allison implement company
Allison, Iowa
Years of Operation: 1946 - 2001
Years of Operation: 1946 - 2001
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Allison Implement Company held it's grand opening on Friday, February 8, 1946. The implement dealership was owned by J. Francis "Hiney" Allan who also was the Chevrolet dealer in Allison, Iowa. Allan had already been selling Oliver equipment from his Chevrolet dealership The business was located at 280 N. Main Street across the street from Allan Chevrolet. Nearly 500 people attended the grand opening event. Paul Schaeffer, who had previously been the Butler County Treasurer and also part of Allen Chevrolet, was hired as the the manager of the new Oliver dealership. At the time, they were the only Oliver dealer in Butler County. Paul left the business in November 1947 to open up a grocery store and John Harms of Allison became the new manager. Bill Jacobs began working in the Parts Department in July 1948 and eventually took over sales by 1950. In May 1951, Bill Jacobs purchased half ownership in the business. A building addition was built on to the original building in September 1951. By 1954, Bill and his wife Lois became the sole owners of Allison Implement. At this time, they had 3 employees and a yearly sales volume of $100,000. In 1964, Allison Implement built a brand new facility located on the edge of town at the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 14. An Oliver "Farm Fair" and Open House was held to commemorate the new building. This event was attended by the President of the Oliver Corporation Sam White, Jr. By 1975, the business grew to 15 employees and $2,000,000 in sales. In addition to Oliver, and eventually White Farm Equipment, Allison Implement also was a dealer for Farmhand, New Holland, Hesston, and Kewanee. Bill held a 25th anniversary Open House at the dealership on April 6-8, 1976. At this time, the dealership had the following staff: Jake Bruns: Parts Manager, Assistant Parts Manager & Salesman: Scott Beltz, Sales Manager: Dave Steele, Shop Foreman: Jack Brown, Tractor Mechanics included: Ted Tuitjer, Dave Hulbert, Roger Hoodjer; Bookkeeper: Lois Koester, Machinery Servicemen: Shane Schoneman, Harley Wilkinson, Roger Kuiper, Russell Miller, Henry Oswegan, Marty Mulford, Chris Kluiter, and Tom Oltman. Bill and Lois's son Mark Jacobs was also helping run the operation in 1976. In 1996, they were dealers for Agco, Ford-New Holland, DMI, Versatile, Great Plains, Kewanee, and Farmhand. At the time, the business was operated by Bill's son Mark. A close-out sale was held in 2001 and the business closed after 55 years of operation. Bill passed away at age 91 in September 2019.
Newspaper ad from February 1946 announcing the formal opening of the Oliver dealership on Main Street in Allison.
Allison Implement dealership building shown in 1976. Photo Credit: Matt Clark
ALLISON IMPLEMENT - THEN AND NOW
Allison Implement original location in 1946 on the east side of Main Street. Allan Chevrolet, also owned by Francis Allan was across the street.
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Original Main Street location of Allison Implement starting in 1946. The building is still standing as of 2024.
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Another view of Allison Implement from its day on Main Street - photo from the early 1960's. Photo Credit: Matt Clark
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Lois (left) and Bill Jacobs (center) pose with an Oliver 1750 in front of their dealership's new location in the 1960's.
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Owner Bill Jacobs shows a potential customer a new Oliver tractor on display at his dealership.
Jacobs is shown selling a new Oliver tractor to a customer at Allison Implement.
The former Allison Implement dealership building shown in 2024.