Buck & Knobby 75th Anniversary

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Buck & Knobby Equipment is a Midwestern company that has enjoyed organic growth during all of its 75 years — the kind of growth that characterizes, say, an oak tree.

That is, Buck & Knobby always has been forward-thinking, rooting itself in whatever field of equipment showed promise at any given moment. It always has been innovative, sometimes strengthening itself by leaning into economic winds. And it has produced strong branches that give its customers even more for their money.

The fruits of this perennial top-performing company are loyal customers, who trust that Buck & Knobby always will be what it always has been — resourceful, innovative and there for them when they need it.

“Looking ahead, I don’t see anything that would preclude the company from continued success” said Ray Cordrey, Buck & Knobby Lloyd "Knobby" Nolfo President. In other words, it’s business as usual at 75, with the equipment company moving on toward a hundred years of service.

Some oaks, after all, live for centuries. ** Founders of the company were Melvin Cole and Lloyd Nolfo, who grew up together in rural Michigan and somewhere along the way acquired the nicknames of Buck (Cole) and Knobby (Nolfo). They each survived World War II military and civilian service and, in 1948, started a business together in Toledo, Ohio.

It was a combination lawn mower store and a gasoline station. Cole was a natural mechanic and Nolfo an enthusiastic salesman. Nolfo was pretty handy with tools himself and could create a Buck & Knobby Leadership Team

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tight bead with a welder. The partners’ combination of talents and entrepreneurial spirit was enough for them to survive the usual start-up challenges of growing a fledgling business one day at a time.

In 1972, Cole retired. A year later, Nolfo relocated the by-then established store, crossing the Ohio-Michigan state line to property in Ottawa Lake, Mich. Today, several buildings house different divisions there on 100 acres.

When Buck & Knobby began to focus on construction equipment in the 1960s, one of the first lines it represented was a skid steer being manufactured in Minnesota by Owatonna Manufacturing. Decades later, the nimble “Mustang” machine still is a mainstay of the company’s brands lineup, though it has worn different labels along the way. Most recently, the Manitou group consolidated the skid steer/compact track loader into its Gehl product lines.

“The Gehl RT165 and RT215 CTLs are taking off. Customers really like those models,” said Tim Kitzmiller, sales manager.

“The 165 is fast and well-balanced with plenty of power.

Gehl’s joystick pilot controls make the machines easy to operate.”

Other construction machinery brands offered in 2023 by Buck & Knobby include Hyundai and Yanmar. Which is to say the company represents a broad spectrum of powered machinery from large (Hyundai) to compact (Yanmar and Manitou/Gehl).

Kitzmiller describes the new Hyundai wheel loaders, like the HL940A, as “outstanding.” They continued on page 4

JCB has been producing farm machinery since 1945, when Joseph Cyril Bamford built his first farm trailer. JCB always understood that when it comes to agricultural machinery, only the very greatest levels of performance and productivity will do.

That’s why the company always believed in developing specialized farm machinery — agricultural telehandlers were introduced in 1977; agricultural wheel loaders in 1983; and Fastrac tractors in 1991. The result of more than 45 years of innovation, the current agricultural range is the most productive, most versatile, most comfortable and safest series of tractors on the market.

“We are pleased to represent JCB Agriculture product line in our served markets,” said Maibach. **

from page 3

feature a new Cummins A-Series diesel engine and larger, quieter cabs. Another product in increasing demand is Hyundai’s HX145 116-hp hydraulic excavator.

“Around here, the population of that machine is growing.”

Kitzmiller and sales representative, Jeff Wente, are why.

Yanmar’s compact machines sell steadily for two reasons, according to Kitzmiller: the performance of the machinery and the support of the dealership after the sale.

“Around here, our customers have learned that Yanmar is the best,” he said. “Their products are getting better and better. With Yanmar, the name precedes itself and we have done a good job of establishing that name. We have a pretty good reputation continued on page 6 ourselves.”

Service Manager Brian Pirolli is a fan of Yanmar machinery.

