DS—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, September 25,1982
Is there pent-up interest in (arm machinery?
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350 clamor over equipment
at CJB. Hoober Field day
COCHRANVILLE - While
fanners have been shying away
from new machinery purchases for
obvious economic reasons, there
appears to be a wellspring of in
terest and pent-up demand just
waiting to gush forth.
If there’s any doubt, look at the
above photo taken at the C. B.
Hoober field day last week.
Farmers from miles around,
who took a day off from their own
harvesting, are clamoring over
that 1H Axial Flow combine like
fleas over a dog on a hot summer
afternoon*
The photo may not be exactly
kosher for National Farm Safety
Week, but it does illustrate that
farmers have not lost their interest
in new and better ways of har
vesting during the prolonged
economic doldrums.
So, in addition to interest in the
new models, there’s likely a fair
amount of pent-up demand out
Among other equipment demonstrated at Hoober field day
was this new Steiger tractor.
there just waiting for better times
when conditions are as ripe as the
crops in the field.
And these conditions appear to
as psychologically motivated as
they are financially based.
Also, there still remains a lot ot
interest in the red and black ot
International Harvester, which
continues to bear more than its
share of the economic crunch in
the ag slump that has plagued the
entire equipment industry.
Sofhe 350 gathered for the
Hoober field day and 1H Red
Power Showdown that marked the
40th anniversary of the Intercourse
dealership and its association with
International Harvester.
And the large group of on-lookers
got. quite an eyeful of a score or
more pieces of new equipment -
likely the largest variety
assembled in one field along the
entire East Coast - ranging from
the axial flows shelling and
Next to an International Harvester 1460 da V near Cochranville last week, attended by
Axial Flow Combine was Charles Hoober Jr., some 350, marked 40th anniversary of the
left, and Tom Schreck, IH assistant general Intercourse dealership and its affiliation with
sales manager of Eastern Region. Hoober field
grinding high moisture corn to the
first of the new Steiger tractors to
arrive east of the Mississippi.
On hand to r the field day were IH
representatives, including Tom
Schreck, a native of Ephrata, who
is assistant general sales manager
of the Eastern Kegion. He
congratulated the Hooters on their
tour-decade affiliation with IH and
discussed the current state of the
farm equipment industry.
•We’ve streamlined our
operations, but we’re a viable, lull
line company,” Schreck said.
"We intend to concentrate and
capitialize on our main strengths -
ag equipment and motor trucks. ’ ’
Schreck went on to explain that
he’s been attending Red Rower
Showdown held days up and down
the East Coast and interest is
strong at all ot them.
“There’s a pent-up demand out
there." he explained.
It sure looks that way!
"Interest rates have been
coming down and if some strength
is shown in commodity prices, that
demand will begin to be expressed.
"Like others, we’ve been
tightening our belt and looking to
the future.”
And off in the future - how far
noone can say for sure - there may
be looming a complete turn-around
in the equipment industry.
The industry has always been
cyclical, although not as deep as
presently, and some point to the
era about 1976-77 when equipment
Farm HiKiiiiKtQ
Nfcws
had to be allocated and
manufacturers couldn't make it
fast enough.
Other 1H representatives
present were Richard Goodwin,
District Manager of Operations at
Fredericksburg; and Del
Reynolds, territory represen
tative.
Schreck is the son of C.K. "Chet”
Schreck, who retired after 40 years
with 1H as a zone manager in the
construction division. He lives in
Akron, Fa.
(Turn to Page D 8)
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