Model Engineering – Matthew Malham

Blue Mountain Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show

The Blue Mountain Antique Gas Engine and Tractor Show (also more affectionately known as the “Jacktown Engine Show” is an excellent annual event for anyone interested in antique engine machinery and our industrial history. The event is held in Bangor, Pennsylvania and offers a wide variety of antique engines and tractors on display. There’s something about hit-and-miss engines that just feels nostalgic. Maybe it’s the way they putt-putt along, or the fact that they’re usually found on old farm equipment. Either way, these antique engines are fascinating pieces of history.

Jacktown Engine Show Flea Market

There is also a very impressive flea market at the back of the jacktown engine show with a variety of antique and vintage items. Most of the flea market is focused on machinist tools, Americana antiques, and an eclectic assortment of hardware. This year I was casually scanning for another behemoth vise to refurbish but was unable to find one that caught my eye. I picked up a a few hand tools including a very nice machinists file, a demagnetizer, and some deep discounted zip ties for my garage shop.

Tractor Pull

My children and I enjoyed watching the tractor pull contest.

Cabin Fever Expo

One of my main reasons to acquire a Bridgeport milling machine and Grizzly lathe was to scratch this itch of mine to build model steam engines. It’s hard to explain, but I hear a calling to build these things. I got the idea to look for a model engine show for some inspiration and mentoring last February 2019, so I was very dismayed to learn that I had just missed one of the largest model engineering shows in my backyard by a few weeks: the Cabin Fever Expo held in Lebanon, PA. I marked Cabin Fever Expo 2020 on my calendar and waited with patience! After declaring my intent to attend this event, I was grateful to have my son state he was willing to tag along. After a somewhat grueling two hour drive on a blustery day into Pennsylvania in moderate sleet and snow we arrived!

The Cabin Fever Expo appears to be segregated into 4 areas, there are tool and part vendors, an ongoing auction with mostly model train parts for sale, a main hall with the model engines, a hall with consignment items for sale, and another hall with model boats, cars, tanks, etc.

We spent the majority of time in the main hall with the model engines. The craftsmanship is humbling. What used to be a practical trade has become a lost art of craftsmanship and manual precision engineering.

Obviously, we couldn’t leave empty handed! We purchased some lathe tool bit inserts, a coaxial indicator for the mill, a drill bit guide, and a beginner model engine castings kit.