“The mini-excavators are very reliable pieces of equipment. All the big companies seem to have them.

Contractors might have fifty or sixty different pieces of equipment of all brands, but they all have a Yanmar mini-excavator.” ** In 2016, Buck & Knobby was looking for another manufacturer to fill a gap in its equipment line. It succeeded in acquiring JCB, a line of machinery with a significant reputation for innovative engineering. Knobby was attracted to the manufacturer because he identified with the entrepreneurial achievements of the founder of JCB, Joseph Cyril Bamford.

Unfortunately, Knobby passed away before completion of the due diligence process, said Gerry Maibach, business manager.

But negotiations continued. In March 2017, Buck & Knobby’s new stand-alone JCB dealership held its grand opening … back across the Michigan state line at 9127 Airport Highway, Holland, Ohio, in the northwest part of the state. The full-service facility has earned multiple JCB dealer sales and service awards.

The dealership offers the full range of JCB construction equipment, from compact equipment to telehandlers, rough terrain forklifts and the one-of-a-kind Teleskid to heavy line wheel load- Buck & Knobby JCB Service Technicians ers and excavators and of course, the backhoe loader, of which JCB invented the concept. One of every two backhoes working in the world today is JCB-branded.

In January 2023, the JCB product offering at the Holland facility expanded to include the manufacturer’s full agriculture line.

“The JCB Agricultural line is an important addition to our business,” said Maibach.

Agri business is a big part of the economy in northwest Ohio and JCB Buck & Knobby JCB Service Manager Buck & Knobby JCB Parts Manager isn’t new to agricultural equipment.

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75

th

Congratulations on 75 years,

Buck & Knobby!

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See the Hyundai difference yourself at your local dealer or hceamericas.com.

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from page 4

Buck & Knobby Equipment became an extremely diverse source of machinery. The founders may not have started out with the vision of offering an expansive array of machinery and tools, but the variety of top-of-the-line products represented by Buck & Knobby in 2023 is just short of staggering.

The Michigan dealership offers a broad selection of lawn and garden equipment for residential and commercial customers. They are (take a deep breath): Toro Dingo compact utility loaders, trenchers, stump-grinders, vibratory plows and material handling buggies; Bobcat commercial zero- Buck & Knobby Equipment Sales radius mowers; Grasshopper frontmount, mid-mount and stand-on mowers; Scag commercial and residential mowers and blowers; and Stihl chainsaws and trimmers.

In addition, customers are offered an assortment of Honda power equipment, including generators and tillers.

Those products are sold and rented from a separate building because the equipment caters to a different customer base.

Somewhere in that mix of specialized equipment is a mower or compact machine perfect for just about any task in yard, garden or pasture. However, if a tool or small-powered machine is needed beyond that, Buck & Knobby offers yet another equipment option — Buck & Knobby Tool Depot

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the Tool Depot.

The Tool Depot idea was embraced

by Knobby after he was approached by an employee, Lester Bacon. Bacon had a background in rental trade work offering a variety of specialized tools, including sewer and water construction and maintenance machinery, trench shoring materials and personal protection equipment.

The concept behind the Tool Depot idea was simple: Customers already were coming to Buck & Knobby for heavy construction equipment, so why not provide the hand tools and auxiliary supplies they also would need on any typical job site?

“Knobby thought it was a great idea and looked for the opportune time to build a facility to accommodate the business,” Bacon recalled, “but he passed away before plans were completed.”

The company moved ahead with the expansion and opened the stand-alone facility in April 2016. Bacon manages the Tool Depot division.

It’s stocked with more than 800 kinds of tools and supplies for sale and rent. These include asphalt and concrete finishing equipment and saw blades; laser positioning devices and traffic control signage; safety equipment and pumps; and more. High volume rentals include Snorkel or Haulotte man lifts. continued on page 10

Hydraulic Excavator Thumbs

Excavator Grapples All attachments available for on time delivery!

