In the mid-1970's, TJ Bevin's a self-employed entrepreneur from Wellsville, Kansas got the grand idea to assemble a traveling collections of engines of the "HEY DAY" of the American Industrial Age. His plan was to assemble the collection in an 18-wheeler trailer as a rolling show, and tour the country with his wife. They planned to stop and showcase their collection at county and state fairs, carnivals and conventions. Paying for their travels with the proceeds earned from charging admission to tour the collection and cover their cost of travel and living.
TJ setout and built out a trailer with a living quarters in the front section, and fifteen engines. Thirteen of which were antique "Hit and Miss", and two jewels of the collection a Rolls Royce Merlin, and an AJ Foyt "Coyote".
When TJ would setup the display he had would open up the rear of the trailer, and put the stairs in place. The trailer was setup with a center cabinet that ran nearly the length of the trailer with the "Hit and Miss" engines mounted to it, and the Merlin and Foyt at the front of the display area. Traffic flow would be to walk up the stairs at the rear of the trailer and down one side of the cabinet, and back down the other side to exit at the back. TJ being the "Pitchmen", and his wife working as the "Ducat Grabber". The trailer had the rear most engine in the trailer on a sliding stand, that would be pulled out and would "run" to catch peoples attention and give TJ a chance to make his sales pitch to tour the collection.
TJ and his wife toured for several years before parking the display at their home in Wellsville.
In the mid-1980's, their estate was up for auction. The winning bidder of the tractor-trailer, and Display failed to pay and the auctioneer Otto's Auctions ends up with the Display. It sat on Otto's farm in Edgerton, Kansas for the past twenty years.
Flash forward to 2006 period dad recalls the engine display and the Foyt motor. After a few weeks of running down leads dad tracks the display to Otto's. Miraculously the Display is completely intact and untouched since the doors were closed sometime around 1979.
After nearly 18 months of back and forth negotiations to acquire the collection, we were able to take possession. We had a mechanic friend from Spring Hill, KS go over and get the old diesel running. Then my brother-in-law and one of his friends from Parker, Kansas each took their tractors, and one low-boy to recover the Display. My brother-in-law hooked up to the trailer that hadn't been moved in 20 years, while the tractor was loaded onto the low-boy they brought along.
Unfortunately to make this deal happen the Display had to be separated. To cover the cost of everything, we sold the Merlin to a private collector, and the trailer and "Hit and Miss's" to another collector. Keeping the Foyt motor.
