From a 1963 article in the Advertiser-Democrat on the early history of Ripley & Fletcher Company, it states: "There were two styles of Fords in those days - touring and tourabout, or roadster. The 1909 Ford was a gleaming vehicle, having a powerful four-cylinder motor, no doors, brass trimmings, carbide lights and bulb horn."
"In 1911, doors were added. The Model A appeared in 1928 and 1932 saw the start of eight-cylinder units. An example of the economy of those Model A's is borne out by the fact that a brand new one was purchased for $500.00, driven nineteen years and sold for $150.00."
In DEALER WORLD, March, 1981, a publication for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers and dealership managers, an article states: "While going through some old records recently, James Bryant, Sales Manager for Ripley & Fletcher Company, Ford dealership in South Paris, Maine, got a lesson in once-upon-a-time inflation rates and a look at how some sales were consummated in Ford dealerships years ago.
"Invoices recording the sale of two new Ford Touring Cars provided Bryant's education. The first car was sold in 1917 by Ripley & Fletcher for $415.30. As part of the deal, the customer got to trade in a horse valued at $150.00. The invoice for the second sale, made six years later in 1923, shows an annual inflation rate back then of about 1-1/3 percent. The second touring car was sold for $448.22, a price increase of just $32.92 in six years." (Editor's note: Bryant says Ripley & Fletcher was established in 1909 and has operated from the same building, with a few changes, for all these years. He closed his letter with this postscript: "We had to have the horse laid away last year.")
I hope you enjoy the story.
Don
Monday, September 20, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
A story from Ripley & Fletcher's past
The following is an excerpt from "A Story of Maine Pluck" as told by Perley Ripley to Arthur Staples, the author.
Perley Ripley told about the way he got into the Ford Agency and how one day he took his life in his hands, cast discretion to the winds, bartered his future, called down on his head the reproach and the ridicule of the community that dubbed him "crazy" and a "damn fool" and bought a whole car-load of Fords - three cars in a car-load.
When they arrived at South Paris, Norway and as far away as Rumford Point, the rest of the nearby world came to the station to see them come in. Never was there such a crowd - not even at the circus. He himself had not slept for a week, awaiting their arrival by rail and pondering on their unloading. Perley had Al Spear from Portland bring a man with him and also had several house and building movers from around South Paris there. He also had the Republicans and the Democrats there, and the scene as that massive carload of Fords was unloaded was worth witnessing. "Well," he said, "times have changed. Now they send a boy and a man over and they unload a carload of Fords while you wait."
"Of course I sold 'em - just about did it and that was all. Some transaction, I am going to say. Almost $3,000.00 right there, yes almost $3,000.00, by gorry. Then I trade cars and bought them, and then I sold them. The first car I bought, I ran a season and in the time when I decided to sell it, I had a customer pretty well landed. He was backing and filling and I knew he wanted that car overmuch. That's the time to sell it and that's the man for a customer. He lived in Andover, so one morning I started bright and early for Andover to sell that car. He lived on top of a hill and before I got to his house, I drove the car into a side road to let her cool off. She WAS boiling - I assure you; yes, she was boiling. I oiled her up and smoothed her down and patted and encouraged her and when I drove by that man's house, she was going good. I turned back and sort of remembered that I had heard that, maybe, he might buy a car. Mebbe he might, didn't know, mebbe he might. I found him at home and he was interested."
"Well, I stood around chewing wheat straw, leg on the rail of the barnyard fence and talked with him all day. We were talking at noon and we were talking at 2 P.M. Finally, he did say all of a sudden that he would gimme a three year old colt and a pair of big seven-foot oxen for the car."
"You've got a car," said I.
"When you ready to deliver the car?" said he, kinder hesitating as though he were sorry.
"She's all delivered," says I. "There she stands; hitch me to the oxen and the colt and I'll be going along. I've got SOME tramp."
"How you going to get them oxen home?" asked the man.