Stump Pullers

Excavator Demolition Grapples

Excavator Thumbs Excavator Wood Shears

Skid Steer Bucket Grapples

Loader Rakes with Top Clamp Skid Steer Forks Loader Forks

Skid Steer Grapple Rakes

Skid Steer Brush Cutters

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Skid Steer Buckets

RENTAL EQUIPM BROOMS

Model MB96 DT74J Plus $100 Inch Broom Wear COMPACT TRACK LOADERS

ATTACHMENTS

Model Air compressor Breaker CAL 550B / 650 Breaker CAL 750 Breaker CAL 850 /HDB40 / 50 Breaker CAL 1000 / SF Breaker CAL 1200 / HB90 Breaker SF 1500 Breaker CAL 2200 Breaker CAL 3200 Bucket Small / Road plate Bucket Large / Concrete bucket Compactor HC 10/12 / the beak Compactor HC15 20/SF TPC2K Compactor HC30 Compactor HC40 Compaction Wheel - Pad Coupler Mount - Auger Forklift Basket Forks - Backhoe Forks - Loader/Jibb Frost Ripper Small + Point Frost Ripper Large+ Point Light Tower / 8’ loader forks 60” Forestry head 72” Drum mower Flail Mower -130/BC60/42” Power Rake – Magnet Rollover Box /Tilt / Helac Trench Box Sheeps Foot Roller / Drag TR3 / Road plates Slit Seeder/10’ Brush Cutter Grapple / Clam Bucket Stone Box – 3 YD / Hopper Stone Box – 5 YD Stone Box – 7 YD

Model Toro Dingo TX1000 Toro Dingo TXL2000 Auger Bit only / tooth bar Extra Bit Forks Grapple Bucket Leveler Broom Breaker / power rake Bucket DOZERS

Model 550 K 650K 700K Wide Track EXCAVATORS

Model HX130LCR R140 LC-9A JCB131 140W 9A Wheel R145 LC-9A R140/R145 LC w/Thumb JCB 141 W/Thumb HX145 / 145 Rubber tr R160 LC 9A R160 LC 9A W/THUMB HX180 LC 170 / 180 W/THUMB 180W-9A Wheel 210 220 LR Long front HX220L R220 LC-9A w/Thumb R235 LC-9A R235LC-9 W/Thumb / 245 W/Thumb HX260AL HX300

DUMPERS

Model WHEEL C805S 3-4 YRD C807S 4.7 YRDS C810S 6 YRD TRACK C30R C50R 3 1/2 YRD MINI-EXCAVATORS

Model B08-03 VIO 17 VIO 25 VIO 25 W/ Thumb VIO 35/ Wacker /R35Z 35 / R35Z W/Thumb VIO 40 45-5 50-2 45 W/Thumb VIO 55 55 / 50 W/Thumb Hyundai 55 Wheel Hyundai R60CR W/thumb VIO 80 / R80 / HX85 80 W/Thumb VIO 100 100 W/Thumb TELESCOPIC FORKLIFTS

Model 6034 Manitou JCB 506-36 507-42 509-42 510-56 SCREENERS

Model SLG68V SLG78V SLG108V

Model RD 12 36” A HR24 / HR2 HR70 66” P HR70C-9 66 HR110C-9 8 HR110C-9 8 HR120C-9 8 HR120C-9 8

SKID AT

Model Auger; 6-9-1 Extra Bits / E Bit Only Adaptor/For Bank Mowe Angle Broom Pickup Broo Chipper Concrete Br Grapple /Sk Magnum 3’ 48” forestry Mower 72” d Post Driver P Rake Roc TX1000 Din TX1000 Din SM100 Wac TRL620D B TRL620D B e-DINGO 50 Forks Grapple Buc Auger Bit wi Power Rake Breaker for Auger Stum Toro Stump Trencher - M Power Bugg Canycom SC SV-08 Mini SV-08 Buck Walk Behind

