Detlan Equipment

In 1984 Universal Studios debuted “Back to the Future” a movie that featured Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) a typical 1980’s teenager who finds himself accidentally sent back in time to the 1950’s where he must play matchmaker with his parents-to-be, then find an alternative source of power for his DeLorean “time machine” so he can get “back to the future”. An unlikely premise for real life but it made a great movie plot.

Glenn Detweiler, owner of Detlan Equipment, could argue that his successful John Deere equipment dealership knows something about this “time travel” business. Stepping into the retail showroom on Route 113 in Silverdale, Bucks County is like traveling back in time to an era when family farms thrived and cows outnumbered people in many of the communities served by I.G. Rosenberger Company, as the business was first known more than 100 years ago.

In 1909 Isaac Rosenberger operated a general store in this small village where he sold household staples to the patrons who frequented his establishment. As his business grew he purchased a property near his current location where Detlan Equipment now stands. Since many of his customers were farmers, he began selling walk-behind plows manufactured by John Deere Equipment beginning a vendor relationship that continues today.

The business thrived and became I.G. Sales in 1946. As a boy, Glenn could be found prowling the premises where both of his parents worked. He admits that sometimes he was “chased out” but this behind the scenes look at a successful business made an impression. “I love the people,” he is quick to point out when asked about those early experiences.

By the 1970’s Detweiler was operating a commercial equipment repair business with partner Richard Landis behind the I.G. Sales retail store. Detlan Equipment, as the company was known, acquired its moniker from a combination of the business partners’ last names. In 1994 Glenn was offered an opportunity to purchase the assets of I.G. Sales and, with the business growing, in 2001 he expanded the facilities to include a larger showroom that is now filled with the latest in John Deere lawn care equipment, collectable farm equipment toys, and a full line of parts and accessories.

Today’s consumer sales are 95% homeowners and about 5% traditional agricultural customers but the company has adapted well to this change. Shiny green and yellow lawn tractors and push mowers fill the showroom. Innovative “gators”, a four-wheeled utility vehicle that is popular with maintenance crews at golf courses and school districts, are on display with mid-sized farm tractors and a variety of new and used farm equipment in the expansive lot adjacent to the main building.

The company sells and services equipment from Philadelphia to the Lehigh Valley and from New Jersey to western Montgomery County. They even have a customer in Australia! Detlan also sets up and services all John Deere mowers sold through the local Home Depot and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores.

Glenn is joined in the business by his son, Steve, and son-in-law, Geoff Moyer. The company employees 16 fulltime persons and has recently launched “Ready to Mow”, a mobile maintenance and repair service for lawn mowers. It’s ironic that an earlier version of on-site repairs was known as “Service on the Farm”. Glenn is saddened by this trend that he notes is the biggest change he has seen since purchasing the business. “We are losing our family farms and growing houses instead of crops,” he says. “There used to be ninety farm families attending Blooming Glen Mennonite Church (where Glenn is a member). Now there are only two.”

In spite of these changes, Glenn isn’t about to live in the past. He recognizes that the future holds plenty of opportunities to serve the next generation of “weekend warriors” who will need a reliable provider of lawn and garden equipment, accessories, and expert advice. So it’s “back to the future” for this thriving family business. The “DeLorean time machine” is optional.

Filed in: Retail, Accounting & Attest Functions, Tax Planning