- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
This post from Don Blair popped up on my Facebook Memories today. Certainly worth cross posting.
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30 June 1975.
45 years ago today I founded Sierra Moreno Mercantile Company. As I reflect back, I believe that it is fair to say that such a simple act not only changed my life in so many ways that I could not have foreseen, but I can honestly say that I changed an industry forever as well. For all of the changes in the world since 1975, I've adapted to technology where I've had to as evidenced by this rare post on Facebook. I come from a generation that thought that a fax machine was about as far as technology was going to get, which at the time was pretty far. Like many of my time, our first computer was a Tandy. As an arborist, I knew Steve Jobs personally (did his work), but wasn't astute enough to trade the work for stock in Apple.
One thing I have not changed is my stubbornness when it comes to quality. I have never been willing to compromise or go overseas to get something copied so it could be sold for less. All of my saddles, chainsaw lanyards and many other time-proven products are still made by hand in small shops right here in the United States. The H-2 Lowering Device is still handmade by one man - Ken Johnson.
When I founded SMMC, there were very few arborist supply companies in the United States. Since there was no internet, no Arbor Age or TCI Magazine, most business was pretty local. In California, Bishop Company was in Southern California, Western Tool and Hardware was in San Francisco (primarily serving Pacific, Gas and Electric) they had 2 or 3 styles of tree saddle, Brooks climbers, 3-1/2" Buckingham redwood spikes, Fanno No. 8 handsaws and manila wire-core fliplines. Back East, I knew of Bartlett Mfg, A. M. Leonard and Karl Kuemmerling. Our manila-fiber tree ropes came from Tubbs Cordage (San Francisco) and Plymouth Cordage (Columbian Group). Western Tool and Hwde. and Kuemmerling are long-gone. Bishop Company is part of a huge conglomerate of arborist suppliers, Bartlett Mfg. has changed hands and no longer makes the tree paint they were so well known for.
So, from the way things were in 1975, I may be the last independent arborist supply company under the same single owner. One simple answer may be that I was real young when I started. Other answers are that I've turned down many offers to sell out. Don't forget, I wasn't astute enough to buy Apple stock directly from Steve Jobs. That said, I did think I was going to retire in 2014...almost made it but got talked out of it 24 hours later on News Year's Day 2015. I'm glad for that.
At this stage in our life, Blair's Arborist Equipment is just myself and my wife, Laurie. Some people seem surprised when I answer the phone, but it won't get answered unless I do. I generally take the order, do the packing and shipping. Laurie handles the paperwork, billing and purchasing. I really enjoy maintaining the personal contact that made SMMC a success 45 years ago.
I did think it would be fun to start with a clean slate and bring the family name back into the business so I re-incorporated as Blair's Arborist Equipment, LLC. Hence our tagline "Serving the Trees Since 1911". Since my father, Millard F. Blair first started doing tree work in 1911 in one way or another, we have been serving the trees continuously (with time out for The Great War aka World War One) one way or another; either by working on the trees directly through the application of arborist skills or designing and marketing improved and unique products for safer and more efficient tree care or writing, lecturing, training or consultation. That is 109 years of continuous service through the efforts of a father and son!
That's enough reflection. I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way, all of the friends for life I've made along the way (all too many have passed in this life but will never be forgotten, at least as long as I am alive). I am probably most proud knowing that in one way or another much of what I have done with my life has saved the lives of fellow arborists. One cannot ask for a better legacy than that.
Donald F. Blair
Donald F. Blair
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30 June 1975.
45 years ago today I founded Sierra Moreno Mercantile Company. As I reflect back, I believe that it is fair to say that such a simple act not only changed my life in so many ways that I could not have foreseen, but I can honestly say that I changed an industry forever as well. For all of the changes in the world since 1975, I've adapted to technology where I've had to as evidenced by this rare post on Facebook. I come from a generation that thought that a fax machine was about as far as technology was going to get, which at the time was pretty far. Like many of my time, our first computer was a Tandy. As an arborist, I knew Steve Jobs personally (did his work), but wasn't astute enough to trade the work for stock in Apple.
One thing I have not changed is my stubbornness when it comes to quality. I have never been willing to compromise or go overseas to get something copied so it could be sold for less. All of my saddles, chainsaw lanyards and many other time-proven products are still made by hand in small shops right here in the United States. The H-2 Lowering Device is still handmade by one man - Ken Johnson.
When I founded SMMC, there were very few arborist supply companies in the United States. Since there was no internet, no Arbor Age or TCI Magazine, most business was pretty local. In California, Bishop Company was in Southern California, Western Tool and Hardware was in San Francisco (primarily serving Pacific, Gas and Electric) they had 2 or 3 styles of tree saddle, Brooks climbers, 3-1/2" Buckingham redwood spikes, Fanno No. 8 handsaws and manila wire-core fliplines. Back East, I knew of Bartlett Mfg, A. M. Leonard and Karl Kuemmerling. Our manila-fiber tree ropes came from Tubbs Cordage (San Francisco) and Plymouth Cordage (Columbian Group). Western Tool and Hwde. and Kuemmerling are long-gone. Bishop Company is part of a huge conglomerate of arborist suppliers, Bartlett Mfg. has changed hands and no longer makes the tree paint they were so well known for.
So, from the way things were in 1975, I may be the last independent arborist supply company under the same single owner. One simple answer may be that I was real young when I started. Other answers are that I've turned down many offers to sell out. Don't forget, I wasn't astute enough to buy Apple stock directly from Steve Jobs. That said, I did think I was going to retire in 2014...almost made it but got talked out of it 24 hours later on News Year's Day 2015. I'm glad for that.
At this stage in our life, Blair's Arborist Equipment is just myself and my wife, Laurie. Some people seem surprised when I answer the phone, but it won't get answered unless I do. I generally take the order, do the packing and shipping. Laurie handles the paperwork, billing and purchasing. I really enjoy maintaining the personal contact that made SMMC a success 45 years ago.
I did think it would be fun to start with a clean slate and bring the family name back into the business so I re-incorporated as Blair's Arborist Equipment, LLC. Hence our tagline "Serving the Trees Since 1911". Since my father, Millard F. Blair first started doing tree work in 1911 in one way or another, we have been serving the trees continuously (with time out for The Great War aka World War One) one way or another; either by working on the trees directly through the application of arborist skills or designing and marketing improved and unique products for safer and more efficient tree care or writing, lecturing, training or consultation. That is 109 years of continuous service through the efforts of a father and son!
That's enough reflection. I want to thank everyone who helped me along the way, all of the friends for life I've made along the way (all too many have passed in this life but will never be forgotten, at least as long as I am alive). I am probably most proud knowing that in one way or another much of what I have done with my life has saved the lives of fellow arborists. One cannot ask for a better legacy than that.
Donald F. Blair