RENTAL EQUIPMENT BROOMS

Model MB96 DT74J Plus $100 Inch Broom Wear COMPACT TRACK LOADERS

ATTACHMENTS

Model Air compressor Breaker CAL 550B / 650 Breaker CAL 750 Breaker CAL 850 /HDB40 / 50 Breaker CAL 1000 / SF Breaker CAL 1200 / HB90 Breaker SF 1500 Breaker CAL 2200 Breaker CAL 3200 Bucket Small / Road plate Bucket Large / Concrete bucket Compactor HC 10/12 / the beak Compactor HC15 20/SF TPC2K Compactor HC30 Compactor HC40 Compaction Wheel - Pad Coupler Mount - Auger Forklift Basket Forks - Backhoe Forks - Loader/Jibb Frost Ripper Small + Point Frost Ripper Large+ Point Light Tower / 8’ loader forks 60” Forestry head 72” Drum mower Flail Mower -130/BC60/42” Power Rake – Magnet Rollover Box /Tilt / Helac Trench Box Sheeps Foot Roller / Drag TR3 / Road plates Slit Seeder/10’ Brush Cutter Grapple / Clam Bucket Stone Box – 3 YD / Hopper Stone Box – 5 YD Stone Box – 7 YD

Model Toro Dingo TX1000 Toro Dingo TXL2000 Auger Bit only / tooth bar Extra Bit Forks Grapple Bucket Leveler Broom Breaker / power rake Bucket DOZERS

Model 550 K 650K 700K Wide Track EXCAVATORS

Model HX130LCR R140 LC-9A JCB131 140W 9A Wheel R145 LC-9A R140/R145 LC w/Thumb JCB 141 W/Thumb HX145 / 145 Rubber tr R160 LC 9A R160 LC 9A W/THUMB HX180 LC 170 / 180 W/THUMB 180W-9A Wheel 210 220 LR Long front HX220L R220 LC-9A w/Thumb R235 LC-9A R235LC-9 W/Thumb / 245 W/Thumb HX260AL HX300

DUMPERS

Model WHEEL C805S 3-4 YRD C807S 4.7 YRDS C810S 6 YRD TRACK C30R C50R 3 1/2 YRD MINI-EXCAVATORS

Model B08-03 VIO 17 VIO 25 VIO 25 W/ Thumb VIO 35/ Wacker /R35Z 35 / R35Z W/Thumb VIO 40 45-5 50-2 45 W/Thumb VIO 55 55 / 50 W/Thumb Hyundai 55 Wheel Hyundai R60CR W/thumb VIO 80 / R80 / HX85 80 W/Thumb VIO 100 100 W/Thumb TELESCOPIC FORKLIFTS

Model 6034 Manitou JCB 506-36 507-42 509-42 510-56 SCREENERS

Model SLG68V SLG78V SLG108V

ROLLERS

Model RD 12 36” Asphalt HR24 / HR25T-9 40” Asphalt HR70 66” Pad HR70C-9 66” Smooth HR110C-9 84” pad HR110C-9 84” Smooth HR120C-9 84” Pad HR120C-9 84” Smooth SKID/TRACK LOADER ATTACHMENTS

Model Auger; 6-9-12-18-24-30-36 Extra Bits / Extension Bit Only Adaptor/Forks Bank Mower BC60 Angle Broom Pickup Broom Chipper Concrete Breaker Grapple /Skeleton / Blade Magnum 3’ mulcher 48” forestry head Mower 72” drum Post Driver stumper roller Tiller P Rake Rock Picker trencher TX1000 Dingo Narrow Track TX1000 Dingo Wide Track SM100 Wacker TRL620D Baumalight TRL620D Baumalight e-DINGO 500 Forks Grapple Bucket Auger Bit with Drive Power Rake Breaker for Dingo Auger Stumper Toro Stumper Trencher - Mini Power Buggy Wheeled Canycom SC75 SV-08 Mini Excavator SV-08 Bucket Walk Behind Trencher

