GLidden farm equipment

Glidden, Iowa
Years of Operation: 1944 - 1983

The front of Glidden Farm Equipment in 1967 featuring some great signage.

Glidden Farm Equipment was established in December 1944 in Glidden, Iowa at 108 S. Idaho Street.  It was a partnership between William "Bill" Neunaker and Bob Larsh. Both men had been connected with the Oliver dealership in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota.  Additionally, they had done experimental work for the Oliver Corporation. Bill had been with Oliver since 1926 working 16 years as an overseas representation in Europe and South America. In 1947, Bob Larsh sold off his share of the business to Howard Douglas who was working at an implement dealership in Carroll. In the early 1950's, the dealership was the "plow king" as they sold more plows than any other Oliver dealer in the state of Iowa for 2 successive years! The business continued to grow and by 1954, they had six men on payroll: Bill ran Parts, Howard was in charge of Sales, Gerald Fagan was a salesman, and Leroy Vinke, Jack Sylvester, Gordon MacDonald as servicemen.  In addition to Oliver, Glidden Farm Equipment were also dealers for New Holland, Kelly Ryan, Stanhoist and Gehl along with Ideal hog feeders/waterers.  Bill became ill passing away in 1962 and sold off his part of the business to Howard's brother Shirl Douglas. Shirl passed away in 1975.  As the size of equipment grew, more space was needed so an addition was added east of the main building in 1975. The Bobcat skidloader line was taken on by the dealership in the mid 1970's. Roger Knute later became a partner with Howard in the 1970's eventually becoming the owner of the dealership in by 1978. In 1983, the location had been purchased by Bill Linde and Bob Linde and became Linde Equipment Co. Inc.  Previously, Bill had been a territory sales manager for White Farm Equipment. Linde Equipment is still in operation as of 2024 as a Bobcat dealer and mower dealership.

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Brothers Howard and Shirl Douglas, owners of Glidden Farm Equipment, along with their wives, receive an award in 1964 from the president of the Oliver Corporation.

Ad for the White 2-180 Tractor from 1979.

Ad for an Open House in March 1978 shows a new White tractor in front of the dealership.

This ad from November 1976 features pricing on new White farm equipment.

The former Glidden Farm Equipment building is still in use operating as Linde Equipment Co.