Don Rudolph, Dealer Photo

Richard G.

Well-known Member
Don, I was in Anderson SC yesterday and took this photo of the parts and shop section of the Foundry and Steel Case dealership. I had not been down thus street since the 1980's. Most of the buildings were either gone or I could not recognize them. The door at the sidewalk was the entrance to the parts counter and the shop area. Right inside the door was an old cast Case Eagle. You had to step down about 3 steps inside the door. Did not realize that this building had once been a yarn mill as you can still see the letters. Sure looks different from what the tractor companies require now for facilities. The old Blue Ridge Railroad tracks are right in front of the building and are still part of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.
Richard in NW SC
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Richard,

Thank you so much for taking the time to get these pictures. This is the type of building most of us remember as the local Case dealer. Those new dealerships are incredible, BUT, all that cost for fancy buildings is reflected in the price of machinery and parts. Don
 
Your welcome Don. Next time I am in Westminster, I will try to get pics of the old Oconee Implements Case dealership building. It is now a Massey dealer.
Richard
 
I think maybe most of us here appreciate almost any kind of machinery. I spent many years delivering & picking up at textile mills in New England. I was fortunate enough to develop a love for the old wool processing equipment,much of it was built in the late 1800's and was till running perfectly in the 1980s, providing jobs for many. zi especially liked the oldcarding machines that separated the fibers by running them thru Big drums wrapped in what looks just like file cards used to clean files in our garages. Dangerous? ( no OSHA then) Yes very. the buildings much like the one you photographed, were well built and by the wear on stairs and hand rails told many stories of tired hands going up to work and down to go home after long hours. A part of history that needs to be preserved. I remember in a weaving mill 4 stories high ,standing there and feeling the building move back and forth in rhythm with the shuttle cocke that wove the cloth. The stair rail was a galvanized pipe worn by oiled hands (from the lanolin sprayed on the wool to make it work easier)the finish was smooth like a polished polyurethane finish. the stairs were worn a couple inches in 2 spots from footsteps of men,women,and even children used to provide CHEAP labor. History we need to understand - its about how we became who we are. I took all my children thru many of them to teach them what I could, and let them experience what Americans are about. Enough rambilings - don't to bore you guys toomuch.
Mr Bill
 
Mr Bill, A lot of the old huge 3 and 4 story brick mills around here are gone. When I think about all the people I knew that worked their whole life in a textile mill, I am still amazed that they were able to keep going. My father in law was a loom fixer in a big one. I built his last big tool box he used at the mill and it is in my son's shop with the tools still in it.
Richard
 
Richard that is something to cherish - definitely a family heirloom to preserve. To me as valuable as a set of china ,a watch or whatever it maybe.I have a ratchet my dad gave me with a set over 50 years ago (he passed in 1963) a lot of my tools vanished while I was overseas for 2 1/2 years in Germany & Viet Nam. It survived and has been used by me all my life (Mustang brand)my favorite ratchet,well used now but lately I keep all hands off it and plan to pass it on . Why ?I don't know - just seems right.
Mr Bill
 

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