TOOL DEPOT SKID/TRACK LOADERS

Model SKID STEER 1650 1900R Mustang 3300V 4000 V 4200 Mustang TRACK 1050RT 105 Gehl 1650RT Mustang 1850RT / 185 Gehl JCB 225T JCB 260T / 270T 2100RT Mustang 2150RT TRACTORS

Model DEERE 5045D JD BACKHOE 310SE 410 WHEEL LOADERS

Model HYUNDAI HL930 HL940XT 757 XLT 955 XHT HL960 HL965XT HL970 WACKER NEUSON WL37 Hi Flow WL37 / 38 WL52 YANMAR / MANITOU V8, V10, V12 533-145 MANITOU JCB / MUSTANG 416 HT/417HT TM320C JCB AL708T MUSTANG

TX1000 Dingo Narrow Track TX1000 Dingo Wide Track SM100 Wacker TRL620D Baumalight e-DINGO 500 Forks Grapple Bucket Auger Bit with Drive Power Rake Breaker for Dingo Auger Stumper Toro Stumper Trencher - Mini Power Buggy Wheeled Canycom SC75 SV-08 Mini Excavator SV-08 Bucket Walk Behind Trencher Trailer 5000 lb tilt Trailer 10,000 lb tilt Scissor Lift 13' Lift Tow Behind 34' Nifty50 tow behind lift 50' Nifty SP34TDE 4X4 34' OUTRIGGERS Lift 4X4 34' Haulette 55' tow behind Nifty SP64D 4X4 64' Nifty SP50D 4X4 50' Haulette 45' 4X4 ARX16 Ammann Roller ARX20 Ammann Roller HR25T Hyundai Roller RD24-100 Wacker Roller ARR1575 Ammann Trench Roller AR14H Multiquip Roller Concrete Mixer 3 cu ft electric Concrete Mixer 9 cu ft Mortar Mixer 8 cu ft BT131 Hand Power Auger Hydraulic Power Pack Hyd Post Driver Log Splitter Build A Box 6' X 6' Build A Box 8' X 12' Light Tower Large Message Board Small Message Board Arrow Board Barrier Grab Lifting Arm 185 Air Compressor PDS185S-6E1 Kaeser M27 Air Compressor Kaeser M55 Air Compressor

Work Platform Power Screed Power Screed Board First Cut 6" 6" Early Entry Blade 36" Power Trowel 48" Power Trowel 10" Tile Saw 10" Tile Blade 14" Brick Saw 14" Brick Blade 12" Concrete Saw Hand Held 14" Concrete Saw Hand Held 14" Diamond Blade 16" Concrete Saw Hand Held 20" Walk Behind Concrete Saw 20" Diamond Blade Bull Float Kit with 4 handles Concrete Vibrator Breaker 60lb Electric Jack Hammer Rotary Hammer 1-9/16" MAX Hammer Drill SDS Plus Tile Roller Drywall Jack 11' Drywall Jack 15' Rotary Laser LL300 Pipe Laser Tiller Rear Tine Tiller 9" Yard Vacuum Blower - Walk Behind Bedding Edger Jumping Jack Compactor Small Compactor Large Compactor Reversing Plate Compactor 2" Submersible Pump 2" Trash Pump 3" Trash Pump 4" Trash Pump 2" X 20' Suction Hose 3" X 20' Suction Hose 4" X 20' Suction Hose 2" X 50' Discharge Hose 3" X 50' Discharge Hose 4" X 50' Discharge Hose 5000 Watt Generator Pressure Washer SLG68V Screener SLG78V Screener SLG108V Screener

MENT ROLLERS

Asphalt 25T-9 40” Asphalt ad 6” Smooth 84” pad 84” Smooth 84” Pad 84” Smooth

D/TRACK LOADER TTACHMENTS

12-18-24-30-36 Extension

rks r BC60 m om

reaker keleton / Blade mulcher head drum stumper roller Tiller ck Picker trencher go Narrow Track go Wide Track cker aumalight aumalight 00

cket ith Drive e Dingo per er Mini gy Wheeled C75 Excavator ket d Trencher

TOOL DEPOT SKID/TRACK LOADERS

Model SKID STEER 1650 1900R Mustang 3300V 4000 V 4200 Mustang TRACK 1050RT 105 Gehl 1650RT Mustang 1850RT / 185 Gehl JCB 225T JCB 260T / 270T 2100RT Mustang 2150RT TRACTORS

