The leaves change color, V-formations of Canada geese fly overhead as the fragrance of late blooming asters mingles with a trace of wood smoke. In our neck of the woods, another sign of summer's passing and fall's progress is the annual appearance of the sign announcing Leo Straw's Gas Engine Show at the intersection of Dunmore Ridge Road and Route 50 at Pleasant Dale, West Virginia.

I've passed that sign many times over the years and always seemed to have had some pressing matter that kept me from attending. When I finally attended the latest show, so much was my regret at missing the past twenty-two shows that I began to wonder if anyone there might have a gasoline-powered, butt-kicking machine on display.

"Hit and miss" refers to the gasoline engines produced around the first quarter of the last century. Much of rural America lacked electric power then, and these engines powered almost anything that a drive belt could turn. Among these were generators, sprayers, cream separators, cordwood saws, washing machines, pumps, compressors, and sewing machines. Many of these engines can boil potatoes in the cast iron water hoppers that are their only means of cooling.

Lubrication of these engines is very simple as well, often depending on gravity or vigilant use of an oil can. This doesn't seem to hamper efficiency, though—an engine with a maximum speed of 500 RPM can be pretty forgiving. The classic “hit and miss” sound is heard when the engine is at idle, awaiting its next task. A heavy flywheel or two maintain inertia as a valve automatically releases the engine's compression, thus lessening resistance to this motion. When the flywheels start to slow down, compression is momentarily restored, spark and fuel supplied, and the engine fires only enough times to restore the motion of the flywheels. So there it sits, popping now and then, running primarily on inertia.

Listening to these engines easily evokes images—and, for some, memories—of these machines at work, their long flat belts reaching out to saw wood or churn butter. Arriving at the show, about two miles down Dunmore Ridge Road, I walk around the end of the large garage to the show area, and am greeted by a festive and colorful scene. Brightly colored antique engines, some running and steaming with people walking about looking, talking, pointing, laughing. In the background is a sunny hayfield with Short Mountain (which is anything but short) in the distance. An impressive rack of muzzle-loading rifles is also on display.

Walking about the show, I read some of the mostly brass tags on the old engines. These displayed the make and horsepower and serial number. Such names included International Harvester, Sattley, Sandwich, Fairbanks-Norse, Novo, and Great Western.

I walked over to the display of muzzle-loading rifles. For some reason, foot traffic rather suddenly became sparse at this corner of the event. The loud whistle that followed explained why—veterans of this show were giving the whistle some distance so as to preserve their hearing for the rest of the day.

This was an old paymaster's whistle that used to let factory workers know that their paychecks were ready. Leo Straw adapted it as a means to announce to those in attendance within a five mile radius that the covered dish dinner was ready in the large garage. Though it certainly serves in other capacities, Leo's son, Kim, designed and built the garage with the shows in mind. Some features include a row of closely spaced electrical outlets so that crockpots can simmer, lots and lots of floor space for the many tables arranged in dining hall fashion, and an air compressor that, among other things, powers that blasted whistle.

The show started in 1984 a short distance away on the Straw property at the old apple packing shed in the orchard. Since old tractor and engine shows are only held during the summer, Leo and some friends decided that it would be fitting to have a small gathering just before winter set it. They brought in an old wood cookstove to heat up the food and set up tables there. Attendance was modest then, about ten people. In time, neighbors started stopping by, news of the show spread among the local public, and people just started bringing old engines and tractors and antique cars. The show thus took on a life of its own.

The show moved to the area around Kim's garage in 2004, a timely move since the old packing shed collapsed under a heavy snow shortly thereafter. The new location offers plenty of water which the old engines require and a place to warm up out of the weather—this provision being a blessing as some of the original crowd are getting on in years.

Those who display old engines there are quick to talk about their machines, and often lean toward the humorous side. Roscoe Bishop of Mt. Crawford, Virginia, had in his display a McLean walk-behind tractor. These 5/8 horsepower machines were built and marketed by a preacher of the same name. “If he ever had to actually use one,” Roscoe commented, “I'll bet that made him forget his religion.” Charlie Macomber brought his homemade “Sidewinder” tractor. It was built from a Massey-Harris combine and an International Harvester hit and miss engine. The combine was “cut down, turned around, and lowered down.” Yes, there's poetry in old engines as well.

Randy Hyatt of Slanesville, West Virginia, brought a Fairbanks-Morse 1 ½ horsepower engine that idled patiently nearby. The fellow that he was traveling with brought a tray of brownies for the covered dish dinner. We trust that these were not antique.

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