It was big news for the city of Cleveland in 1939, and apparently across the country if you can believe what the ad writers at IHC had to say in this vintage magazine ad. They proclaimed, "Cleveland is prouder than ever of its Police Force which is now entirely motorized with the exception of the traffic detail. The city's Emergency Mobile Patrol is making history by helping daily in the reduction of crime and traffic fatalities. The entire nation is focusing its attention on this masterly stroke of police-pioneering."

The advertisement also promised that, "Whether you're a grocer or a farmer, a baker or a builder, there is an International designed for your special needs."

If this ad were to appear today, perhaps the writers would have included "petroliana collector" in their list of possible uses as this panel delivery would sure make a nice hauler to drag home a couple of gas pumps and assorted other collectibles from the It's A Gas! show. Introduced in March of 1937, it was totally restyled and featured an all-steel cab consisting of a one-piece top with sides back and cowl panels welded into the complete cab frame. The manufacturer's price new was less than $800, a relative bargain back in the day. The versatile configuration served multi-purpose functions for Cleveland as it ferried accident victims to the nearest hospital and served as patrol car and prisoner transporter to Cleveland's men in blue.

According to Wikipedia, "International Harvester Company (IHC or IH) was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer." That's a real mouthful of products. But IH's roots were based in farming and their home was Illinois.

It all began when Cyrus Hall McCormick, an inventor from Virginia, finalized his version of a horse-drawn reaper for which he received a patent in 1834. Together with his brother Leander, Cyrus moved to Chicago in 1847 and started the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. The McCormick reaper sold well, partially as a result of innovative business practices including establishment of a vast network of trained salesmen able to demonstrate operation of the machines in the field.

I can almost promise you will find a IH collectible or two at the It's A Gas! petroliana show and swap meet in Columbia, Mo., this Friday and Saturday. Join Pablo and me as we peruse the aisles at the Boone County Fairgrounds arena building.

If you are serious about getting a bargain on a petroleum collectible, I suggest you go on Friday and pay the $20 "early bird" fee to get in the show before the general admission crowd gets there on Saturday morning. That said, if you just want to visit the show for the memories and nostalgia, you still need to be there by opening of the doors on Saturday, January 14, as it is with most swap meets and flea markets, this one is an early event. Many vendors will begin packing up their wares by noon on Saturday depending on how nice the weather is and how big of a crowd they get.

I recommend taking a leisurely drive down to Columbia on Friday night and staying at the Wingate Hotel, which is located just about a five minute drive from the fairgrounds. And if you want to enjoy a memorable dinner Friday night or Saturday after the show, you can't beat The Pasta Factory. It's a Fin Man favorite and Columbia's original Italian restaurant since 1976. You'll experience impressive service and an impeccable menu selection at their new location at 3103 West Broadway. You can call the owners Jennifer and Jason Dubinski at 573-449-3948 for more details or visit their web site at www.thepastafactory.net. And please tell them The Fin Man sent you.

Hope to see you at It's A Gas!

For photos from last year's It's A Gas! show and more information, visit my website at www.thefinman.com.

Trivia Answer: 1. The song was recorded by Craig Morgan on Broken Bow Records. It was the third and final single released from his 2006 album "Little Bit of Life".

2. The Cub Cadet.