"Don't you worry," says I. "Them oxen belong to me, the trade's made. I'll take 'em right in charge from this minute."
"Gosh," he said, "hain't going to walk "em home, be ye?"
"Now, if I hadn't taken those oxen and the colt then, he would never have taken the automobile. Night would have brought him different counsel. So I got a piece of twine, hitched those oxen together and started at 2:30 P.M. for South Paris. It was into the night when I reached Rumford Point. Think of what it meant with the oxen stumbling along through the night and I leading a three year old colt, footing it every step of the way."
I got supper at Rumford Point, traded with a man to drive the oxen in the next day and started with the colt, leading him into South Paris. Forty mortal miles it was between Andover and my door yard. I fairly stumbled in along after daybreak. And that colt was just able to totter."
"I got the oxen in a few days, traded them, sold the colt and got a good thing. THAT's an autombile trade. But the trek through the night, leading a colt, trailing two oxen walking mortal slow, edging them along, stumbling in the way, was unforgettable. But, that's partly how I made my start. And I was only a boy in the trade game at that."
The first Ford to be SOLD was in 1910 to George Atwood, owner and publisher of the Oxford Democrat. Ten cars were sold that first year.
I hope you enjoyed the story. There will be others to follow.
Thanks for reading.
Don
Perley Ripley told about the way he got into the Ford Agency and how one day he took his life in his hands, cast discretion to the winds, bartered his future, called down on his head the reproach and the ridicule of the community that dubbed him "crazy" and a "damn fool" and bought a whole car-load of Fords - three cars in a car-load.
When they arrived at South Paris, Norway and as far away as Rumford Point, the rest of the nearby world came to the station to see them come in. Never was there such a crowd - not even at the circus. He himself had not slept for a week, awaiting their arrival by rail and pondering on their unloading. Perley had Al Spear from Portland bring a man with him and also had several house and building movers from around South Paris there. He also had the Republicans and the Democrats there, and the scene as that massive carload of Fords was unloaded was worth witnessing. "Well," he said, "times have changed. Now they send a boy and a man over and they unload a carload of Fords while you wait."
"Of course I sold 'em - just about did it and that was all. Some transaction, I am going to say. Almost $3,000.00 right there, yes almost $3,000.00, by gorry. Then I trade cars and bought them, and then I sold them. The first car I bought, I ran a season and in the time when I decided to sell it, I had a customer pretty well landed. He was backing and filling and I knew he wanted that car overmuch. That's the time to sell it and that's the man for a customer. He lived in Andover, so one morning I started bright and early for Andover to sell that car. He lived on top of a hill and before I got to his house, I drove the car into a side road to let her cool off. She WAS boiling - I assure you; yes, she was boiling. I oiled her up and smoothed her down and patted and encouraged her and when I drove by that man's house, she was going good. I turned back and sort of remembered that I had heard that, maybe, he might buy a car. Mebbe he might, didn't know, mebbe he might. I found him at home and he was interested."
"Well, I stood around chewing wheat straw, leg on the rail of the barnyard fence and talked with him all day. We were talking at noon and we were talking at 2 P.M. Finally, he did say all of a sudden that he would gimme a three year old colt and a pair of big seven-foot oxen for the car."
"You've got a car," said I.
"When you ready to deliver the car?" said he, kinder hesitating as though he were sorry.
"She's all delivered," says I. "There she stands; hitch me to the oxen and the colt and I'll be going along. I've got SOME tramp."
"How you going to get them oxen home?" asked the man.
"Don't you worry," says I. "Them oxen belong to me, the trade's made. I'll take 'em right in charge from this minute."
"Gosh," he said, "hain't going to walk "em home, be ye?"
"Now, if I hadn't taken those oxen and the colt then, he would never have taken the automobile. Night would have brought him different counsel. So I got a piece of twine, hitched those oxen together and started at 2:30 P.M. for South Paris. It was into the night when I reached Rumford Point. Think of what it meant with the oxen stumbling along through the night and I leading a three year old colt, footing it every step of the way."
