Inman Antique Expo set for March 6-8, featuring local items

After being in hibernation throughout a cold winter, the tractors and equipment that are the stars of the shows at Minter’s Farm in Inman will roar back to life at the fifth annual Inman Antique Expo on March 6-8. The show is held on the same grounds as Inman Farm Heritage Days in September, and like Heritage Days, is free to attend.

New to the line-up this year is an expanded exhibit of antique printing equipment, including a 100-year-old Intertype machine that was once used to mold lead type that was used to print the Griffin Daily News. The machine was donated to the Inman show organization by Eric Mays and Mays Printing, which also donated two antique Chandler and Price letterpresses and related equipment.
David Moore, who owned the company that transported equipment for the manufacturer of Heidelberg presses, added an antique Heidelberg windmill press, which was considered top of the line equipment back in its day.

Daniel Perkins, a regular volunteer at Inman, has been working feverishly to bring a 1972 Autocar dump truck back to life in time for the Expo. It’s the exact same truck he drove as a youngster for Hollingsworth Concrete in Carrollton. The truck has been retired for years, and Perkins’ old boss, Walt Hollingsworth, reached out to him about the truck after seeing a post on the Inman Farm Heritage Days Facebook page.

Perkins’ truck will be part of the dirt-moving exhibit that includes Nathan Mixon on the dragline and Greg Thompson on his 1940s Caterpillar dozer.

Robert Strange, an avid collector of old military trucks, has roped off a large area so he and his fellow collectors can display their trucks and related military machinery.

A giant, home-made wood splitter, donated by the Ballard family, that has been on static display for several shows, has been resurrected and will be in operation during the show as will the sawmill, planing mills and the shingle mill.

Allen Gee, an accomplished potter who took over the old Gordy Pottery in Primrose, has been working to repair the kiln on the Inman showgrounds and is planning to significantly expand our pottery exhibit.

Show organizers are expecting numerous exhibitors of antique tractors, equipment, trucks, cars and related items.

Young visitors will be happy to know that they can grind corn with hand-turned mills at the grist mill and enjoy watching blacksmiths at work.

As always there will be food and snack vendors and others offering antique merchandise for sale.
Show promoter Stephanie Minter Adamek said the ultimate goal for the Expo is for it to one day become as popular as the Inman Farm Heritage Days show, now in its 29th year.

“We feel like there is too much here for visitors to enjoy to only be open for three days a year,” Adamek said. “Our loyal volunteers work hard all year long to maintain existing exhibits and add new ones, and we want to give visitors every opportunity to see them. Plus, it’s nice to get to see our fellow old-iron enthusiasts twice a year!”

For more information visit Inman Farm Heritage Days on Facebook or call 770-461-2840.