Model DEERE 5045D JD BACKHOE 310SE 410 WHEEL LOADERS

Model HYUNDAI HL930 HL940XT 757 XLT 955 XHT HL960 HL965XT HL970 WACKER NEUSON WL37 Hi Flow WL37 / 38 WL52 YANMAR / MANITOU V8, V10, V12 533-145 MANITOU JCB / MUSTANG 416 HT/417HT TM320C JCB AL708T MUSTANG

TX1000 Dingo Narrow Track TX1000 Dingo Wide Track SM100 Wacker TRL620D Baumalight e-DINGO 500 Forks Grapple Bucket Auger Bit with Drive Power Rake Breaker for Dingo Auger Stumper Toro Stumper Trencher - Mini Power Buggy Wheeled Canycom SC75 SV-08 Mini Excavator SV-08 Bucket Walk Behind Trencher Trailer 5000 lb tilt Trailer 10,000 lb tilt Scissor Lift 13' Lift Tow Behind 34' Nifty50 tow behind lift 50' Nifty SP34TDE 4X4 34' OUTRIGGERS Lift 4X4 34' Haulette 55' tow behind Nifty SP64D 4X4 64' Nifty SP50D 4X4 50' Haulette 45' 4X4 ARX16 Ammann Roller ARX20 Ammann Roller HR25T Hyundai Roller RD24-100 Wacker Roller ARR1575 Ammann Trench Roller AR14H Multiquip Roller Concrete Mixer 3 cu ft electric Concrete Mixer 9 cu ft Mortar Mixer 8 cu ft BT131 Hand Power Auger Hydraulic Power Pack Hyd Post Driver Log Splitter Build A Box 6' X 6' Build A Box 8' X 12' Light Tower Large Message Board Small Message Board Arrow Board Barrier Grab Lifting Arm 185 Air Compressor PDS185S-6E1 Kaeser M27 Air Compressor Kaeser M55 Air Compressor

Work Platform Power Screed Power Screed Board First Cut 6" 6" Early Entry Blade 36" Power Trowel 48" Power Trowel 10" Tile Saw 10" Tile Blade 14" Brick Saw 14" Brick Blade 12" Concrete Saw Hand Held 14" Concrete Saw Hand Held 14" Diamond Blade 16" Concrete Saw Hand Held 20" Walk Behind Concrete Saw 20" Diamond Blade Bull Float Kit with 4 handles Concrete Vibrator Breaker 60lb Electric Jack Hammer Rotary Hammer 1-9/16" MAX Hammer Drill SDS Plus Tile Roller Drywall Jack 11' Drywall Jack 15' Rotary Laser LL300 Pipe Laser Tiller Rear Tine Tiller 9" Yard Vacuum Blower - Walk Behind Bedding Edger Jumping Jack Compactor Small Compactor Large Compactor Reversing Plate Compactor 2" Submersible Pump 2" Trash Pump 3" Trash Pump 4" Trash Pump 2" X 20' Suction Hose 3" X 20' Suction Hose 4" X 20' Suction Hose 2" X 50' Discharge Hose 3" X 50' Discharge Hose 4" X 50' Discharge Hose 5000 Watt Generator Pressure Washer SLG68V Screener SLG78V Screener SLG108V Screener

from page 6

The Tool Depot has been well-received by customers.

“Each year we have doubled our business volume,” Bacon said. Consequently, the company is now expanding the 60-ft. by 85-ft. Tool Depot building to increase showroom size.

The two company divisions — Tool Depot and JCB — are recent examples of the innovative leadership that’s a trademark of Buck & Knobby Equipment. Service manager Pirolli remembers another new thing the company did back in the 1970s — fabricate trailers.

