Vintage Wheel Horse Dealer and Shop Clothes

[D_Mac 9,316]

Well I saw these on an online auction and just had to bid on them. Dont ask me why as none of it will fit me. Pretty rare stuff, I did some research on them, maybe someone knows more about them and can share. It is my understanding that there was only 10 dealers on the council? I could be wrong. Here are some photos of what I purchased and some vintage photos I found while doing my research. The Dealer shirts are size Large and the Windbreakers are med , large , and x large. The womans shirt says small, but I believe that to be a mens small, figure on a med ladies size. Believe the windbreakers to be from the 60's and never been worn. The dealer shirts are clearly marked 74 by the patch. I posted that picture of Lincoln Radiator and Power Equipment. A member here has it hanging in his garage. There were in Illinois. I hope someone has more info they can share. Also if anyone else has some vintage Wheel Horse clothing lets see it. @CasualObserver owns the sign I believe.

Edited April 20, 2021 by D_Mac

[SylvanLakeWH 28,572]

Very cool!!!

 

Nice grab!

 

[D_Mac 9,316]

Wish one was in my size. Only vintage Wheel Horse I have that fits is this old truckers hat.

[8ntruck 7,877]

I'll guess they are late 1960's vintage.

[D_Mac 9,316]

Yes the windbreakers are 60's The dealer shirt is 1974. I bought it all as one lot. I believe the dealer shirts are also from Lincoln but I am not sure of it. dealer shirts were worn. One has a small tear and the other has a small ink spot. Windbreakers and t-shirt  I dont think were ever worn. The guys in the photos are wearing the same jackets and the photos are from 1966.

Edited April 20, 2021 by D_Mac

[CasualObserver 3,411]

Nice addition to the collection!  Glad an  collector got them!

 

On 4/19/2021 at 2:40 PM, D_Mac said:

@CasualObserver owns the sign I believe.

 

I do own that sign and I was looking at those apparel items on   Lincoln Radiator was my hometown dealer in Lincoln, IL. He did have some great stories about being on the Dealer Council, and he participated in the Indy Speedway events. He opened his dealership in 1959, and sold out 50 years later in 2008. I bought the sign on the auction. I have no doubt that's where the apparel came from as well. Being a 50 year dealer who also collected many things, the auction was a figurative goldmine of vintage  stuff and the auction drew a lot of collectors from the east.

 

That sign hung in the barn the last 12 years and has actually only in the last month come out of the barn to be worked on to hang in my shop. Unfortunately the other side has better color but took more damage. I have the pieces for the large hole, just working on gently cleaning and repairing.

 

 

 

replacing the old fluorescents with LED strips

 

I also made a mini replica on my 3d printer.

 

[D_Mac 9,316]

Very cool. Still trying to figure out the sizes on the jackets. The shirts are marked large. Maybe we can do some trading if you are interested. @CasualObserver

Edited May 10, 2021 by D_Mac

[ACman 7,655]

I just came across this I forgot I had . 1967 and 79 sales brochure . Definitely not of your caliber . @CasualObserver do you have this dealership 

 

 

 

My dad’s  Allis Chalmers and New Idea dealership is going to be that way . It’s packed from basement to upstairs . He’s turned some big BUCKS for that AC sign .

 

Edited May 10, 2021 by ACman

[Pollack Pete 2,273]

Cool clothing.It would almost be worth me losing 80 to 100 pounds so they would fit me.

[wh500special 2,277]

On 5/10/2021 at 3:38 PM, ACman said:

I just came across this I forgot I had . 1967 and 79 sales brochure . Definitely not of your caliber . @CasualObserver do you have this dealership 

 

 

 

My dad’s  Allis Chalmers and New Idea dealership is going to be that way . It’s packed from basement to upstairs . He’s turned some big BUCKS for that AC sign .

 

 

Look close at the tractor on the 79 brochure...does the hood decal say C-175 or C-171?  One of those brochures from 78/79/whatever had a picture of a tractor on the cover that WH never sold.

 

Steve

 

Steve

[ACman 7,655]

@wh500special it’s the 79 Brochure...
 

[wh500special 2,277]

Kind Of funny that they either didn’t notice or didn’t care that they put a cancelled model’s picture on the cover, isn’t it?

 

I think the c-171 also shows up on the price lists for 78/79 too. 
 

Steve

[c-series don 10,141]

I have that same brochure, and have posted here before that I wonder what happened to that C-171? Obviously they made one, or they put different decals on a C-161? Someone knows the answer, but that person may no longer be with us. 

[cschannuth 3,817]

I think Steve @wh500special has mentioned before that when Kohler had quality problems with their 17 Twin Wheel Horse went with the Briggs 16 Twin. I would assume timing didn’t allow for a brochure change to match the engine change. 

[WHX?? 51,885]

Me thinks they might have jumped from the fryin pan to the fire Craig. The C-161 I have smokes just as bad as the KT on the Super C but who knows how many hrs are on either. Or how well were they were serviced. I think you are on to something with your comments about the brochure  change.  

[cschannuth 3,817]

1 hour ago, WHX24 said:

Me thinks they might have jumped from the fryin pan to the fire Craig. The C-161 I have smokes just as bad as the KT on the Super C but who knows how many hrs are on either. Or how well were they were serviced. I think you are on to something with your comments about the brochure  change.  

Yeah, it’s hard to say. I have Wheel Horse’s with all the different makes of engines and for some reason the Briggs on my dad’s 78 is the only one that’s never been touched.