Pikeville Equipment: A This year Pikeville Equipment, Inc. and its founder Russell F. Angstadt, now 72 years old, will celebrate 49 years in the John Deere farm equipment business. The business is located in Berks County Pa., in the heart of the Oley Valley. The history of this family-owned business dates back to before the turn of the century. Morris Fretz, grandfather of Russell F. Angstadt, started a blacksmith service and farm implement business, which operated from 1880 to 1917. He was best known for sales of the single cylinder domestic gasoline engine. Today many antique gas engine collec tors will recognize the brass name plate on the side of the domestic engine which reads: “Sold by M.D. Fretz, Pikeville, Pa.” The business was operated by Claude H. Angstadt from 1918 to Pikeville Equipment as it looked some 48 years ago when the business was founded by Russell F. Angstadt, still presiding today.... 1 JOHN MERE Mow, till, landscape... perform dozens of jobs with a compact utility tractor from John Deere The 650 through 1250 Tractors are a valuable addition to any operation Pick a model with 17 to 44 SAE gross engine hp and 14 5 to 40 PTO hp" Then add one ot five different mowers posthole digger post driver tiller front loader box scraper front or rear blade All tractors except the 850 are available with front wheel drive 'Maximum PTO hp at 2600 angina rpm •or 660 and 850 2400 angina rpm for 750 950 and <O5O 2500 angina rpm tor 1250 All ratings by official last •*cept for 650 750 and 1250 which are factory obaarvad CK] \JOHNOMfIiy | PHONE: 987-6277 I Store Hours Monday thru Friday 7-5 and Saturday 7-3:30 j 1935. Claude H. Angstadt was the son-in-law of Morris D. Fretz and the father of the founder of Pikeville Equipment, Inc. Claude continued with the blacksmith work and sold black hawk spreaders and assorted horse farm implements. This era of the business saw a change from horse drawn equipment to tractor powered machinery. The business did not survive the hard times of the depression, and was forced to close its doors in 1935. In 1936, The Pikeville Implement shop was formed by the present owner and the first John Deere tractor was sold. This non-styled model B Tractor was acquired in 1966, restored, and is still used on his sons farm. The business was operating out of the original barn and blacksmith shop until 1959 when a move was made to a completely new facility, only a Pikeville Equipment Inc. 49 Years Serving The Oley Valley John Deere Log Splitters Make firewood the fast easy way with a John Deere log splitter Choose the pull-type model with 5-hp engine, high-speed wheels and ball hitch Or pick a model designed tor use with your lawn and garden tractor or utility tractor All models have 7- mch cutting wedge and automatic ram return Plus 10- or 12 5-ton ram force to split logs up to 26 inches long See us soon for a work saving log splitter John Deere Space Heaters stop JOHN o€tm J winter chili almost anywhere Pikeville Equipment Inc. R.D. 2 Oley, Pci* Half Century of Family Tradition short distance up the road. Ad ditional warehouses were built in 1967 and the parts area and show room were remodeled in 1976. The business was incorporated in 1974 under the name of Pikeville Equipment, Inc. with Russell F. Angstadt as president. An interesting note about the parts department is that over the years, Russell Angstadt had the foresight to purchase the complete inventories of tractor parts of old John Deere dealers that went out of business. These old tractor parts, many of which are no longer available from the Co., are neatly inventoried at a different location with inventory records kept at the main parts counter. Many customers travel long distances to { Nothing Runs Like a Deere" John Deere Supplement to Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 5,1985-A7 And today, an obviously more modernized facility in Oley, Pa obtain parts for their antique John Deere tractors. Russell Angstadt received numerous sales awards, including a Gold tractor awarded to him by Deere and Company in 1971 commemorating his 35th year in business. The management personnel of Pikeville Equipment, Inc. have a combined total of over 113 years of servipp TVip'’ mpluHp- Rupsell F. Power when you need it John Doora Battorlos are built tough for trouble-free service Ask about a battery right for your machine Check our no-nonsense warranty policy, too John Deere’s 45 Rear Blade is an economical performer around the farm Look over the low-cost John Deere 45 Rear Blade A tine match for tractors 40 hp or less Handles a variety ol blading jobs You 11 like the specially curved moldboard that gives clean roll-oil Angstadt, president; Roger I. Angstadt, sales and general manager; David R. Angstadt, parts manager; Donald R. Angstadt, service manager; and Donald Deirolf, shop foreman. There are 12 full time employees including a grandson in the lawn and garden service department and a granddaughter in the front office. JOHN MERE Protect Your Investment John Deore Oil and Lubricants Protect your machinery investment with top quality John Deere oil and lubricants They re formulated to keep your machines . . JOHN KINS/ running right v '
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers