The Old A-C Dealerships Tour

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I've got this old Nebraska Farmer magazine from 1981 and it has a list of the old A-C dealerships at the time.  I counted the dealers and in 1981 Nebraska had 42 A-C dealers, today of that remaining list I counted 8 left that I know are still in business with AGCO and I think there was 2 others open yet but are not involved with AGCO.  I got to thinking that it would be pretty neat to drive to these towns when I found time and stop and see the old buildings and what had become of the old A-C dealerships and take a few pictures of what was left.  I figured I'd start with the place that my family did most of their farming business with in the early days, Hansen Implement in Coleridge, Nebraska.  My Dad worked at this dealership for a summer or two outta high school as a set up person in 1966 or 1967, his main job was to install cabs on the Gleaner combines that were coming in.   I always thought that they had closed up in the late 1970's but it looks like they were still in business in 1981 but it must have not been much later than that.  I do not ever remember visiting this dealership as a kid.

The remaining building of what was Hansen Implement is located on the downtown main street and was last owned by a local auto repairman that has since passed away I believe.  I do not know who owns the building now, but appers that no real business is going on there today.

The letters spelling out  'H A N S E N   I M P L E M E N T'  must have been on the front of the building at one time and now still stand out due to the fading of the building.

A dealership sticker on a old piece of equipment.

The rear of the building.

It might be pretty interesting to go down this list and see what happen to these 30 or so dealer's that closed up here some stories.

Just wanted to share.  Thanks.

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Oldoug Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Points: 1131	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oldoug Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: The Old A-C Dealerships Tour Posted: 26 Dec 2011 at 8:36pm
	I've got this old Nebraska Farmer magazine from 1981 and it has a list of the old A-C dealerships at the time. I counted the dealers and in 1981 Nebraska had 42 A-C dealers, today of that remaining list I counted 8 left that I know are still in business with AGCO and I think there was 2 others open yet but are not involved with AGCO. I got to thinking that it would be pretty neat to drive to these towns when I found time and stop and see the old buildings and what had become of the old A-C dealerships and take a few pictures of what was left. I figured I'd start with the place that my family did most of their farming business with in the early days, Hansen Implement in Coleridge, Nebraska. My Dad worked at this dealership for a summer or two outta high school as a set up person in 1966 or 1967, his main job was to install cabs on the Gleaner combines that were coming in. I always thought that they had closed up in the late 1970's but it looks like they were still in business in 1981 but it must have not been much later than that. I do not ever remember visiting this dealership as a kid. The remaining building of what was Hansen Implement is located on the downtown main street and was last owned by a local auto repairman that has since passed away I believe. I do not know who owns the building now, but appers that no real business is going on there today. The letters spelling out 'H A N S E N I M P L E M E N T' must have been on the front of the building at one time and now still stand out due to the fading of the building. A dealership sticker on a old piece of equipment. The rear of the building. It might be pretty interesting to go down this list and see what happen to these 30 or so dealer's that closed up here some stories. Just wanted to share. Thanks.
	Matt Folkers FOLKERS RESTORATION Restoring vintage things to last so the future can enjoy our past.

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D-allis Iowa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 05 Oct 2009 Location: Akron, Iowa Points: 494	Post Options Post Reply Quote D-allis Iowa Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Dec 2011 at 9:01pm
	Matt you never know maybe there are some old allis signs still hanging up in there. Did you go inside? interesting post. Dallas

ILGLEANER Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Access Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Location: Willow Hill,ILL Points: 6448	Post Options Post Reply Quote ILGLEANER Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Dec 2011 at 9:45pm
	Very Cool Matt. It makes me think when me and the boys are out driving around,places we have never been. I always say that looks like an old dealership. So now they make fun of me , if we go by a building that might resemble one. They always say" Look that looks like an old dealership or something" IG
	Education doesn't make you smart, it makes you educated.

skipwelte Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 29 Oct 2009 Location: Anthon, Iowa Points: 723	Post Options Post Reply Quote skipwelte Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Dec 2011 at 10:39pm
	Very nice Matt. I remember here in Iowa there were 100 dealers, averaged one per county and Iowa was the only state with it own branch office. Ill bet there are fewer than 25. In this county there were 3 dealers, now there are 0, Monona county had 2 dealers, now 0.

dpower Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Madison Ne Points: 1576	Post Options Post Reply Quote dpower Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 12:04am
	Neat post Matt. Kind of funny that the Auburn dealer CF Mason and the Madison dealer Eisenmann Supplies I was lucky enough to buy their lighted allis chalmers dealer signs. CF Mason allis chalmers sigh i got off of Ebay when the guy that had bought all there nos parts sold it on there and the Eisenmann's sign i found while looking in there upstairs old dealership building on their farm. Sad to think no more dealers. When working on my 170 gas in Omaha the closest agco dealer was 30 miles away for me to get a float for the carb.

