Remnants of Rene Harger’s business

[Bob Andrews]

We are looking at the idea of starting an upholstery shop here in central New York. I was thinking of Rene’s operation and might be interested in anything that is left over, materials, tools, equipment, etc. I tried to find threads about that to find a contact, but I didn’t really have much luck. I know it’s a good couple of months old, and probably everything has been tossed by now, but if anyone has a contact I can speak to about this, it would be appreciated. also, if anybody else has some equipment or tools or supplies to unload I might be interested.

[jg61hawk]

Didn't this guy Nick Bush have a bunch of stuff: https://forum.studebakerdriversclub....kely-last-post

[jg61hawk]

https://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/forum/your-studebaker-forum/general-studebaker-specific-discussion/2016698-interior-reproduction

This is another post that was recent....kind of!

[Bob Andrews]

Thanks, everybody. I found the number and spoke with the gentleman who is in charge of what is left. He’s going to send me pictures and I’ll try to make a deal to buy what is there. I appreciate the help.

[StudeRich]

You get TWO Atta-Boy star stickers for your forehead for that one !

[jg61hawk]

Bob, I never met you but have seen your posts (not all 7,000+). You are a businessman and could possibly pull this off! If you do you will be wildly successful based on your past performance of good service in the transport industry. Maybe Steven Allen or SI or BOTH would join you....we need this business for our cars...thanks for the effort. Don't get burned...

[Bob Andrews]

Thank you, I’m just a guy whose life has always been about old cars. I hate to see things like this lost. When Dennis Lambert closed SI I looked at the possibility of making a deal on all of that inventory and figuring out a way to set up in business. In the end, Ed Reynolds stepped up in a big way, and all of it survives to this day. I was absolutely happy to step back out of Ed’s way, and would be glad to do so now. My goal is not necessarily to become a Studebaker vendor, it’s more about finding a way to save an important service. I would love to see young guys, like Matthew, take it on, I would gladly concede.

[Bob Andrews]

Update-
Dale, who is in charge, sent me pictures of what remains. it comes down to three areas:

1. Large stacks of patterns for individual seat pieces, each one with the description written on it

2. One large rack, maybe 10 or 12 feet wide by two levels, filled with rolls and pieces of material

3. Three very very old sewing machines, without tables.

In speaking with the gentleman, he is very adamant that the stuff needs to be saved. He worked for many years with Rene. After looking at the photos I believe that we are too far apart on price. I only got a picture of one of the sewing machines, but I believe that it is more of an artifact than viable equipment at this point. The accumulation of material obviously cost quite a bit in its day, but as a practical matter, I don’t know how much of it would be readily salable; it made me think of the huge bins at Studebaker international that have so many of the same part that you couldn’t sell them all in 100 years, mostly you’re going to be storing them, and occasionally use a little. That leaves the patterns, and that’s the most sentimental part. I can imagine Rene knowing where each set of patterns were a given seat, and knowing how to use them to cut material to create seats. I just don’t know how much we would use them, if at all.

Still, I would be willing to drive to Tennessee from New York with my enclosed trailer, rescue all of the stuff, and keep it in a protected state while trying to figure out the best way to use it. I made an offer that I thought was more realistic; I’m not heard back. Maybe he’s thinking about it. My guess is that the offer probably hurt his feelings. I tried to do the best I could. He told me that Will Sanders made the trip out to look at everything, and he left and hasn’t returned his calls.

So I guess we’ll see what happens. Dale told me that time is of the essence, because once everything goes into probate, that will probably be the end of it for some reason. I hate to think of it, but I fear that they will run out of patience, and everything will wind up in the dumpster. A fair amount of that happened already, when Rene Sold his building and had to move out. That’s where a lot of customer orders ended up. Dale actually rescued some of the stuff from the dumpster for a few customers.

I keep going back to, this should be an object lesson for all of us, as we age. The fatal flaw here was that Rene, for whatever reason, would not, or did not plan an exit strategy. I see it happen often, unfortunately: sometimes we just cannot handle facing our inevitable mortality, and instead of compromising with a successor, put everything off until it’s too late.

