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Old tractors, engines, cars, trucks always attract visitors

  • Six-year-old Madison Flatford of Andersonville sits in the driver’s seat of the antique tractor her dad, Alex, gave her for her birthday on Saturday, June 11, during the annual tractor show at Anderson County High School. - G. Chambers Williams III

  • Visitors to the recent tractor and auto/truck show at Anderson County High School look over a “rat rod” on display for the event. - G. Chambers Williams III

  • A visitor to the antique tractor show at Anderson County High School checks out a Mod- el A Ford on the concourse of the event. - G. Chambers Williams III

Antique tractors, engines, cars and trucks were on display recently in front of Anderson County High School during the annual show conducted by the Smoky Mountain Antique Engine & Tractor Association.

Alex Flatford of Andersonville was on hand with his four antique tractors, including his newest, a 1956 Allis-Chalmers, which he actually gave to his 6-year-old daughter Madison for her birthday, he said.

Flatford said he doesn’t live on a farm, but began collecting old tractors about two years ago just because he likes them.

But he does have a history with them, he said.

“I actually restored my first tractor when I was 9 years old,” he said.

His other collectible tractors now are an 80-year-old Allis-Chalmers, a 1948 John Deere, and a 1949 John Deere, he said.

At the event he was using a tractor to pull a wagon with three rows of seats on it around the show grounds to shuttle people between the parking lot and the different areas of the show.

“We have more than 100 tractors here today,” he said of the June 11 show.

The show is held the second weekend in June every year, Flatford said.