Interviewer
Dale Johnson
Files
Description
Eldo Raph talks about the history of the Dillon Implement Company from its founding and incorporation on October 24, 1886, to its succession of owners during the early and mid-20th century. Raph describes the kinds of the things the company original sold including farm equipment, buggies and wagons, which slowly evolved into carrying hardware supplies to repair those implements. Raph recalls being hired by the company’s owners in the mid-20th century to manage the hardware part of the business. He discusses shortly after he bought the business outright with the help of a partner. Raph talks about the apartments on the top floor of the company’s building which he continued to rent to college students after he bought the business. He briefly mentions the store’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1986.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Dillion Implement Company; Dillon, Montana; Farming equipment; Ranching equipment; Farming implements; Ranching implements; Machinery; Tools; Hardware stores; Community businesses; Small businesses; Small business owners
Original Date
11-13-1986
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Montana Businesses Oral History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana-Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 169-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (60 min.) analog + 1 transcript (7 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
00:26:16 minutes
Local Filename
OH_169-001.mp3; OH_169-001.pdf
Citation
Raph, Eldo, "Eldo Raph Interview, November 13, 1986" (1986). Montana Businesses Oral History Collection. 10.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtbusinesses_oralhistory/10