The early founders of the farm machinery companies were a different breed. J.I. Case was known to show up and fix the machines his company sold when his field repair men could not do so. He earned a reputation as an honest man from this. But this story turned out to be one that probably sold him more threshers than any other.
After repeated tries a field man wired in that a certain thresher was beyond fixing and that they needed to either give the farmer his money back or a new thresher. J.I. Case wired back he would be there the next day, and he was!
He spent most of the day trying to repair this threshing machine and crowds of people watched him. He had never failed to repair one before, but this one was proving to be a tough cookie. He would work on it, set it in motion only to have to work on it again.
Finally, about the time of dusk, he asked the farmer for a can of kerosene, poured it on the threshing machine and lit it on fire. He picked up his coat and hat and bowed to those present and the next day the farmer received a brand new thresher to replace the one that would not work.
After repeated tries a field man wired in that a certain thresher was beyond fixing and that they needed to either give the farmer his money back or a new thresher. J.I. Case wired back he would be there the next day, and he was!
He spent most of the day trying to repair this threshing machine and crowds of people watched him. He had never failed to repair one before, but this one was proving to be a tough cookie. He would work on it, set it in motion only to have to work on it again.
Finally, about the time of dusk, he asked the farmer for a can of kerosene, poured it on the threshing machine and lit it on fire. He picked up his coat and hat and bowed to those present and the next day the farmer received a brand new thresher to replace the one that would not work.