“We built a lot of trailers back then,” Pirolli said. “We had our own jig and would lay the steel components on it and weld them together. I sometimes stayed after regular work hours to paint a finished trailer.”

An estimated 800 trailers were built by Buck & Knobby before the dealership phased out of the trailer fabrication business.

Buck & Knobby Equipment Service Today, Buck & Knobby sells several major brands of trailers. It represents the full Eager Beaver trailer line — which ruption had some impact on the parts department, managers did also has been in business for 75 years — as well as Felling, their best to stave off interrupted supplies by anticipating probInterstate and Towmaster products. Kitzmiller, the sales manager, lems and expediting orders. said the inventory of trailers is relatively large as a hedge against continued on page 12 lengthy production lead times.

“We sell about a hundred trailers a year and like to keep 30 or 40 in stock.

It can take so long to get them. Some trailers that we ordered a year ago are just now coming in.”

The parts department wasn’t untouched by Buck & Knobby spirit of innovation. One example: years ago, the department started fabricating hydraulic hoses, the connecting lines that keep so many pieces of modern equipment moving and lifting. Why? Making hoses was a quicker way to get our customers back on the job.

“We are still actively producing hydraulic hoses for equipment,” said Controller Nick Liaros. “Dozens of hoses are produced every day.”

While COVID’s supply chain dis- Buck & Knobby Equipment Service

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Fifth Third Bank proudly congratulates Buck & Knobby Equipment Company on 75 years of success.

Congratulations,

Buck & Knobby From your friends at

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11

Buck & Knobby Equipment Administration

of company employees on the payroll as before the pandemic arrived.

“At times during the pandemic we didn’t need as much staff, but we knew from experience that when you let someone go, it’s hard to replace them when you need them. We were able to handle it and retain everyone,” the controller said.

The service department Buck & Knobby Equipment Rental employees that keep rental equipment operating and maintain customer equipment brought into the shop all stayed busy. What they weren’t able to do was receive the usual amount of training.

“Some manufacturers just canceled training for a period of time,” Pirolli said.

Full program OEM training has now resumed.

Of the company’s employees, several have been with the company for decades, including the company president, who has worked there for 55 years. Cordrey had just gotten out of the Navy where he was an aircraft carrier fire suppression specialist when Knobby hired him.

“He said, ‘I don’t have a lot of use for someone who can put out fires, but I’ll give you a fair day’s pay for day’s work.’”

Decades later Cordrey succeeded Nolfo as president. He said Nolfo’s vision constantly drove the company forward.

“Knobby was so energetic. He had foresight, always 10 years ahead of the day.”

Laurie Nolfo, who is one of the founder’s three daughters, echoes Cordrey.

“Dad was a brilliant visionary. He had unwavering commitment to the business, together with the vision and ambition to get things done. He was self-made and an off-the-cuff intellectual. He anticipated how the business would evolve after his passing, and he was spot on.”

Cordrey added that another defining characteristic of Knobby Nolfo was his affinity for customers. “‘Raymond,’ he would tell me, ‘When you sell something, it

Buck & Knobby Equipment Parts from page 10

Still another fresh idea that sprang from Knobby’s vision was renting of equipment. Rentals are commonplace today, but they were rare six or seven decades ago.

“When Knobby first started renting,” recalled Cordrey, “he would charge $5 an hour for rental of a dozer. Eventually, the renter would purchase the dozer. Numerous large customers of ours started out that way.”

Rental activity slowed somewhat during the pandemic, but it has bounced back, Cordrey said.

“Rental has recovered quite well from that period of time.

Supply chain issues and the rising cost of new equipment are factors. You sometimes wait 12 to 15 months for a new piece of heavy equipment to arrive.”

Liaros believes renting will remain a top choice for contractors.

“Until our customers adjust to the current economy, we believe rentals will continue to be strong.”

The company has about 150 pieces of equipment ready to rent.

