Wheel Horse History

[Al C. 1,428]

"Straight From The Horse's Mouth", got this book from my son for Father's Day.   Nice addition to the Wheel Horse collection.  Interesting reading.   It appears that as early as the 1970's the company had difficulty staying profitable.  This speaks to the challenges of bringing the brand and tractor design back to life today.  There's no question, the Ponds recognized a product opportunity and were able to capitalize on it to the delight of their customers for over 30 years.  But the market and economics changed - unfortunately.  A great success story and legacy.   Quality,  done right, Made in America!

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,526]

If you considered all the brands that didn't survive as long as Wheel Horse.  In the 40s and 50s, there were numerous smaller companies building L&G equipment.  I can't even begin a  list of companies in business during that time span.  And as time progressed, even some the bigger companies had trouble.  Look at Bolens, Case, Allis Chamlers, and others who sort sold out to other companies or had to quit that market.  Some of this of course was due to the finances of these companies more profitable market, like Cub Cadet having to be sold to MTD in 1981 due to the mis-managment of IH, etc.

 

Sears, AYP, MTD, Husqevarna, i.e. capitalized on the entry level market which made the better built tractors seem too expensive for the average consumer.  Now we have disposable lawn mowers instead of a lasting legacy that the Wheel Horses has left.

[Al C. 1,428]

Agree.  I wonder, had the Ponds recognized the demand for an entry level "disposable" product, if they could have preserved the company by offering mower and tractor products?  Is this what the "A" series was intended to be?  But that came after the sale to AMC in the early '80's.    It seems that MTD has done this with the Cub Cadet brand after purchasing it from the failing International Harvester in the late '80's.