and God answered our prayers. He is free from pain. His heart has stopped beating. His hands still. No more will his loving arms wrap his wife Gerry in love everyday. When the days are sad and lonely we will remember your smile and will hear you say, "Cheer Up, Carry on. Don't cry. I'm only sleeping and we'll all be together again someday."
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FUNDRAISINGAs always we are looking for more ways to improve our financial situation. 1) More CORPORATE SPONSORS are expressing interest in the society. Many of you have contacts that may be interested in taking on projects. If the donation is $1000.00 or more, I will put the logo on the poster; however, I need the information before the end of March. 2) RAFFLEThe tickets are accompanying this newsletter. Please send them back as soon as possible. If you do not wish to sell or buy them send them back immediately. I try to eliminate the members that I know do not wish to have them; but, some I may have forgotten. The tickets sell for $2.00 each or $40.00 for the whole book. The return address is printed quite a bit larger on the ticket. Send the ticket cheque separate from the membership cheque. Thanks again for all you that sold your book last year. The draw date is on September 11, 2004. 3) SOUVENIRSThere are still some pins, cookbooks, hats left from the past few years. These make great added gifts for birthdays, retirees, etc. Very few of the International tractor pins sold. Our cost was $5.00 per pin so we have to sell them for $6.00 to make a little money. There are volunteer buttons left from the past two years. We sell them for $1.00 each. If anyone is in to collecting buttons - there are still quite a number left from when we were the Calmar Antique Club. We also have hats and crests from that time. These will be stored in the station. There are a few crests with Leduc West Antique steamer. Use these souvenirs to promote our society. 4) MEMBERSHIPHopefully all members have paid their dues in 2003. Now its time to pay your 2004 dues. Don't wait until the end of the year to renew. Better still change to lifetime as there is less hassle. As pointed out in the September newsletter try to get the younger generation interested. If you have any suggestions let us know & maybe we can incorporate something in the Parks events. We also could use a few skilled labour people. 5) BINGOSWe raised $4400.00 dollars last year with the bingos. Thanks again to all who helped. The new
dates for 2004 are: 6) CASINOOur next casino is in 2005. Exact date not available as yet. However, it will be in the January, February, or March period. 7) GRANTSWe will be applying for one new grant this year. The CIP Grant will be used to assist with the upgrading of the engine building. Hopefully, we will be successful.
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KOLLECTOR'S KORNER - Bill SmithI got to thinking the other day, which I do occasionally, that if Socrates the Greek Philosopher 400 year BC, had been living today he would have added one more item to his list of cardinal sins which are envy, lust, greed, gluttony, sloth, pride, and anger. It would have been a deadly sin called TOBACCO. Smoking of one kind or another has went on from the dawn of man. Stone pipes of the Eskimo, clay pipes in the pyramids, brass pipes in China, and jade like pipes in the Aztec culture. The tobacco plant is an annual which grows to about 3 to 4 feet high in tropical parts of the Americas However, in the last 100 years scientist have developed a hybrid to grow almost anywhere and with bigger and bigger leaves. The leaves have been prepared in various ways for chewing, smoking, and snuffs. Cuba seems to be the cradle for cigars and were originally called, 'Seegars'. First records indicate that a company called S. Houde started making a pipe tobacco in 1840 in Joliette district in Quebec. They introduced the cigarette in Quebec in 1899. In the meantime other companies sprung up around the country - like Imperial Tobacco Co. in Montreal, who still have a product on the market today called OLD Chum. George Tuckett set up shop in Hamilton as far back as 1858. By now tobacco was being grown in Eastern Canada. Imperial came a long way and by 1954 manufactured 66 different brands of smokes, with factories in Montreal, Guelph, Joliette, & Aylmer with sales offices and distribution centres in Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary. It was Imperial who first introduced the filter tip in 1954. However, Louis Rothman is credited with the manufacture filter tip in London England in 1890 by inserting a piece of absorbent cotton at the end of the cigarette. So many companies were trying to push their products by fancy cans, coupons inserted that could be traded for merchandise for example 400 such coupons gave you an exquisite ladies watch. Others put little silk patches in with fancy pictures on like flags, flowers, butterflies, early cars, and in WWI had soldiers pictures from different regiments. Fancy cans with more fancy names came about with such names as Four Roses, Sir Walter Raleigh, Forest and Stream and Big Ben. Magazines started using colour and again the tobacco Co. filled the pages with wonderful graphics of their products. Radio shows were sponsored by many leading brands and not far behind was the TV commercials telling us that 9 out of 10 doctors preferred 'camels'. While this was going on the Governments of the day were raking in fortunes with taxes on smoking products. Suddenly in January 1964 the Surgeon General published their report linking cancer and heart disease to tobacco. Great effort was put in trying to convince people to quit smoking; but, the government loved the tax money, so it was a war between the medical profession and the government. However, the statistics are pretty alarming when you have medical figures that show 47,500 people in Canada died from smoke related diseases, this was in 1998. The World Health Organization reported that tobacco related disease took 5 million people a year in 2000. Or in another way smoking causes 6 times more deaths than murder, alcohol, car accidents, and suicides combined. For some reason the males have cut back on smoking by 22% by 1998; yet women smokers have yet to show any decline.
