Bill ,
I wanted to drop you a note to congratulate you and your family and all of the associates at Bane Clene on your upcoming 50th Anniversary in business. I was recently building the Facebook page for my new employer – HydraMaster and US Products, and I could not help but think of you and your company as I was posting an article I wrote about Longevity in the carpet cleaning equipment and chemical manufacturing industry.
Longevity is a powerful thing. 50 years in our wonderful and crazy industry is really something to celebrate. It speaks to the integrity of the Bane family, and the care you have always shown your customers.
I often think about the original times back at the AIDS convention (RIA) when you and my father had to deal with all the shampooers wondering what these new fangled extraction machines were. You and Ralph tell/told some great stories about those days.
Congratulations again, best to your family, and best wishes for your future.
God bless,
Doyle Bloss, Marketing and Brand Manager
HydraMaster/US Products
Hi Doyle,
Thanks for the thoughtful note. We humans must be wired together someway. Last night, as you wrote to me, I was busy in our Florida hideaway updating my history of the industry (from my perspective of course)....and your dad was on my mind. Is that spooky or what?
I met Ralph at a convention in Cleveland in 1973. We were right across the isle from each other and joked back and forth for three days. I kidded him about the thing he was selling looking like a big Juke Box and he would come back at me with it being better than the Iron Lung I was trying to peddle. Ed York was there and snubbed us both in his usual arrogant manner.
On the last day in Cleveland, Ralph came over and said, "Bill, tell the truth. Have you sold anything?" I sheepishly had to admit I hadn't. He said, "How about I buy one of yours and you buy one of mine and then we can go home and say we didn't get skunked?"
When he acquired Steamway from Seabloom Ralph asked me to be his distributor in Indiana and I was flattered. The last time I saw him was in Toledo, I think it was in '93.
Your new company brings back memories of Bob Langley. What a fun guy. Thanks again Doyle. All the best to you in your career.
Bill
PS - The only good thing to come out of that Cleveland meeting was that I met Ken Hilbert there. In 1976 Ken bought one of our systems and has been one of the best customers anyone could ever hope for. I didn't know this when I told Ralph I got skunked.
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Please e-mail me at wfbane@baneclene.com.
