Sixty-five years ago it began.

[953 nut 61,525]

Construction began on the 515 West Ireland Road Wheel Horse Factory

The rapid growth of demand for Wheel Horse Garden Tractors was too much for the building that Pond had occupied for twelve years. On October 11, 1960, construction began on a new 46,500 square foot steel frame and masonry exterior factory building situated on 36 acres of land on Ireland Road, South Bend, IN.

The new factory was ready for occupancy in August of 1961, the move from the old Pond factory on South Dixie Way (near Pond Street, wonder if this was one of the subdivisions built by Elmer Pond) took place in time for the next year’s production. The 1962 models were the first built in the new plant on Ireland Road. They included the 502, 552 and 702. All three models featured the new front mounted engine and cast iron cased transaxles.

The business was acquired by American Motors (AMC) on May 24, 1974. The company paid $30 million as it expanded into non-automotive markets.

In 1982, Wheel Horse was spun off from AMC to Munn Investment Group. During this time some cosmetic changes were made, but frame and attachment design remained the same. In mid-August 1986, Wheel Horse was sold off from Munn and purchased for $8 million by Toro. Tractors were built under the Toro banner for the next two decades. The Wheel Horse name was eliminated from production after 2007.

Today the building is occupied by Lock Joint Tube, a specialty fabricator of metal tubing products used by diverse industries such as office furniture, automotive, health care, display fixtures and exercise equipment.

Chandler Sales and Service located next to the old South Dixie Way factory is thought to be the first Wheel Horse dealership.

[c-series don 10,403]

@953 nut Although I know there are pictures of the inside of the factory, I wish there was more. Perhaps even a video! I am the third owner of this clock that supposedly hung in the factory. The guy I bought it from bought it from a guy in Indiana who claimed he got it out of the factory. I wish I could had a way to prove this, just to add to the cool factor!! 

[953 nut 61,525]

9 minutes ago, c-series don said:

I know there are pictures of the inside of the factory, I wish there was more.

For those who have not seen the last day slide shows, here are a couple of links as well as the Wheel Horse Jingle.        

 

[Dan 312-8 212]

16 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

For those who have not seen the last day slide shows, here are a couple of links as well as the Wheel Horse Jingle.        

 

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[c-series don 10,403]

@953 nut I have not seen those before, thanks for sharing!👍🏻