Adirondack case guy
Well-known Member
Some of you have asked when and how long we were Case Dealers.
Here are some pics, and a brief history.
My Grandfather Owen, started out as a horse trader/ "sub dealer" in mid 20s buying from a Case dealer in Schnectday, NY. He became an accredited Case dealer in 1931.
He sold out of the kitchen in the farmhouse. The attached back room and woodshead off the kitchen, served as the parts department. An old out building adjacent to the house became the service shop. about big enough to work on one tractor.Around 1940 he built a cinder block shop, across the road from the house and dairy barns.
By then my dad running the day to day operations, plus doing farm chores. He was the oldest of the 9 siblings.
In 1948, my dad decided that the farm and dealership wern't mixing very well. In the spring of 48 he bought a acre of land and a dilapicated old house on the corner of our road and US RT 20., where he erected the first building that was our Case Facility until we closed in 1986. the building was cinder block construction, measuring 40'x60'
In 1954 he built a new house on the site of the old dilapicated one. I was 7yrs old in 54. My dad died peacfully in this house on Mother's Day this past spring.
In 64 he put up an addition (3400sq.ft) It was our new shop and the old building was done over on the inside with expanded parts and showroom area, and more office and bathroom space.
By then I was active in the business and In 67 when I graduated from collage with a 2yr degree in Ag. Engineering, we built the pole barn out back for storage, but it didn't take long before we totall closed it in and turned it into a summer shop, as we were selling bigger 4WD tractors that required a lot more space to work on.
In 1981 we teamed up with a long time friend that was a neighboring Case dealer and started a Satilite Dealership in Fultonville, NY.
In 1986 we both made a deal with Case Co. and returned our parts and whole goods inventory.
My good friend and I have regretted this move, but neither of us had the money or will to Build a new state of the art Facility that CASE-IH was demanding of us.
Two years later my friend Bob, made the plunge, due to the rapid expansion of a large high quality gravel resource on his family's property.
My wife and I worked for him for 4 yrs, me being head if retail sales, the wife was heading up the parts dept. and Bob ran the shop.
A general manager was later hired and there were some conflicts, arose, and we left, as friends., and still are with both Bob who has pretty well turned over ownership to Wes, who was the general Mgr.
I worked heavy construction as an operator for several years, and then started my own construction business. I have built 2 of the buildings at R imps. A 60'x100' steel frame service shop and a 40'x 100 storage building to acomidate combines and other larg machines that don't like settin out.
Every sucessful dealership has to be a SOB most of the time to survive. I had a hard time saying NO to a customer,and always wanted them to feel good about their dealing with us. (Can't please all of them all the time)
Anyway I have rambled long enough.
Loren.
Here are some pics, and a brief history.
My Grandfather Owen, started out as a horse trader/ "sub dealer" in mid 20s buying from a Case dealer in Schnectday, NY. He became an accredited Case dealer in 1931.
He sold out of the kitchen in the farmhouse. The attached back room and woodshead off the kitchen, served as the parts department. An old out building adjacent to the house became the service shop. about big enough to work on one tractor.Around 1940 he built a cinder block shop, across the road from the house and dairy barns.
By then my dad running the day to day operations, plus doing farm chores. He was the oldest of the 9 siblings.
In 1948, my dad decided that the farm and dealership wern't mixing very well. In the spring of 48 he bought a acre of land and a dilapicated old house on the corner of our road and US RT 20., where he erected the first building that was our Case Facility until we closed in 1986. the building was cinder block construction, measuring 40'x60'
In 1954 he built a new house on the site of the old dilapicated one. I was 7yrs old in 54. My dad died peacfully in this house on Mother's Day this past spring.
In 64 he put up an addition (3400sq.ft) It was our new shop and the old building was done over on the inside with expanded parts and showroom area, and more office and bathroom space.
By then I was active in the business and In 67 when I graduated from collage with a 2yr degree in Ag. Engineering, we built the pole barn out back for storage, but it didn't take long before we totall closed it in and turned it into a summer shop, as we were selling bigger 4WD tractors that required a lot more space to work on.
In 1981 we teamed up with a long time friend that was a neighboring Case dealer and started a Satilite Dealership in Fultonville, NY.
In 1986 we both made a deal with Case Co. and returned our parts and whole goods inventory.
My good friend and I have regretted this move, but neither of us had the money or will to Build a new state of the art Facility that CASE-IH was demanding of us.
Two years later my friend Bob, made the plunge, due to the rapid expansion of a large high quality gravel resource on his family's property.
My wife and I worked for him for 4 yrs, me being head if retail sales, the wife was heading up the parts dept. and Bob ran the shop.
A general manager was later hired and there were some conflicts, arose, and we left, as friends., and still are with both Bob who has pretty well turned over ownership to Wes, who was the general Mgr.
I worked heavy construction as an operator for several years, and then started my own construction business. I have built 2 of the buildings at R imps. A 60'x100' steel frame service shop and a 40'x 100 storage building to acomidate combines and other larg machines that don't like settin out.
Every sucessful dealership has to be a SOB most of the time to survive. I had a hard time saying NO to a customer,and always wanted them to feel good about their dealing with us. (Can't please all of them all the time)
Anyway I have rambled long enough.
Loren.
