Old wheel horse dealer still open

[AlwaysLookin80 1,308]

My leaf blower broke on me today so I went to the place I usually buy my equipment at and thought I'd share the history. The place is called Terpstras  in Griffith 

Indiana. They are a toro dealer now, but been around since 1943. They were a wheel horse dealer since wheel horse started distribution.  In the book Straight from the horses mouth, they name dealers and names of the people that competed in the 500 special race, and the owners father and this business is named in the book. Very nice people. 

 

They sold this RJ in 59 and got back on trade in in 63 and they restored it in the 90s. It's been in the same place ever since. I get all my tires for my WH's put on here, it's always nice to visit and talk about Wheel horses. The last picture is in the late 60s and the owners father had 4 wheel horses hooked together some how with rope and actually had a old horse cart behind them and used the wheel horses like real horses to pull the cart, all four at a time. Just figured I share this, pretty cool history. 

Edited May 27, 2016 by J.A.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

Thanks for sharing. I doubt if many original dealerships are still in business.

[howell1000 35]

AWSOME!!!

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Does look like a fun place to visit.    

Thanks for sharing the  experience with us. 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,559]

51 minutes ago, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

Thanks for sharing. I doubt if many original dealerships are still in business.

 

Manus Mowers in Royal Oak, Michigan. Still going...

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Have you included them here?  

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,559]

12 minutes ago, AMC RULES said:

Have you included them here?  

 

Manus - Yes.

[AlwaysLookin80 1,308]

59 minutes ago, AMC RULES said:

Have you included them here?  

 

I just added them right now.

[Phatboy 565]

Pristows tractor and equitment sales,, in johnstown PA,, 15904,, is a original wheel Horse dealer and is still open ,, and still services WH , and sells all the parts...

[mabsoon 60]

Will have to visit with them  my wife teaches in Griffith

[Amcwheel85 2,059]

Very awesome!! Thanks for taking us with ya!!

[elliot ness 1,916]

Great post, Thanks for sharing.

[TDF5G 2,069]

That's a great pic with the 4  pulling the wagon.  I wonder how he did that?

[AlwaysLookin80 1,308]

I think the two in the front were pulling all four. If you look it looks like he had a steel frame holding them all together. Pretty clever 

[Retired Wrencher 5,457]

On ‎5‎/‎27‎/‎2016 at 9:11 PM, elcamino/wheelhorse said:

Thanks for sharing. I doubt if many original dealerships are still in business.

I still do business  with one up here. And it is on the list. They still have many parts for them.  Not sure if it was in the 50`s but I do no that it was in the 60`s.

[Flatheadpete 183]

My grandfather bought my 856 new at Atherton Rd. Sales and Service in Burton, MI.  They're still there and still stock many parts for our old steeds.  The manager was thrilled when I brought the original purchase receipt from Aug 1966.

Edited June 2, 2016 by Flatheadpete

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

Terpstra’s is the Wheel Horse dealer my dad used for years!  Located in Griffith  Indiana.   The RJ58 is located in front of the office and in 1940’s and 50’s Terpstras was a Feed and Seed Store.  Farm related seeds, fertilizer, feed for animals and even chicks were sold on the concrete floor (under the current tile) in the same spot as the RJ!   
 

That RJ has a number 5 on the label on the frame.  I never got to ask if that was original but I do Know Terpstra’s  made millions off of Wheel Horse Sales and too this day still sell Toro and lots of other outdoor power equipment! 

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

 

 

Terpstra’s is the Wheel Horse dealer my dad used for years!  Located in Griffith  Indiana.   The RJ58 is located in front of the office and in 1940’s and 50’s Terpstras was a Feed and Seed Store.  Farm related seeds, fertilizer, feed for animals and even chicks were sold on the concrete floor (under the current tile) in the same spot as the RJ!   

That RJ has a number 5 on the label on the frame.  I never got to ask if that was original but I do Know Terpstra’s  made millions off of Wheel Horse Sales and too this day still sell Toro and lots of other outdoor power equipment! 

 

The photo is from a parade at Florida Flywheelers in 2010 of “Morts Wild Horses” with a horse pulling four horses in a metal frame rig. 

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Not sure why the links I posted above to our very own dealers list got broken but I'll post it here again just in case anyone has something new to add to it.  

 

[AMC RULES 37,130]

Last I knew, D.J. Harrison aquired all the rigging to put this team of wild Horses back into action.

 

[Ahead of the Curve 40]

Heindl Implements 

1140 West Vassar Rd

Reese ,MI  48757

(989) 868-4149 is still in business. They sold a Wheel Horse 414-8 to my wife's Grandparents. 

They were the oldest (1955) Massey Ferguson dealer. They also sold Wheel Horse , Toro, Argo and Bush Hog.

Just picked up belts for the 414-8 last week.

Thanks, Tim

[D_Mac 8,619]

Picked these up. Dealership work shirts and jackets.

[Lee1977 6,659]

Killians Hardware and Outdoor Equipment, Hickory, NC is still open been in business for 68 years.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,559]

Manus Power Motors in Royal Oak Michigan went out of business September 30, 2020... 72 years... Former  dealer.

 

[ohiofarmer 3,276]

Paul and Eldon Erdman Bought the former American Farm Store in Arcanum Ohio. They were Do it Best and HWI dealers.  After moving from a small hardware store in Eldorado Ohio thet bought this bigger store about the footprint of a TSC store. They always had a Wheel Horse display at the Darke County fair,  which was a little "state' fair in size and stature.Phillipsburg Hardware also had an exhibit.and has been out of business for ten years or so.. i happen to live midway between those two, with Arcanum Hardware being bought out by Orme Hardware.after about fifty years ownership by the Erdmans , who still has a Toro franchise as well as Stihl.. Glen Ely was a very long term employee who worked there when he could at least to age 99. Glens children went to my little school which averaged 70 graduates a year in the baby boom years and 55 today..

  There were many wheel Horse dealers around this area, and i am guessing it might be because the Ponds enabled smaller operations to go to the factory to pick up their orders. Nowadays, a franchise has bigger floorplan requirements i am sure.