The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-05-10, Page 6Page -6—*IneknewSentinel, 'Wednesday, Ittay a, Hackett's Farrn Equipment Ltd., is -another .of the village's long-time family businesses, spanning 51 years and four generations. . Sandy 'Hackett orginally started this business in 1930 on his farm in Asbfield Township, moving it to Wirigham in 1943-44. 'Torn Hackett assisted ,his .dad In the businessrastiblTom'ssori, Allan, .who is now one of the partners in 'Hackett's. In 1950, when Tom took over the business, it was moved to Ross Street in Lucknow, whereVillits Vire.nowsits. Allan assisted his dadlmdin 1970, Allan and.his brother,Barrytook over Hackett's Farm Equipment. in 1977, :Allan and his son Steven pur- _chased the .Barrrs share, and two years later in February 1979, they moved to new -modern facilities located on Huron County Road 1, south of 'the village. Larry Hackett, Allan's son, joined the partnership in January 1980. Marg, Allares-wiferisinvolved as well in this family business. She has been doing the books since 1970. For those who don't know, Marg worked in the Palmerston bank for three years and in the Bank of Montreal, when it was located in the pre- sent McDonagh building, for three years. As with most businesses, changes are imminentand in 1980, on:the recommenda- tion of Ontario Retail Farm -Equipment Dealers Association, Ilackett's installed a "Texagent Conipdter,v11ieillalg says was supposed to "save lime". Cur- rently theirwhole goods, parts,inventory, receivables, payables and repair orders are on computer and within the next nuifith, everything involved with this business will. be on computer. Although Marg lanOis and jokes about her personal adaptability to the computer, :they .alLagree :the benefits aremmierous , *V' 040 particularly their conmumication.s line to Deutz Allis 'Manufacturing Originally known as an Allis Chalmers dealership, the 'business, due to corporate changes, is now DeutwAllis dealer. Over his many years in this business, Allan has seen many changes in farm quipment, the most ,noticeable being the price increase. A 100 -hp Allis could be bought for -approximately 420,000, le -20 yearsage ; today, that same tractor would sellaroundthe IMMO =irk. 'While the price of -equipment -has in- creaseddraStically,thequality of the pro- duct, -designand 'engineering 'has also im- proved. Goneare the days ,when -a farmer had to sit out in theelements and listen to thg -roaring of the motor, thanks to the modern design of the cabs. Machines are now for the comfort of the :driver and offer air conditioning, radios and suppor- tive seats. Anyone who .has worked in a field for hours on end, willattest to the im- portance of c.oinfort. Larry, who is parts manager, points out that when he became a partner in the business, it was taking three to four days to get parts from the states:Today, thetur- novel. time is two days from date of order- ing, .Cutting down waiting time on parts is important to the farmer. Breakdowns are costly intiine lost, and when the farmer is in aTeaktime of year, it is a:Imo/tent to be able to get the parts as fast as possible. -Allarrestimaterthati5percentortheir- business comes from within a 25 mile radius of Lucknow. businesslas tripl- ed over the years .and that he believes is community support. Allan agrees that if the farmeris having tough times, so will the -equipment dealer. The saying "the buckgoesaround" isvery true in .a farming community ,and if :high interest rates and poor -returns are plagu- r generatio ing farmers, all businesses in the com- munity feel the effeet. In the mid 70s, Hackett's had four employees. Todaythey havea staff of nine including the family members. Steve,who is shop foreman, hasMike Pollokarid Pat Takken, tieth -licensed Mechanics Tom Iliglow, mechanic and Wolfgang Leber tending to the repair end of the business. David Errington .assists Larry in the parts department. Allan is in sales but be says, if the need arises Steve and Larry get involvedin sales as well. Marg'sassigtant is the computer and She maintains -she stays out of sales, not wan- ting to give Allan or a valued customer 1111111111111111111111111111111111.11.1.119111111111.1. cardiac arrest it she priced too low or too high! Hackett's Farm Equipment Ltd., another Lucknow family business; 51 years of service to the community involv- ing four generations. And as the interview comes to a close, Marg remarks, "whe knows, with all our grandsons coming along, there might even be i fifth genera- tion involved!" From the left, Larry, Mum, Steve and Allan Hackett of Haekett's Farm Equipment Ltd. (Pat Livingston photo ) ON QUALITY DEUTZ-ALLIS LAWN BE GA EN EQUIPMENT FINANCING With Monthly Payments September REBATE -"Tv -reduce your purchase price 011 'Garden Tractor totter -expires May 31/19) LliCKNOW 11.7941 4 Thank you tor buying We put good taste into everything we make! Ton Andrew :Fairview Dairy Lucknow 528-3725 . McDONAGH PLA. f'f):A1E INSUP:14.1WIE 5284031 LUCKNOW k hot water hid LU :41 OW ooms, 4 pc. bath, FARMS WILMS- 100acres slightly rolling, n workable,anallkike. Price022,000:00. KINLOSS - 100 aeres fairly level, well drained, 25 workable. 450,0003X). COUNTRY BOME-kbedreoins, 4 pc. 2 pc. bath, large kitchen, well in- sulated, 30' a 20' partially heated garage. VONA. TWO -GOOD ISIVILDING LOIN. Listings 'Ranted 521•41D,3 BARRY IdeDONA011 .521 DAVIDTtlatIUNNON 20,5033 Birthday Club EidWard Itriney *141.7 tocknOW low 149 1$7 11 OW 941