One man’s junk ... is another man’s treasure.
The big old rusty steel drum was given to me by a farmer friend. I had no idea what I was going to do with it, and regretted taking it. It was awfully heavy, and I could only move it by rolling. Also, I had no idea what it was. Maybe a lawn roller, the kind you fill with water? I was to find out later that it was a huge pulley, off a huge machine; a pulley that would have had a three-foot-wide belt running off it.
I can’t even remember how the inspiration came to me. I might have leaned an old steel wagon wheel up against it. Yes, I think that was it. Anywho, I could see the infant beginnings of maybe an Old Threshers style steam engine.
Presto change-o! Fast forward to the Old Threshers Reunion in Mt. Pleasant. This would be the third year I have set up in Central Park as a vendor to sell my junk, I mean, art. I sheepishly put the steam engine front and center, with the largest price tag I have ever put on any of my art. It was all my little John Deere tractor could do to haul that steam engine from my house to the park.
Voila! Almost the first person who looked at the mock steam engine bought it. It was the first item of mine to sell, in a park full of low-dollar craft items. The clincher was that I promised to deliver it — how, I didn’t know. With pleasure, I wrote “Sold!” on the price tag, then watched in agony as almost everyone who strolled by, admired the little steam engine, looked at the “Sold!” sign, and said, “Dang!”
I could’ve sold six of them.
This year’s Art and Crafts show in Central Park was a little slow. It was awfully hot and sticky, which tends to make people stay indoors. Ginnie and I sold a few pieces of art here and there, but nothing major. The big-ticket steam engine on the first day carried the weight.
The last day of the Old Threshers Reunion, Labor Day, is an optional day for vendors in Central Park. Consequently, most of them, being from out of state, skedaddled. Because I live in Mt. Pleasant, Ginnie and I stayed open for business. As it turned out, it rained overnight, cooled off, and we had our best day of sales. The same went for the few other vendors who stuck it out. I even sold a couple of my “Flying Sewing Machines” and all of my 3D Geese.
There was a sign maker from South Dakota set up close to us. I bought a “Life is Better at the Farm” sign for the acreage Ginnie and I are moving to. Then, I had the sign maker paint me a “One Man’s Junk, is Another Man’s Treasure!” sign. It brought a lot of laughs and comments. The sign maker had her best day, also.
By the way, the person who bought the steam engine, came back and also bought my second most expensive sculpture — a tall abstract, I call “Quark,” because there are quirks and there are quarks. It’s very unusual for someone to have an eye for traditional as well as abstract art. With much grunting and groaning, I delivered the sculptures. The Quark is going to be a trellis for her rosebush, and the steam engine a landmark for her country home. I love it when people like my art.
By the way, I heard many comments, mostly from old farmers and welders, to the effect of, “Humph, I could make that.” The prize retort came from a wife. “Yes, but will you?”
My plans for next year’s Old Threshers include having about six steam engines ready. They go great with the Old Threshers theme. You can bet, however, the next steam engine I build won’t be so heavy, and will roll on it’s own wheels!
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email curtswarm@yahoo.com