Trip to an old IH dealer in Coleman MI

[drglinski]

My brother wanted to take a trip to mid michigan today and I tagged along. I suggested we visit Coleman MI which was near by because I knew there was an old IH pylon building there that was still in use as a lawn and garden dealer. I spent time researching the pylon dealerships last winter when I made my 1/87th scale one and knew there was one there. He somewhat reluctantly agreed, and when we saw it I knew it was it. We went to get out and peek into the windows and this old(er) timer pulled up in a truck and asked if we needed anything. Turned out he was Gene, the owner of Gene's Power equipment company, the renamed re puposed IH dealer. We said we were IH enthusiasts and we knew it was an old pylon building and was just going to shoot some photos out front of it and leave. He jumped outta his truck and said "I'll give you a tour." We didn't even ask. Even though they were closed for the day, he spent probably an hour or so showing us things and shooting the crap. He said he was an IH cub cadet and light truck dealer until IH sold both; they got out of the truck business and just sell Cub Cadets and Yanmars now.

Pic of town sign near dealer not at dealer













Shop area





Continued

[drglinski]

Office area



Show room



Parts counter



Normal ole looking 72



Nope.



125



He also had a 169 manual lift stuffed in this shed.

This was right in the door in the showroom. Had a brinly Original sleeve hitch on it too, and a creeper. I asked Gene how much it was and he said that it was his Dad's- sold and bought 3 times and they finally got it back. I told him he can't sell it.





Sign that used to be on the pylon when it was an IH dealer



I'm not a Scout guy but I thought this one looked neat.






They also have a red carpet special Scout. (no pics of that one.)

I was floored that Gene spent time showing us around and shooting the breeze with a couple of guys that are trying to keep the IH heritage alive, and offering to do so without us even asking. Him and his son who also works there realize and appreciate IH history so they try to keep the building looking like IH would have wanted it. It was a great little side trip for the day. Gene even knew the dealer in Blissfield (MI) that Dad worked for when he first started as an Agriculture Technician.

[Merk]

Great pictures.
Thanks for sharing them.

[john hall]

AWESOME PICS! The minute I saw the pylon I knew it was an IH dealership. All that glass in the front was part of the IH design as well. I have never seen so much Cadet related stuff in one place--must not be a Deere dealer for 200 miles! When I saw that sign that used to be on the pylon, I thought about the one that was on the building dad worked in. The owners son sold them a few years back, maybe around $600 each? I didn't have the money then or I would have loved to have gotten one of them. The building is now a NAPA, the pylon has been removed.
Thanks so much for sharing, brought back lots of good memories!

[Alvy]

Yeah that's awesome Daniel. Goes to show there's a few left that are keeping it alive. I think it's a sign that the guy just happened to show up while you were there. Great pictures and story. Thanks for sharing.

PS I need to know more about that 72....recoil?..

[darkminion_17]

Thanks for the pics Dan,great to see that the owner took time out of his day to show you guys around.
I am liking the pull start 72 he has.

[drglinski]

I thought apart from the IH sign that was on the pylon the 72 would have been the one to take home. I knew it was special when I saw the yanker start. I don't think I've ever seen on in person. They were in the archives and I admit probably hard to part with, but I wasn't there asking prices on things. I was just grateful that I got to look around.

Last winter I made a 1/87th scale version of an IH pylon building and did a lot of research on them and knew that one I visited yesterday was still there and had wanted to see it ever since. Gene told me that the guy that owned the building before him and didn't want the pylon because it took up too much space on the store front. IH told him in order to have the franchise he had to have a pylon, so they compromised and went with half a pylon.


There is not much Deere around there at all. It is pretty much IH/Case IH country up there.

[jaynjeep]

There is still one of those buildings in use in Waynesboro GA.. Burke Truck and Tractor.. They still have alot of old IH stuff in there. They still use the old parts dept with the long isles of parts with light bulbs hanging from wires.. I love to go in there and just look around at all the old history.

Thanks for the pics... that was an interesting tour. I read an article a few months ago about Genes place. I think it was in the Cub Connection magazine.

Great pics.. glad you got to go!

[zippy1]

Thanks for the tour Danial.
Yeah, we used to have two dealers up in this neck of the woods. One's now a Auto parts store, and the other is a Case/IH dealer, but the goods are all gone.

[R Bedell]

I have been to Gene's a couple of times. My experience was always very positive. I wished they were closer to me. They far out shine my local CC dealer. I see you pictured the Original they had.