The Hytrol Story

four from King Edward with a rough-top rubber belt, and three more orders on approval. He had nine orders! It was the most orders he’d ever had at one time! Now, Tom Loberg had some work to do, not only to build these conveyors, but to find out just exactly what a “Rough-Top Rubber Belt” was! He had no idea! He had quoted the $175 price right off the top of his head! Tom began to work on this new conveyor which would have the rubber belt. He made some inquiries and found a source for the belt. A man down the street who did their sheet metal work rolled the pulleys, and Tom welded the cross pieces in and a shaft in place. When it was all done, it came to just under the $175 that Tom had originally quoted. With these orders for the tobacco companies, and from that day on, Tom and Hydro-Controls were never without an order. Tom began using the rough-top belt on all his conveyors. It just made good business sense. The units performed flawlessly. Word began to spread about Hydro-Controls new belt conveyor. Rex Yocum of Seedburo Equipment Company in Chicago called on Tom. Seedburo was now interested in this newly designed conveyor. Tom told Rex just to call whenever he needed one of the units. Thus, Seedburo became Hydro-Controls’ first distributor. There was no formal or written contract; just a handshake between Tom Loberg, the manufacturer and Rex Yocum, the distributor. That sealed the agreement. Tom began the manufacture and Seedburo began to market and sell this Hydro-Controls conveyor. Orders began pouring in. Tom and Rex Yocum, owner of Seedburo, began traveling together on the road to various seed and farm equipment shows to show off Tom’s unique belt conveyor. In one instance, they even had to sneak a model B into their hotel room! It was a little tricky, but they managed to tip the conveyor on end to take it up in the elevator! They’d take it in and out at night when there were no hotel managers lurking about! It was around this time that Tom dropped the name Hydro-Controls. He took the “HY” from Hydro and the “TROL” from Controls and shortened it to HYTROL. It was now Hytrol Conveyor Company. With a sly grin, he pointed out that the name also contained his initials; H.T.L.-! He jokingly told people he was a vain guy!