LA GRANGE — It is hard to imagine how centrifugal engines and newspapers had a lot in common. In the late 1800s to mid 1900s, both engines and newspapers fed the masses - one with food, the other with thought.
The antique engines, with their pop, pop, pop as they cycle through and the old rack newspaper printers were on display with antique tractors, implements and blacksmithing at the Texas Blacksmith Exposition and Texas Antique Gas Engine Reunion in La Grange on Feb. 21, at the La Grange Fairgrounds.
The popping noise these engines make comes from gas literally igniting with each cycle of the cyclinders.
Spread throughout the grounds at the Texas Czech Heritage Plaza, classic cars, antique tractors and engines were on full display. Blacksmithing was done in the new blacksmith shop built onsite and in the open under a large tent.
The Czech Newspaper Museum housed an authentic 1800s-1900s newspaper shop where volunteers showed visitors how newspapers were set up and printed “back in the day.” It is a far cry from today with computers.
What powered the massive printer? One of the antique belt-driven engines is housed in a separate room.
The Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company produced these behemoths during the early 1900s for use in agricultural fields. This small horse power engine was on display at the Antique Gas Engine event in La Grange on Feb. 21.
This Kluge Press, circa 1869, was donated to the TCH - CC in 2001, and is typical of this printer in newspaper offices. The belt coming off the printing press leads to a 6-horse power vertical gasoline engine manufactured in 1908. The printing press and engine is located in the TCHCC Newspaper Office Museum in La Grange during the Blacksmithing and Antique Gas Engine event. Photos by John Jones Banner Press
