Early in my career I worked at a tractor dealership. I had various jobs during 13 years at the dealership, parts man, service manager, salesman and sales manager. As life happened my career changed directions and I went to the food packaging industry. I began in that industry as a machine operator in a production facility at Central States Can Company (CSC) in Massillon, Ohio.
Production personnel are a real team with each function or department working closely with the other in order to deliver a quality product to customers according to schedule. It was a new career experience for me, and a very good one. I enjoyed the production environment and the relationships across the team. After a few months I was moved into a sales position calling on customers in eastern United States. My experience in production was valuable as I would prepare quotations to customers and prospects, and secure new business. It was easy for me to communicate with people throughout our organization regarding package materials, new features, or manufacturing capabilities. This provided good continuity and good customer service from the point of sale and beyond through ongoing deliveries.
However, many conditions and events effect sales volume and business success. Regardless of the reason, the cause of low sales volume within a facility is often viewed by production people as under performing sales people. We experienced one of those slow times and it resulted in layoffs of a few people. This created concern for many people and put pressure on me to do my job better so production volume would increase creating security of employment. One day as the concern of layoffs was at it’s peak three or four fellows from the production team came into my office with a gift.
The Can Tractor, or as they named it, Haney Deluxe Agrican. The Haney name came from the Green Acres TV show. They had used cans and lids we produced daily to make a tractor. It was pretty clever and very impressive. They said they were concerned about losing their jobs because apparently I am not capable of selling what we make. They reminded me of my past in the tractor dealership and mentioned they heard, probably from me, I was really good at selling tractors. Therefore, they wanted to demonstrate to me they could use what we have to make something I said I was really good at selling. “So if you are so good, take this tractor, go sell thousands of them so we can have secure jobs.” Or something to that effect.
The way they delivered the message really got my attention and motivated me to do my very best for my co-workers and my company. They were creative, respectful, and serious. The center photo above shows some writing on the back of the tractor, CSC ON THE MOVE. Eventually sales grew back to a healthy level as a result of two accounts I brought to the business. These were the Kool-Aid can and the Calumet Baking Powder can. These are shown at video time 33:11 and 35:12 in the video link below. Years later the facility was sold and we all went our separate ways.
More than 30 years have passed since that day. The Can Tractor became a treasure to me. It meant so much about relationships in tuff times. We have moved it 4 times as we moved to different homes. It has been prominent on my desk or bookshelf in each new location. I reflected on it during those years. We are now retired in Florida. When I unpacked it here it looked a little rough and I do not have space to keep it or display it. I threw it in the trash today and off it went to the landfill. As long as I have memory I will have THIS memory. And I will always wonder about the whereabouts and wellbeing of the wonderful people who were such an important part of my life at that time.
This link is a 47 minute history of Central States Can. Key points related to this story are listed beside or below the photo.
Key Points in video 26:45 – Mentions Ohio Paper Products, the composite can plant. 32:40 – Again mentions the composite can plant. 33:11 – Shows Kool-Aid. 35:12 shows Calumet. 40:09 – George Smart, President, comments about team work and respect.
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