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Randy Breternitz of Midland looks over a 1950 Ford flathead siz industrial motor on the grounds of the Midland Antique Engine Associaiton.

old things to work again. He has refurbished both a 1949 Allis-Chalmers Model C and a 1962 Oliver 550. He and his 17-year-old grandson are now tackling a 1953 Ford Jubilee. He said there are two ways to tackle an old tractor. Some like to make it look almost as nice as it looked the day it was sold. Others like to make it operate, but keep the rust and age just the way they were before it was fixed.

And other club members are more into tractor pulls and competitions. Breternitz said the club has a refurbished sawmill, a couple of old threshers, a 1913 engine from the Porter Oil Field, a blacksmith shop, a museum and a general store among the many things on its grounds. The club also helped tackle the repairs to the steam shovel found at the bottom of Wixom Lake in 2020 after the dam failures.

Breternitz said times are changing, as shown by club members’ interests. These days, some new members are interested in tackling the “antiques” of the 1980s and 1990s. “The last couple of years, we probably picked up a dozen new members,” he said. “And many were in their 20s. We’re at our biggest membership right now.” The club’s annual show is scheduled for July 8-10 this year. Breternitz said it is always a big attraction and a good fundraiser. Breternitz, who is 66, said he joined the club in about 1990. Today, new members get a sponsor member to help show them around and get them started in their personal interests.

He said he can spend 40 hours a week at the association grounds during the summer months. “I’ll always be involved in it,” he said, “although probably not at the pace I am now.”

Breternitz said there is just something about the sound of an old engine firing up that keeps him coming back. The Midland Antique Engine Association operates 13 acres at 3326 S. Meridian Road. It is a non-profit club with a mission to spread the history and mechanics of engines, tractors and other large equipment.

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