I got supper at Rumford Point, traded with a man to drive the oxen in the next day and started with the colt, leading him into South Paris. Forty mortal miles it was between Andover and my door yard. I fairly stumbled in along after daybreak. And that colt was just able to totter."
"I got the oxen in a few days, traded them, sold the colt and got a good thing. THAT's an autombile trade. But the trek through the night, leading a colt, trailing two oxen walking mortal slow, edging them along, stumbling in the way, was unforgettable. But, that's partly how I made my start. And I was only a boy in the trade game at that."
The first Ford to be SOLD was in 1910 to George Atwood, owner and publisher of the Oxford Democrat. Ten cars were sold that first year.
I hope you enjoyed the story. There will be others to follow.
Thanks for reading.
Don
Friday, September 3, 2010
Ford incentives
Good morning!
I wanted to let everyone know that Ford is offering some great incentives on the 2010's. Depending on what vehicle you're interested in, Ford is offering up to $5,500 in rebates (rebates in this range are on the trucks, cars & SUV's are less but still very good) or 0% financing on many models.
Let me know what you're looking for and I should be able to give you a deal you will be very pleased with.
We also have many 2011's on our lot if you prefer, and there are some good offers from Ford on many of those models as well.
Have a great Labor day week-end.
I wanted to let everyone know that Ford is offering some great incentives on the 2010's. Depending on what vehicle you're interested in, Ford is offering up to $5,500 in rebates (rebates in this range are on the trucks, cars & SUV's are less but still very good) or 0% financing on many models.
Let me know what you're looking for and I should be able to give you a deal you will be very pleased with.
We also have many 2011's on our lot if you prefer, and there are some good offers from Ford on many of those models as well.
Have a great Labor day week-end.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Our Website!
Hi, it's Don again.
Check out Ripley & Fletcher Ford at ripleyandfletcher.com or on facebook at Ripley & Fletcher Ford. We're on twitter also at Ripley & Fletcher.
Our physical address is 80 Main Street in South Paris, Maine, 04281. Our land phone is 207-743-8938 and my cell is 207-739-9339.
Thanks!
Check out Ripley & Fletcher Ford at ripleyandfletcher.com or on facebook at Ripley & Fletcher Ford. We're on twitter also at Ripley & Fletcher.
Our physical address is 80 Main Street in South Paris, Maine, 04281. Our land phone is 207-743-8938 and my cell is 207-739-9339.
Thanks!
Who and where are we?
Hi, my name is Don Tibbetts and I want you to know about Ripley and Fletcher Ford.
Ripley & Fletcher Ford has been in business since 1909 and has a long and rich tradition selling and servicing new Ford cars and trucks and our fine selection of pre-owned vehicles. We want your business and will work to earn your trust.
We understand your investment in a vehicle is a big decision and that you're looking for quality, dependability and the lowest possible cost of ownership. So if you're in the market for a new or pre-owned car, truck or van, please think of me and Ripley & Fletcher Ford. We don't do gimmicks or come-ons, we'll give you an honest, fair deal and follow-up with a continued commitment to your satisfaction.
P.S. ...You'll be very pleased with our service, parts and body shop departments also.
I hope to see you soon!
Ripley & Fletcher Ford has been in business since 1909 and has a long and rich tradition selling and servicing new Ford cars and trucks and our fine selection of pre-owned vehicles. We want your business and will work to earn your trust.
We understand your investment in a vehicle is a big decision and that you're looking for quality, dependability and the lowest possible cost of ownership. So if you're in the market for a new or pre-owned car, truck or van, please think of me and Ripley & Fletcher Ford. We don't do gimmicks or come-ons, we'll give you an honest, fair deal and follow-up with a continued commitment to your satisfaction.
P.S. ...You'll be very pleased with our service, parts and body shop departments also.
I hope to see you soon!
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