The Historical Construction Equipment Association’s 36th annual International Convention & Old Equipment Exposition defied the weather and high diesel prices in September and hosted several thousand attendees at the National Construction Equipment Museum in Bowling Green, Ohio. Diesel prices cast doubt over how many machines would be brought in, but 120 antique machines and vehicles made the trip.
Attendees from all over the United States and several other countries enjoyed perfect weather on Friday and Saturday. Antique equipment from as far away as New England, Louisiana, and Colorado joined the Museum’s fleet of 185 machines and additional modern equipment.
The show featured major reassembly of the Museum’s Terex 33-15 Titan 170-ton capacity end dump. The work was done entirely with donated labor and loaned equipment. Two local contractors provided crane and operator services valued at $25,000.
It also featured the debut of the Museum’s newly restored Manitowoc 3500 dragline and the first use of its new late 1960s Cat dirt spread: a D9G pushloader, two 631B motor scrapers, and a 631B water wagon. All were immaculately restored, donated and transported from New Jersey by the Mahan Collection Foundation. Many other rare and unusual construction and agricultural machines, trucks, cars, engines, and military vehicles were shown.
The Museum will again host the show in 2023, on September 22-24.
