OT - Speaking of Farm Stores

Brian G. NY · Feb 8, 2012

Some of you can probably remember the "real" farm stores back "in the good ol" days".
Although this is the Ithaca, NY store, it sorta reminds me of the GLF store in Coblekill as it was when I was a kid back in the 40s and 50s.

Mike (WA) · Feb 8, 2012

They were the basis of the baseball term "can o' corn", meaning an easy fly ball that the fielder just parks under and catches.

Many of the old stores had shelves behind the counter going all the way to the ceiling, and the grocer had a stick with a hook on the end to get stuff off the higher shelves. He'd hook the edge of the can of corn, tip it off the shelf, and catch it when it came down.

Wonder why they didn't put the stuff out in the customer area in those days? Don't think there were many shoplifters in those days-

jackinok · Feb 8, 2012

what i miss even more is the real oldtime parts stores,where the counter men knew their products.you could walk in ,throw a broken /worn out part on the counter and the guy just ask you how many.wasnt no computers you had to look over,no revision a,b,c or x you just laid it down and the person knew if it was a new or old style whatever.most likely could tell you the easiest way of repairing it also.

641Dave · Feb 8, 2012

That picture doesn't look much different than what the Kerens Grain & Elevator looks today.

dcarp · Feb 8, 2012

Brian, I went to SUNY Cobleskill from 65-67. Nice little town.
Don"t remember the store but then again I only remember the places there that sold beer.

Mike M · Feb 8, 2012

Lots eaiser for the parts guys too as they only had a couple of models to deal with.

Billy NY · Feb 8, 2012

Simpler times, looks like it was 3:30 pm when the photo was taken, can't read the calendar on the right behind the counter, be interesting to find out what year.

jackinok · Feb 8, 2012

i dont know , up until a couple years ago we had a jd parts store here that a woman ran after her husband died.She could quote you the part numbers you needed by memory nearly every time.I walked in one day needeing some parts to a 40"S model vanbrunt grain drill.young kid had never even heard of van brunt so he hollered at her she walked out of the office seen the part laying there ,told the kid to go get such and such part nos.Walked right down the line with maybe six guys at the counter,all needing different parts for different machines,rattled them off without ever looking one up.Told one guy they no longer made that,he would have to get this part and that part to replace what he needed ,showed him how to put it together and never even slowed down!

JayinNY · Feb 8, 2012

Looks like 28 black spots on the calendar, maybe february, but can't tell a year

big fred · Feb 8, 2012

My guess would be that they saved the "customer space" for high dollar items that the customer would want to inspect before buying, like shoes. We had a general store in a little town near where I grew up and the only thing I remember ever going there to buy was shoes and fireworks. I think the place closed down except for the post office when I was about 10 or 12, with the post office closing a few years later.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 8, 2012

We have Woodford Feed in Versailles, Ky. not groceries but everything else. They have computers in the office but the store has been run the same way for 50+ years. the counter people know their products.

Brian G. NY · Feb 8, 2012

dcarp,
Interesting you should say that, the Agway store (formerly GLF) is directly across (North of)route 7 from the college.
You probably mostly headed east into the village where all the bars are or west over to the Hess convenience (read beer) store. LOL

thegooseisloose · Feb 8, 2012

http://blog.machinefinder.com/7165/the-top-john-deere-advertisements
That picture kind of reminds me of some of these John Deere ads. I really like the antique feel of it. Wish I could have been around back then to appreciate a salesperson who actually knows what they're talking about instead of just trying to make a quick buck off of you.

Mike M · Feb 8, 2012

When she dies it all goes with her ! Too bad she didn't take the time to show the new guys where and how to find the numbers.
I almost always have my numbers before I even go to the dealer.

Geoff NY · Feb 8, 2012

Dad worked for GLF in the 40s and 50s. First at the store in Bridgehampton NY , then in the Riverhead store. His office in Riverhead was on the second floor of the grain mill. Fond memories

DownSouth · Feb 8, 2012

Actually there are 31 black spots. Of what you can see, there are only 27 black spots. There is a cabinet blocking the Saturdays.
The first of the month is on a Tuesday and the month has 31 days so for someone with too much time on their hands you might be able to narrow it down! Sorry, I'm not quite that bored today...

Also the clock shows 2:30.
Yea, I blew up the picture because I was curious. Sorry, can't tell the year either darn it.

JayinNY · Feb 8, 2012

I see it better now 27 + 4 I was wondering if there was something covering a row! So for not being to board good u have a good eye.!!! Lol,, I just zoomed in on the pic on my iPhone

Pitch1 · Feb 8, 2012

My Father worked at the GLF warehouse in Owego untill it closed and then moved to the new warehouse Agway built in Geneva. One of my favorite childhood memories is of Dad taking us to work with him on a Satuday and spending the day playing in the stacks and tunnels in the tire warehouse.

kyplowboy · Feb 9, 2012

We need a farm store around here. Last summer I needed a float valve for a stock tank on a Saturday afternoon. Southern States was closed but Rural King carries them too, seen them there many times in the past. RK was move'n everthing,,,,,,,again. They were not were I last seen them. Pretty sure I talked to every one who works there, count'n two managers and not a one of them had a freak'n clue as to what I was talk'n about.

Dave

dcarp · Feb 9, 2012

Most of the time into town to the 2 bars that were there at that time. Sometimes to the motel bar on the north side. Used to hit all of the pancake suppers, all you can eat, great deal for a poor kid. Used to be an Italian restaurant just outside of town that had an all you can eat Sunday deal as well.

D-C--741 · Feb 11, 2012

The Store Manager of the Ithaca Location in the 60'-mid 70's was Don Flatt -He Lives in Odessa,NY /Is my Ex -Wife's Uncle ! He might Be Able to give some insight to quistions about this photo ! Or know off some one who does !

OT - Speaking of Farm Stores

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