Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546085
NUTS AND BOLTS NEWS Historical Construction Equipment Association brings history to life with museum, Spring Show, May 23-24 By JULIE CARLE | BG Independent News Tucked away on 80 acres just outside Bowling Green, the Historical Con- struction Equipment Associ- ation is preserving a piece of American history many people don't even realize exists — the machines that built the nation. Founded in April 1986 by a group of enthusiasts who saw historic equipment rapidly disappearing into scrapy- ards, the nonprofit has grown into a nationally recognized hub for construction histo- ry. Today, the organization boasts thousands of members, an expansive archive, and a newly completed museum that showcases the evolution of heavy machinery. On the heels of the associa- tion's inaugural Spring Show, May 23-24, HCEA board member Kenny Walker— a mechanic by trade and active leader within the organization —offered a detailed look at both the past and future of the HCEA. Kenny Walker shows some watch fobs featuring construction equipment from the founding group—the International Watch Fob Association. The International Watch Fob Association, col- lectors of watch fobs that often featured heavy construction and agricultural equipment, was the group that wanted to preserve the equipment that was being replaced by more modern equipment. "It's really good that they had the foresight to do what they did at the time," Walker said, referring to the founders' early efforts to save aging equipment. "A lot of this would've been gone otherwise." Nuts and Bolts continued on pg 33 31 IDA Universal Q3 2026 Source: Avadh @www.pexels.com