Fact and Fantasy: A History of Tavistock and District (1967)

Fact & Fantasy: A History of Tavistock & District

Personal Services - Page 130-131

PERSONAL SERVICES

FARM IMPLEMENTS
The sickle, cradle and scythe, flail and wooden rake were superseded by horse-drawn mowers and reapers, by separators and steam engines, before the advent of gasoline and diesel-powered tractors. (see article on Agriculture)

And so it seems but natural to find a host of agents in this community. Hoes, shovels and rakes, and seeds and other such paraphernalia could be bought in all the general as well as in the hardware stores. The sidewalk, in front made a good place to display the smaller wares.

In 1896, Levi Wildfang was advertising farm implements along with tombstones and life insurance. Income from the one would cover the off-season of the others. Another common combination was farm implements with organs and pianos. These were the staples of two young men who came from Cassel, George Staebler and Anthony (T.A.) Jickling, advertising as early as 1902; the clatter of a Massey-Harris binder in the field was music as sweet as the tinkle of the Heintzman in the parlour. Both were high status symbols.

In 1897, George McKay was selling the Deering Harvesters and Fleury Plows from the Foresters' Hall Block. In 1902, Jacob W. Lingelbach offered the Maxwell line of binders in the Opera Hall Block, opposite the Arlington Hotel. Later in 1912 he and Dan Willy Rudy in the same stand, added Frost and Wood harness and whips to their advertisement and later in the year expanded with a show-room on the north side of the Opera Block 75""x 10"" Mr. Jickling had moved out of the Opera Block on September 1, 1910 into his new quarters across the road just south of the Arlington Hotel, later Dyck's Garage and in 1967 the repair shop of Mr. Wm Koch who moved into town from his farm out Harmony way.

On November 17, 1910, Andrew Baechler purchased the Staebler Implement Agency and Block, to supplement his income from weekly shipment of cattle and hogs to the Toronto market. As happened in many cases, Mr. Baechler later became agent for Ford cars with his son Joseph as salesman, Allan Roth as mechanic and Clarence C. Wettlaufer as office manager.

After the sale of the Tavistock Milling Company in 1924, Mr. Bert C. Ratz turned from flour and feed salesman to implement agent, with quarters in the former Livery Barn on Hendershot Street, just behind Weston's Bakery. He handled Massey-Harris implements and DeLaval cream separators, Howard Zehr worked from him. In 1967, after the death of Mr. Ratz, his estate sold the triangular lot with barns and sheds to the municipality. The first week in April 1968, Chief Peter Grant and Village Superintendent Clarence "Seppy" Wilker razed most of the barns and cleaned up the property. We understand it will provide parking place for town gear and perhaps later for public parking if needed.

Nuttall's Sales and Service
In 1932, Harry Nuttall acquired the old Ed Alles block with its Feed and Seed Store and chopping facilities, and the agency for International Harvester. His sales efforts in the latter proved so successful that in 1936 he won a free holiday, a three-week trip to the Bermudas, at company expense Roy Jantzi and Elden Podann were long in his employ at this stand. In 1944 Harry took up the option the White Rose Gas Company had on the Juckling Block, at Decew and Woodstock Streets; fifteen years later he sold his seed and feed store to LaVerne Yantzi. Harley Zehr and James "Kuy" Kaufman put the implements together for him and tried them out, to ensure their working order. Harley joined his brother in New Hamburg but "Kuy" remains at the old stand. Doug Wiffen a graduate of the Ridgetown Agricultuaral School, has joined the staff. The firm is now Nuttall's Sales and Service, dealing in White Rose gas. New Holland machinery and Nuffield Tractors. A service and storae yard is maintained on Woodstock Street S, formerly owned by the Department of Highways.

Nuttall's Sales and Service

C.O. Zehr and Sons, Ltd - Sebastopol
Mr. Chris her began his implement agency on the farm. Lots 36 & 35, Conc. XVII, in 1938. He later moved into the garage at 116 Woodstock St. N., later the home of Floyd Bricker. In 1950 he took over the Bill Currah corner in Sebastopol. Formerly owned by Henry Feick, Mr. Currah's father-in-law, and our first constable in 1909, at the time of incorporation. It had been a hotel, owned at one time by a Mr. Kaufman, then by Mr. G. Foerster. Mr. Zehr built a shop and three apartments where the barn had stood, along the Sebastopol Road. His original Oliver dealership is now a Cockshutt, with the American company, the White Motor Corporation, controlling both. In the spring of 1968, his family formed a limited company, his sons Kenneth and Allan Boyd joining the father in operating this busy agency with sales and servicing.

C.O. Zehr and Sons, Ltd.

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