Nice video! I love my steiner 220 (put in a honda gx630, which fit like a glove). Planning on a full body and paint job this winter. I know it's only two wheel drive but she cuts like a beast and is very stable even on inclines.
I didn't occur to me at the time, but I'm pretty sure I walked right past you in the Sprunger Bulding at the swap meet. I think we even made eye contact and only after the day was wrapping up and I was loading my trailer that I thought it may have been you.
I was going to talk to you after I got my duel wheel tool, But I could not stay the whole day and never got the opertunity. I did see you on the tractor a few times and talking to people. Maybe next year. I am planning on going again. Great time.
Great, cool, topic...and nicely presented. It's the type of story that makes you proud of our country and admire the Steiners'. I appreciate seeing this-- thank you for the effort it took! This embodies a bigger implicit lesson about innovation, creativity, and problem-solving that made made our country so great. It's a fine time to think about that. 🙂
I've lived in Wayne County for 26 years and this video explained so much of things in the area. Thank you for presenting the history! I lived close to the original Church Road facility for many years but didn't know the history behind it. I watched as the new Ventrac facility was built in my town and still did not know the history. I recently purchased a Ventrac 4500y from a Smuckers employee that purchased it from Mast Lepley. It's awesome to hear the history of these awesome little machines. I'm curious as to where you are from? You amassed a great deal of information from this little area and it is an area that doesn't share much info. You have certainly done well with your research.
I have a 4500Y myself and love it. Stay tuned for part 3 of the Ventrac hisrory. There I will go over the history on the start of the Ventrac line, And the product lineup from the very start to now. Glad you enjoyed it. I am from Northwest Ohio.
I always wanted to know the history and links to Steiner, so thanks‼ I look forward to the next eps, and the future supported by Toro. I think we'll see a battery Ventrac at some point in the future. Not for commercial use initially, but for the well-to-do who want to mow and dig Ventrac style and not worry about an engine.
I'm sure it will come at some point... but it won't be anytime soon. Ventracs are power hungry units, and the chassis is already packed tight. It would require a significantly larger unit just to hold the batteries required for a couple acres of mowing.
We’ve got an old Steiner in our sidewalk snow removal fleet. I believe it’s an S-16. We used it during the recent blizzard. We ended up getting 24” of snow. That unit with the power v plow was almost unstoppable. Still getting it done and it’s about 46 years old. 👍
@@jeffgootjes8418 If it has a hydraulic fluid tank to power a mower it would be a 77. 1978 used the pto belt. There were not many made of either one. The UM428s are really nice machines. My dealer had one when I got my 430. I would have loved to have it, But I think it cost like 10k more than my 430. They are pretty handy tho.
@@steiger256 it has a pto belt so it must be a 78 or later. The Utilimax is really nice. We retro fitted a boss v plow to it and goes through anything. The dump box we mainly use for spreading mulch.
You should do one on the future of Ventrac. What role will the Steiners play in the company going forward. What if any plans does Toro have for the company.
Really appreciate the video and all the historical photos! I was kind of hoping to find out - how did we end up with those Steiner tractors that look almost like Ventrac 4500s? Does the current Steiner company have some shared ownership over the 4500 design?
I am not sure if it had a model number. From what I have researched there were only 2 made and 1 was lost in a fire. There is 1 left in Ohio. I thought they were made and sold, But from what I have been researching they never made more than 2 of them. I am still researching them to find out more about them. I would like to do a seperate video on them someday when I can find out more history of them.
@@steiger256 thank you very much for the information. I really appreciate it. I do have one other question for you. I have a landscaping business and am looking to buy a Ventrac. Which model do you recommend, the 4500 or 4520? Thank you.
@@ericciardi5715 I have only had a few hours on a 4520. Both of them are great machines. The hydrolics are improved on the 4520. If you want a new machine go with the 4520, If you dont mind a used tractor you can find lots of nice 4500s. You cant go wrong with either. Thos probably is not the answer you were looking for, But you cant really go wrong with any Ventrac.
They were Steiner in the beginning. They then started Ventrac later. Most people think they copied, But they did not. I will do another video in more detail on the Ventrac side. This was just a history on how it was all started.