DougG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Location: Mo Points: 8308	Post Options Post Reply Quote DougG Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 3:41am
	I have old mag,s with the Mo dealers in too , have to see if i can find them ; it still amazes me that a company can be so huge , then crumble so quick ;

Jeff Z. NY Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Points: 7326	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jeff Z. NY Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 4:21am
	I did the same thing kinda with old gas stations. Got the addresses from old ads and went to see what was left of them. Some still had some interesting things out back in the weeds. Have fun with your adventure. Take alot of pictures.
	I Love Meatballs and Dumplings on Toast with Gravy and Rosemary and ??? {Open For Suggestions}

Jeff Z. NY Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Points: 7326	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jeff Z. NY Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 4:22am
	PS: Don't forget to look in the weeds behind the buildings.
	I Love Meatballs and Dumplings on Toast with Gravy and Rosemary and ??? {Open For Suggestions}

Larry(OH) Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Shreve Ohio Points: 1577	Post Options Post Reply Quote Larry(OH) Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 5:07am
	Funny post. I just was in the old local AC dealer in Wooster which is now an auto parts store. I asked the owner of the store about the dealership and he showed me the old shop which is all racks of parts and such. The old doors,windows,etc don't look much different than what I remember as a kid. I asked if there was any old AC things around and he said the place was cleaned out when he bought it. The only thing there was a huge machine that they used to clean up and turn diesel tractor cranks. Said it was real old and huge and he had just sold it to a guy about 1 month before I was there. I'll take a pic of the dealership sometime and try to find a picture from someone local of what it looked like. The dealer was W.F. Wygley
	'40 WC puller,'50 WD puller,'50 M puller '65 770 Ollie ALLIS EXPRESS contact I can explain it to you, BUT I cannot understand it for you!!

gary ny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: verona ny Points: 361	Post Options Post Reply Quote gary ny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 Dec 2011 at 8:31am
	The building that held the allis chalmers dealer when I was growing up got taken down about 6 yrs ago. My friend kept trying to get the guy to sell him what he had left upstairs and all the guy kept saying is there is nothing worth his trouble left after they had the auction 20 yrs ago. 4 dumpster loads of signs ,parts manuals ,displays and anthing else that could be in a dealership that went back into the 40s.My friends nephew would go into the dumpsters at night and grabed as much as he could but it sat next to the police station so he could not get as much as he wanted . Its just a real shame that he would not sell the stuff to my friend that is a true allis collector

WC7610 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Sioux City, IA Points: 764	Post Options Post Reply Quote WC7610 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Dec 2011 at 1:17pm
	Hi Doug, Further down the alphabet, but here is Hillbill's in Spalding taken this morning!
	Thanks Most Bad Government has grown out of Too Much Government- Thomas Jefferson

WC7610 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orange Level Joined: 11 Sep 2009 Location: Sioux City, IA Points: 764	Post Options Post Reply Quote WC7610 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 Dec 2011 at 1:23pm
	Here is where Hillbill's in Spalding was before they build their new building in the late 70's. I knew this as Gorney Implement and remember going there with my Grandpa in the early 70's. I remember the old fashioned cash register and the "bank checks" all lined up in alphabetical- that was before personal checks! For the younger viewers, these were checkbooks by bank. You told the person behind the counter what bank you did business with and they used that banks check and you signed your name. I don't know how they had the room to work on anything- including WD's and Gleaner E's.... To the right of the AC dealer was the MM dealer, but that was way before my time. The MM sign was still on the building until it was torn down about 10 yrs ago.
	Thanks Most Bad Government has grown out of Too Much Government- Thomas Jefferson