Re: (ET) Wheelhorse and their last ET in 1983

[John Casey <jjcrmc optonline net>]

Pricing new tractors in 1972 and found an E12s, was very taken with the
technology and was willing to pay more than I would for a comparable ICE.  
I
was very disappointed when the tractor came with only a simple owner's
manual....no exploded parts diagrams, no explanation of the charging 
system,
no wiring scheme.

I explained to GE that my newly bought $20 lawn sprinkler came with a parts
diagram and that every single ICE tractor on a dealers floor comes with
extensive manuals for engines and axles.  GE explained to me that they
thought  ' John Q Public' would not have the ability to repair the tractor,
that repairs should remain with the dealer.  In time, I was able to show GE
that my dealer, Knapp Mowers, was solely interested in selling
tractors....service was a word unknown to Knapp.  GE offered to sell a
repair manual at $50.  I went a little nuts and they finally sent about 25
pages from the manual.

GE, in my view, never made the distinction between marketing tractors and
refrigerators.  They did not see that selling a new concept against strong
competition almost always dictates that you must price lower to build a
following.
Jack



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Matthew callahan" <callahanrc hotmail com>
To: <maxo iname com>; <elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: (ET) Wheelhorse and their last ET in 1983


> Gee, I wonder if that did have anything to do with it... <VBG>
>
> Were there other factors?  High cost was probably one.  How about
marketing,
> did wheelhorse do a good job marketing their electric tractors, or did
they
> pull the same thing that GM did with the EV1? Did the tractors have any
> safety issues, premature failures, or anything of the sort?
>
> Matt
>
>
> >From: "Max Hall" <maxmatic gmail com>
> >Reply-To: maxo iname com
> >To: elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> >Subject: Re: (ET) Wheelhorse and their last ET in 1983
> >Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2006 09:06:05 -0500
> >
> >Gasoline hit its peak in '81, and plummeted almost uninterruptedly
> >through '86 to less than half the '81 peak.
> >
> >I don't know if thast had anything at all to do with it, though.
> >
> >-Max
> >
> >On 12/11/06, Matthew callahan <callahanrc hotmail com> wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > Could any of you enlighten us with your insight on why GE sold the
> >original
> > > ET line, why New Idea only produced it for what? one year?, and why
did
> > > Wheelhorse stop making them in 1983?  What were the reasons that
> >contributed
> > > to their downfall at that time?
> > >
> > > Any historical references or articles from that time period regarding
> >the
> > > downfall of ETs would be greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > Matt
> > >
> > > _________________________________________________________________
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