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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very cool. I’ve tried looking into the history of ventrac but wasn’t able to find much. Thanks for finally shedding some light into their past.
Love my 4231 ventrac,still kicking but with all different equipments. Proven machine.
Thank you for the history lesson.Look forward to the next installments.❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
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. 🙂
Very well put together, thank you for your efforts!
Good information. Looking forward to more company history. Thanks for sharing
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.
2012 was also the year that they consolidated their Church Rd, and Water St plants into one new (and current) location on Venture Drive in Orrville.
What a great video. I can't wait to see the other two. I own a 2019 , 4500z with a tough cut and a power bucket/grapple.
Awesome video, Great people to work for too.
Great history, learn from greatest machine for landscaping work!
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.
Good video, thanks for your time on making it.
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. 👍
Old S-16. Do you know what year it is? They are tanks. The single cylinder Kohler is a great engine.
@@steiger256 I think it’s a late 70’s model. We also have a 420 from the green cushman years and a 428UM Utilimax with the dump box on the back.
@@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.
Awesome video! Thanks for the content!
I'd like to see video that follows the progress of Steiner and Ventrac product simultaneously after the split.
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.
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.
I will look into that. Thanks for the idea.
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.
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?
Good job very informative. But after all that information my brain is a little tired lol
I'd love to hear about the split off of the Steiner Tractor brand
I sure wish they still had the muffler on the outside !!!! Melt all my friggin wires even with the heat shield.
Ray with courtyard landscape
Canada 😅
Send this guy a round tuit
There is a guy on one of the Facebook ventrac groups that would like to discuss some things with you. He was asking if you were on Facebook.
I dont Facebook. He can Email me at steiger256@yahoo.com i could get his contact information.
I didn't know Tilmor and Toro where all in the same group now.
I am not sure they are. They started Tilmor, But I am not sure if that was part of Ventrac when sold to Toro. I will have to find that out.
Tilmor is NOT owned by Toro. Toro only wanted the lawn care side if things. not the agriculture part. Tilmor is its own separate company
This is an awesome video. What is the name/ model of the 100hp tractor that Steiner made in the 80's?
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.
@@steiger256 thank you very much. I really appreciate your help. You were very helpful.
@@ericciardi5715 Glad to help
I hope toro doesn’t do to ventrac what it did to wheel horse
It’s more of Steiner than ventrac history
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.
@@steiger256 can you make a Steiner history one please?
@@justinreed2708 I am going to do one from 1975 to 1988. That will be next.
@@steiger256 👍