As I wrote last month, this will be the first of a few columns on the first well rig I ever had experience with. My dad, as I have written, worked for a farm implement dealer from about 1921 until the dealership sold in April 1945. At that time, he formed his own business, J.P. Schmitt & Co., which I own and operate today. We never did sell farm equipment. We drilled wells, and sold and serviced water pumps.
The firm that Dad worked for had a franchise for Allis Chalmers farm equipment, and later also sold the Oliver brand. In addition, they sold milking machines, electrical generators (which were quite popular, since many rural areas had no power lines) and water pumps. In those days in this region, a well driller drilled a well, laid down the mast and was gone. Pumps were installed by plumbers, farm equipment dealers, and handymen — whomever, really. Today in Michigan, most all well drillers install and service pumps — a big change from the 1920s, ’30s and the ’40s up through the end of World Word II.