As for our plans to consider the possibility of going into the upholstery business, it comes from the fact that there aren’t nearly enough people doing it. The few places in my area that do it much you at all, if you can get them to bother to answer the phone And have a crabby conversation with you, they’re booked out a year or more in advance usually. It has always been a debt fascinates me; it’s the final frontier of auto restoration that I have not done. At 62 years of age, I am far from wanting to retire, But physically, it’s not a line of work I would be able to handle to any great extent… I believe I could, however, create and build a business doing this; I have a few younger guys that I think might take the ball and run with it if I got them started. I cannot imagine the Studebaker world simply losing what Rene used to do. It’s another lost art that not many young people have an interest in pursuing.

Anyway, the beat goes on. We’re looking at sources for new machinery and tools. And we have found some solid sources for material. I don’t know how many of you have heard of Leatherique, it’s a leather restoration business in North Carolina that’s in the same situation, the owner would like to sell out and retire. We’re trying to explore some kind of situation with them as well. All of it may be pie in the sky. But while I’m still breathing in and out, it’s in my heart to try to help the hobby of “old cars”. We’re doing pretty good on it so far. I just always have an urge to try to save any part of the hobby that in peril. One old crippled guy can only do so much, though. all we can do is everything we can do

[Bob Andrews]

A little more to add: I did speak to the gentleman in Ohio, who was trying to get rid of a bunch more of stuff from Phantom that was in a different thread. It turns out that somebody did in fact, by all of that and it has recently shipped out. I don’t know who it was, but maybe they would be the one to buy the rest of this stuff.

One last thing. If anyone out there might have an interest in this stuff themselves, believe me, I am not your competition, I am your cheerleader. I would be happy to see someone else go after it.

[8E45E]

In speaking with the gentleman, he is very adamant that the stuff needs to be saved. He worked for many years with Rene. After looking at the photos I believe that we are too far apart on price. I only got a picture of one of the sewing machines, but I believe that it is more of an artifact than viable equipment at this point. My guess is that the offer probably hurt his feelings.

Those older sewing machines are worth their weight in gold to an upholsterer if they are properly maintained and all the moving parts are oiled regularly. One that has been well cared for will outlive you! Previous threads suggest he will not cater to any low-ball offers.

Craig

[Bob Andrews]

There are a few problems with older machines. One is that just like any other machine, they will still wear out, even if they’re cared for properly. I’ve had too much experience in my life with buying older equipment, because it is “so much better quality”, only to end up constantly trying to keep it running. What exactly is condition of these machines? There’s no way to know. I would just have to buy them and hope for the best.

Another big advantage of new machines is that they have servo controlled motors. That means they have infinite speed control, all the way down to the speed of a hand stitch. That’s a great asset doing work with lots of angles, like you get with automotive upholstery. especially when you’re talking about newbies and people just learning craft.

Certainly, if I end up making a deal, we will do our best to put these machines back in service. But they don’t do anybody any good if they’re problematic. There’s just no way of knowing.

[unclemiltie]

Thanks for trying to make this happen

[Bob Andrews]

I have not heard back, so I assume that the offer I made is a no. I’m guessing that he won’t see this, but I would leave it as a standing offer. It’s terrible to think of all those patterns and everything ending up in the trash. But, we can only do what we can do.

[8E45E]

Bob Andrews commented
Today, 03:05 PM Another big advantage of new machines is that they have servo controlled motors. That means they have infinite speed control, all the way down to the speed of a hand stitch. That’s a great asset doing work with lots of angles, like you get with automotive upholstery. especially when you’re talking about newbies and people just learning craft.

Being a belt-drive, a new motor & foot (or knee) control can be easily exchanged on most of these older machines.

Craig

[oilnsteel]

Saying you will throw something away if you don't get your price never made sense to me. If you throw it away you get nothing, Bob's offer is at least something. JT

[bezhawk]

People that won't put a price on things, I don't even bother to do business with them.

[Bob Andrews]

He did actually throw out a price, I looked as close as I could at what he has, and made a counter offer. Which it appears was not acceptable since he never responded. Oh well, it's a standing offer, that's alI I can do. Maybe he will reconsider if nobody else steps up.

[Bob Andrews]

But I agree 100% about people who won't give an asking price, I just pass them by.

[swvalcon]

Look like old singer machines. If they work and are in useable shape they are not the fastest but dependable.