Empire Tractor collectors will be traveling to South Haven for their 24th annual Empire Expo held in conjunction with the Antique Engine and Tractor Show at the Michigan Flywheelers Museum.
In an announcement from the Michigan Flywheelers Museum staff, the expo, to be hosted by the Empire Tractor Club, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 5 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 8.
Organizers expect 10 to 25 Empire tractors to be on display by owners from all over the country including Canada. The expo is the highlight of the year for the club, they say, and is often held with existing large tractor shows. The group will have close to two dozens tractors to exhibit, informational displays about the tractor as well as hold a banquet awards dinner.
The Empire Tractor Corp, which had offices in New York City with manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia, manufactured only two models during its short time in business, according to the Empire Tractor Club web site. Model 88 and Model 90 were manufactured from mid-1946 until December 1947 with several others put together from parts on hand in 1948 and 1949. A few experimental tractors were also made but these never got past the prototype stage.
After World War II and needing to use the factories for peace time purposes, the idea of building a farm tractor that could be used to help war devastated countries get crops back in the ground and food back on the tables became the focus of the company.
Believing in the beginning that the tractor was rare, the club has currently located over 380 Empire tractors with help from members in over 39 states, Canada, Argentina and South Africa. They estimate that 6,663 tractors were made in the short life span of the company from the late 1946 until early 1950.
The Antique Engine and Tractor Show starts Thursday, Sept. 5 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Along with hundreds of antique farm machinery, there is entertainment, a large outdoor flea market, antique tractor pulls, kids activities and more. Admission is $10 per person with children 12 and under free. Admission specials include Senior Citizen Day on Thursday with admission reduced to $5 for 62 and older, and the Sunday Special when admission is $5 for everyone. Gates open at 8 a.m.
The Michigan Flywheelers Museum is located at 06285 68th Street, South Haven, MI. For more information and a schedule, visit www.michiganflywheelers.org or Facebook.