Whether a machine is sold or rented, it is all revenue according to Liaros. ** As disruptive as the last two or three years have been for entire industries, Buck & Knobby Equipment has come through it strong and stable, according to Liaros.

“It has been a robust three years of learning experiences, adjusting to market conditions and various other challenges.

There was nothing in the playbook that could have prepared us for what happened. We quickly realized that this wasn’t anything that we had experienced before and adjusted accordingly. They turned out to be very good years for our business.”

Very good, indeed. The past two years set records, Liaros said.

Business volume for the past fiscal year increased substantially.

“Now we just have to do better this coming year.”

Furthermore, the company did not shed employees to emerge intact from the economic downturn, employing the same number

continued on page 14

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© 2023 Yanmar America Corporation. YANMAR has a corporate policy of continuous product improvement and development; therefore data, specifications, and warranty are subject to change without any advance notice. There may be differences between the specifications and illustrations contained in this publication and the actual equipment. Equipment components produced by other manufacturers may be shown in photographs in this publication for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as an endorsement of that particular equipment or its suitability. Inspect equipment before using it and be sure it is operating properly. The product depictions are not meant to be used or relied upon as a substitute for the safety and use information that is published in the respective operator’s manual. Before operating a machine, read, understand, and follow all instructions of the manual and on the machine. YANMAR disclaims all representations, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this publication.

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Buck & Knobby Equipment Outdoor Power from page 12

“If you just stay local, you can never grow to full potential,” Cordrey said. “You have to be looking for remote buyers outside local markets. Today, our long distance sales business volume is growing.”

Digital advertising and social media strategies have broadened the effective footprint of the company.

“For many years, our sales region was 50 to 75 miles from our facilities. Now we sell equipment across the country. Our reputation for honesty and integrity has created sales referrals from distant markets.”

Jeff Pilbeam is the company’s IT manager. As such, he is in the forefront of the virtual relationships being cultivated nearer to home and far away.

Pilbeam also manages the eBay store for the company. The company’s eBay pages are described as “offering a selection of new and vintage construction equipment parts, collectables and special interest items.” In mid-February, the company’s eclectic eBay offerings included a Yanmar mini-boom and a 1958 Ford Fairlane owner’s manual.

“It’s more challenging in some respects to manage an older company and keep it vital,” said Grady. “You can’t rest on your laurels. You have to embrace change and keep opportunities alive.”

Liaros believes the current management team is on top of things.

“Our team is all veterans of the industry. Not too much bothers us. We are very focused on business climate, the economic forecasts. We assess all potential impacts and act to keep the company aligned to a constantly changing marketplace.”

The question is: Amid all this change, can a 75-year-old company keep up with the times? If its recent history is any evidence, the answer is a definite yes.

has to be good for both the buyer and the seller.’ He would say, ‘We just sold a dozer and I’m going to put ample inventory of track rollers on the shelf. I’m not putting those parts on the shelves, the customer put them there, because if his equipment goes down, we go down.’”

Establishing relationships with customers is valuable, but so is partnering with vendors. Company business manager Joe Grady said communicating regularly with manufacturers gives a company an edge.

“We constantly talk with our vendors so we can understand what is coming down the pike, what the industry is doing, where we need to steer the ship.”

Grady gives an example of how being in the loop with manufacturers can pay off.

“We were able to get Grasshopper’s new stand-on mower before other companies in the Midwest based on our relationship with Grasshopper and our sales volume of Grasshopper mowers.

Relationships absolutely matter.”

The pandemic changed relationships somewhat, with customers opting to physically interact less, sometimes picking up packages in drop boxes outside the dealership door. Company executives also took the unexpected intermission to revisit internal business processes.

“We are more open-minded as a consequence of the COVID experience,” said Grady. “We saw an opportunity to further develop internal technologies that improved our customers’ experience.” ** Looking ahead, Buck & Knobby Equipment leadership recognizes that how business was done 75 years ago is history. The very concept of a “local” dealership has evolved as technology has shrunk distances. Consequently, more sales are occurring well outside the old neighborhood.

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