w.J. Nelson & SONs, inc.
Ophiem, Illinois
Years of Operation: 1933 - 1985
Years of Operation: 1933 - 1985
![Picture](/uploads/7/3/6/3/73637781/published/1942-blacksmith-shop-original.jpg?1713580160)
Wilfred John Nelson moved to Ophiem, Illinois in 1933 to open his own blacksmith and repair shop. He worked on all kinds of projects including cars, trucks, tractors, implements, and more. Additionally, he also serviced 32 volt Delco electric systems in the 1930-40’s. His implement and repair shop was located at the intersection of Route 150 and Ophiem Road. Wilfred’s son Bill joined the business in spring of 1946 after serving in Patton’s Third Army. In 1947, they took on a dealership with Gibson Manufacturing Corporation. This was a short lived venture as the Gibson tractor business had limited success. Next, they signed a Ford tractor and implement franchise in 1951. This opportunity came from Thompson Ford in Orion, IL. Thompson decided to focus only on cars and trucks so the Nelson’s bought the farm portion of his inventory. W.J.’s son Dick joined the business in 1955 after his Army service during the Korean War era.
So you might be asking how did this Ford tractor dealer end up as Oliver dealer? In the mid 1950’s, area farmers were needing more horsepower than what the Ford tractors would provide and the Nelson’s found that Oliver fulfilled this demand. Because of this, W.J. Nelson and Sons signed their first dealership contract with the Oliver Corporation in 1958. Sales took off with the 770 and 880 models of Oliver tractors. A few years later, the top sellers had become the Oliver 1600 and 1800 tractors. In addition to Oliver and Ford, other short lines were handled by the dealership over the years including: Gehl, New Holland, Fox, MC Dryers, Kinze, Krause, Schultz, Bear Cat, Goodyear and Skelly Oil. Their sales and service area included Henry, Mercer, Knox and Rock Island counties in Illinois.
So you might be asking how did this Ford tractor dealer end up as Oliver dealer? In the mid 1950’s, area farmers were needing more horsepower than what the Ford tractors would provide and the Nelson’s found that Oliver fulfilled this demand. Because of this, W.J. Nelson and Sons signed their first dealership contract with the Oliver Corporation in 1958. Sales took off with the 770 and 880 models of Oliver tractors. A few years later, the top sellers had become the Oliver 1600 and 1800 tractors. In addition to Oliver and Ford, other short lines were handled by the dealership over the years including: Gehl, New Holland, Fox, MC Dryers, Kinze, Krause, Schultz, Bear Cat, Goodyear and Skelly Oil. Their sales and service area included Henry, Mercer, Knox and Rock Island counties in Illinois.
Three Generation Dealership
Just like the name implied, W.J. Nelson and Sons was truly a family operation. W.J.’s son Bill Nelson was the sales and business manager. His younger son Dick Nelson was the parts and service manager. Later, Bill’s son Garry Nelson and Dick’s son Dan also joined the operation and began working at the dealership making it a three generation family business. |
W.J. Nelson and Sons received the Oliver President’s Honor Council Award in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968. This had to be quite an impressive honor to accomplish that five years in a row! Interestingly, in all its years of Oliver sales, the dealership only sold one LP tractor. They sold a few Minneapolis-Moline’s during the transition years.
The implement dealership reached its business peak in the late 1970’s. Top selling White tractor models included the 2-155’s and 4-150’s. The business liquidated in 1985 during the heart of the farm crisis. Like many dealerships of this era, high interest rates and repossessions were too much to overcome. Over 50 years in the implement business with over half of them as a Oliver/White dealer makes for an impressive run. W.J. Nelson and Bill Nelson have both passed away, but Dick is still with us and provided much of the information for this article. Dick remarked, “In all our years selling Oliver, we never had any customers disgusted at their products. We had excellent relationships with our neighboring dealers. I have fond memories of my time spent with other Oliver dealers at meetings across the country and other parts of the world. Sam White was one special leader of Oliver.”
Thanks to Wade McLaughlin and Dick Nelson for providing information used in the article and submitting the photos.
The implement dealership reached its business peak in the late 1970’s. Top selling White tractor models included the 2-155’s and 4-150’s. The business liquidated in 1985 during the heart of the farm crisis. Like many dealerships of this era, high interest rates and repossessions were too much to overcome. Over 50 years in the implement business with over half of them as a Oliver/White dealer makes for an impressive run. W.J. Nelson and Bill Nelson have both passed away, but Dick is still with us and provided much of the information for this article. Dick remarked, “In all our years selling Oliver, we never had any customers disgusted at their products. We had excellent relationships with our neighboring dealers. I have fond memories of my time spent with other Oliver dealers at meetings across the country and other parts of the world. Sam White was one special leader of Oliver.”
Thanks to Wade McLaughlin and Dick Nelson for providing information used in the article and submitting the photos.
DEALERSHIP PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
FORMER DEALERSHIP BUILDINGS