Ariens Museum tour with pictures

[C-85 681]

My wife recently went to Milwaukee to visit our son and took a trip north of there to Brillion and visited the somewhat new Ariens Museum and it was great.  My family used to be a outdoor power equipment dealer and along with Wheel Horse we also were a large Ariens dealer.  Many years ago I went to a few Ariens service schools out in Brillion, but back then they didn't have this museum, so this was great to see and it brought back a lot of memories.  We sold a lot of all the Ariens products, especially their snow blowers. I told the attendant there that I was probably one of a few people that she'll meet that has actually ridden an Ariens snowmobile!  Who would have ever guess that we'd end up in their walk in snow globe!  If you're ever in Wisconsin, please stop by the Ariens Museum, I bet you'll be glad you did! 

 

C-85

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,528]

That tube framed rear engine rider in the fifth picture down is basically what I "learned to drive"  on when I was 6 years old back in 1977.

 

Super cool. Thanks for the memories there.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,577]

Cool place!!! 

[squonk 41,121]

My Grandfather had this model.

 

 

I came home from college in 78 to visit and he's got a brand new Toro snow blower in the garage and he hates it! I asked him why he bought a new one and he says he stripped out the spark plug hole. I tell him I could have fixed it and he says "Aw Shucks" ( Not EXACTLY what he said!) 

[Handy Don 12,232]

Nice thread, thanks.

I have the '71 version with the 110v electric start option. Still loves to "thro" snow!

[JCM 9,168]

Big Ariens fan here myself. The snowblower pictured was purchased I believe in 1973 with the electric start option for $ 430 and I sold it for $ 400 to a friend in 2003.  The same dealer that it was purchased from offered to buy it back for $ 400. The rider was also bought new for around $ 1100. They were solid and rugged back then, much different now unfortunately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ri702bill 8,326]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

That tube framed rear engine rider in the fifth picture down is basically what I "learned to drive"  on when I was 6 years old back in 1977.

"Run, Forest !!!"

[ri702bill 8,326]

Funny ?? part about those early Sno-Thro's - Dealers will now take them in trade for a newer model but will NOT resell them due to legal liabilities as the early ones do not meet current safety requirements. Most are stripped of any usable resaleable parts, the rest is either squashed or destroyed.

I bought the "sister" to my 1975 24" 6HP Sno-Thro from a guy near Boston. He was an Electrician and his side job was buying these up cheap - the dealers would separate the tub from the tractor and his bill of sale said the bought "parts". He would reassemble them and list them locally.

Know the nickname given to the early Sno-Thros?? "Cat Killers" - you had to clutch it to STOP. If you slipped and fell while using it, it just kept going off on its own ...

Bill 

[JCM 9,168]

Both of those Ariens products were bought at a Wheel Horse dealership 20 miles north of Boston that is still in business and was a major distributor of both brands. Unfortunately because of many issues with the later years Ariens blowers he dropped them and picked up on the Simplicity brand. He did keep the WH brand until the end and services many of them currently.  @ri702bill

[Ed Kennell 38,180]

That seat looks familiar.

 

 

 

[Handy Don 12,232]

I mowed the grass for a wealthy family on the other side of town. Around ALL the trees with the push mower and the whole back yard with the tube-frame Ariens. Then had to bring the shiny new steering wheel Ariens up to the back door and leave it running. Lady of the house came out, got on, and mowed the front yard (where all the neighbors could see her) and brought it back for me to wash and put away. It was a great gig since they paid well!

[rjg854 11,367]

Thanks for the 

[Achto 27,586]

7 hours ago, C-85 said:

If you're ever in Wisconsin, please stop by the Ariens Museum

 

Had no idea that this museum existed. Next time I get to Wisconsin I'll have to check it out!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously though, I'm putting this on my to do list. Should have given @WHX?? or I a heads up that you were in the area. Could have had a little meet & greet.

[WHX?? 48,821]

Should have stopped when we took that Bronco 14 back to that guy in Manitowoc Dan... went right by it. Course that was a couple of years ago may not have been open yet?

I grew up on that side of the big lake and just about  every garage had an Ariens product in it. 

 

They are are also a big supporter of the Packers so when you go to a game you see their stuff on display all over Lambeau. Them and Milwaukee pickles! 

Ya know something @Achto I don't recall ever seeing a Ariens collector or line up at any of our shows? 

Ed beat me to the seat thing.

Edited April 1, 2022 by WHX??

[squonk 41,121]

8 hours ago, WHX?? said:

Should have stopped when we took that Bronco 14 back to that guy in Manitowoc Dan... went right by it. Course that was a couple of years ago may not have been open yet?

I grew up on that side of the big lake and just about  every garage had an Ariens product in it. 

 

They are are also a big supporter of the Packers so when you go to a game you see their stuff on display all over Lambeau. Them and Milwaukee pickles! 

Ya know something @Achto I don't recall ever seeing a Ariens collector or line up at any of our shows? 

Ed beat me to the seat thing.

I can see Vince now. Pacing the field in 67 whilst 40 Sno-thro's are purring along blowing the snow towards the Cowboys bench!   

[Lane Ranger 10,968]

 

Like ebinmaine I used an Ariens with the tube frame steering in the early 1960s to mow the Scout hut grounds and are community park every weekend.   Our dad volunteered my brother and I do to the work if the community provided the mowers.   We wore out the tube frame in about three years and then had another Ariens with the rear motor and a steering wheel.   They were very good machines.

 

Ariens was the first real snowblower manufacturer to my knowledge.  I have used another Ariens product for years- Sno-Jet.  Sno-Jet is made by Ariens for their snowblowers to slow buildup of snow and ice in the blower and auger.  This is a great product and I use it in my Wheel Horse snowblower every winter. 
 

Seeing this Ariens Museum post was great for memories but ironically I bought another Ariens product this year, a 42 inch Ariens Zoom Zero Turn.   Ariens now owns Gravely and still makes some very good equipment.

Edited April 1, 2022 by Lane Ranger

[WHX?? 48,821]

3 hours ago, squonk said:

I can see Vince now. Pacing the field in 67 whilst 40 Sno-thro's are purring along

Not too far off Squonky... tradition prolly has it going back that far! 

Here's a project ... take one of those tube rascals and make a mini AC Model G ... .. 

Edited April 1, 2022 by WHX??

[ebinmaine 67,528]

1 hour ago, WHX?? said:

Not too far off Squonky... tradition prolly has it going back that far! 

Here's a project ... take one of those tube rascals and make a mini AC Model G ... .. 

 

LOVE those G models. 

Has the pleasure of seeing one up close here in Southern Maine a year or two ago. 

Unique beasts. 

 

A mini G. 

Sounds fantastic.  

 

 

[squonk 41,121]

They had a mini G at the Steam Pageant a few years back. Looked like this. If I remember right, he had a pedal tractor model too. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by squonk