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People are astounded at antique shows at the price of old tobacco cans. The prices of brand new mint shape Macdonald Export 1/2 lb can runs at $4.00, one you emptied last week. The MacDonald's wartime 1/2 lb can with paper sides are priced at $65.00. The MacDonald's 1920 can that contained Pilot cut plug is currently selling for $115.00. The tall thin can called, Vest Pocket cans, as they fit in the shirt pocket, are very collectibles and very high for instance Edgeworth is currently listed at $500.00. Same size can of Old Squire runs at $900.00. The Hudson Bay Co. sold 18 different cans at prices starting at $75.00 to $160.00 per can. Since they were sold over many years in early Canada, you can still find homes with them holding buttons and coins. About the most scarce and desirable early Canadian can is one made by Rock City Tobacco Co. in Quebec City in the latter part of the 1800's was the Wigwam Smoking Tobacco flat can priced at $2000.00 in 2001. They made two styles of cans and both are the same value. Prices in the Tobacco Bible called 'Price Guide Tobacco Containers from Canada and USA" is 300 pages with coloured photos written by Norm Carlson of Lethbridge, Alberta with the assistance of many Canadian collectors. Of course tobacco containers isn't the end of it all. It opened the door to a much broader field for collectors. In the 1960's when smoking became a 'No No' to Western civilization we began to widen our scope and naturally it was tobacco related items that collectors became interested in. People became very lighter conscious and 'Bingo' another very wide and endless field opened up. Old zippo lighters can go into hundred of dollars. Fancy ashtrays and smoking ash stands really got fancy in the late 1930's. Beautiful marble bases, electrified bases, crystal ashtrays, some with a little slot in the top handle to hold a lighter, etc. Any fashion conscious person had a silver compact that held 10 cigarettes and again the odd one had a built in lighter. How well I remember dad's old bullet lighter named because of its shape. These command $30.00 to $50.00 at antique shows. Then there were the fancy lighters that were manufactured to be lit and used in the winds outdoors. Pipes new and old are also very desirable by some collectors. The old German pipes and Sherlock Holmes pipes run into the hundreds of dollars. There even were small fancy pipes for ladies. One in my collection has rhinestones all over it. For the world traveller who had the urge to collect and bring back the folding penny match folders with the paper match that lit by striking along the base of the holder. These were light to carry and no weight in airplane luggage. I personally know one collector who has over 25 000 and it fills a 30 gallon barrel. No two are the same. Old tobacco metal signs for stores are very colourful and very expensive. Usually the starting price is about $250.00 and up. Paper advertising is not very far behind price wise. I guess what I am trying to say I have yet to meet a lighter flint collector ????? Neither the wife nor I ever smoked yet come from families that used the weed. I can only add that if God had meant man to smoke he would have designed him with a chimney sticking out of the head. I rest my case. Editor's Note: Bill will be bringing some of his collection to the annual meeting at Telford House on February 28th. He will also bring along his 'Price Guide' book for interested members. Any members that have a tobacco related item that you would like to have appraised, bring it along, and Bill will be happy to take a look at it.
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