Digging Up the Past
Grand Opening of Peterson's New Facility in Hayward
Peterson's new facility at 645 Watkins Street in Hayward, California - circa 1937
The Hayward Review's headline for April 14, 1937 reads: Peterson Tractor Co. in Hayward Plant Ready ... Big Addition to Hayward's Industrial District. The article heralded the upcoming Grand Opening of Peterson's brand new facility at 645 Watkins Street between B and C. It goes on to detail Peterson's efforts at meeting the needs of the industry with the latest and greatest equipment and offerings:
"Twenty-five men are employed at the plant involving a payroll of $3500 a month or $42,000 annually. The main building is a brick and steel-frame structure housing salesroom, parts department, and shop, together with offices. A long shed at one side of the property houses an inventory of modern farm machinery. The plant is suitable to Hayward as “the agricultural capital of Alameda County.” But it will serve not only this county but the entire block of central California counties.
A formal survey by Peterson determined that Hayward was the epicenter of the local ag market and would afford the best possible product distribution. This new facility is the main ag distribution plant for Peterson which has three other locations: Peterson's industrial plant and main office in San Francisco, with smaller stores in Half Moon Bay and Brentwood.
Great care and thought has been given to the establishment of a service department and repair shops of the finest possible character. The new store has a full revolving 4-ton crane – the first of its type in this section of the country. Another outstanding piece of equipment is a portable track pin press mounted on pneumatic tires. The shop is also outfitted with electric drill presses, emery wheels, buffers and electric welding equipment and a separate building for modern steam-cleaning and painting. Peterson's repair shop is said to be the most complete in the Bay Area.
Modern steel parts bins and visible record systems have been installed in the parts dept. to facilitate quick and efficient handling. No expense has been spared to equip the organization to provide the tractor user with fast and efficient service.
The below advertisement was one of several that accompanied the Review"s
welcome to Peterson in Hayward:
____________________________________________
WORN OUT TRACKS REBUILT ...
in 4 Hours on Your Own Ranch
With our new portable track press - the only one in the area,
we can rebuild your tracks on your own ranch in half a day's time.
No need to lose a week's use of your tractor in the busy season.
Track life is redoubled at a fraction of the cost of new tracks.
We can service any make of track-type tractor with this machine.
PETERSON TRACTOR & EQUIPMENT CO.
645 Watkins Street
Across from the Post Office
____________________________________________
RELATED STORIES:
Peterson's Earliest Employees
|
