took a step back in time today

I need some larger rivets to fix the sickle on our corn head, and Dad has had luck in the past going to an old store that is in a town I drive thru everyday going to the farm and work. No sign, no nothing just an open sign in the window.

Owned by a gent who I think is in his mid 70's, and his sister. His dad owned an IH dealership that was closed back in 78 or 79 he said. Lots of old NOS parts there for IH, mainly small parts like some carburetor parts, and other random odd bits. Some oddball detatchable chain, old bike tires, hardware that has an inch of dust on it.

Old, but new, pitch forks and some other tools. Just a large smattering of general store type stuff. Didn't have the particular rivets I need, but was still fun to just look. I might have to go back some time once I know what size chain we need for our 495A corn planter and make sure what I saw is it, as it's hard to find it any more.

Said his dad also bought out the local plumber back in the 50's or so and still has a bunch of the old fittings.

Overall, a very interesting day and I think was happy just ot have someone walk in to talk to.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Don where is this fellow at??? I would drive just to talk and see the old fellow's store.

You missed the most important item. You didn't say the town name

Sherwood, Wisconsin. Their shop is right on the corner of hwy 55 and another road that veers to the other side. Several cars have wound up inside the store in the winter...

My great aunt lives just about a block away, the last of my grandma's siblings. Their mom died when Grandma was about 12 I think, so Grandma raised all of her siblings. When she married, her and my grandpa took over her parents farm and they adopted/fostered several children, including my mom. Now the farm again has been taken over by the daughter of the family and her husband. Sadly, I doubt it'll make it another 5 years.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Not that I hope anything happens right away but when the time comes I hope the public gets a chance to purchase some of the memorabilia. I have been looking for old machinery price books. I was flat broke and in college when a lot of the sell outs happened in the 1980's. Also, when it came to IH a lot of IH dealers got cancelled when the merger with Case came in 1985. A lot of things went into the dumpster because the dealers were royally ------ about the treatment they got. A lot of treasure thrown out unfortunately.

I'm not sure if ih pulled the dealership from them out if they just closed it up. Said ih took back lots of stuff but some others they didn't want. Lots of random small stuff though.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Current whole goods and fast turning parts no doubt went back without issue. There were dealers that had obsolete whole goods and parts that had to sell them by auction if nothing else to recoup their money. When I talk about filling the dumpster I am talking about things such as posters, themed clocks, pens, notepads, toys, catalogs, and price books among other things. Most dealers by the 1980's had microfiche parts lookup so those who hung on to the print books had those in their possession when they closed. Not everybody did the heavy dumpster thing but their were more than a few that were extremely angry and hurt that all their years of loyalty meant nothing. I think Case IH went a little agressive in this region at the time in thinning dealers out.

When I was doing insurance inspections, I was called upon to inspect a place like that in a small town in western Iowa. It was unbelievable. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the town.

There wasn't even a restroom in the building. The lady that was on hand said she just walked across the street to the bank. You can do that in a small town.

Also, one similar to that in Phillips, Wi. Not sure if it is still there but I was in there about ten years ago. I was looking for old books but didn't find what I needed.