The Hytrol Story

Business was good, but Tom, Chuck and their employees were still building everything in their small, 40 x 60 foot building. As luck would have it, Tom was able to purchase two private residences adjacent to their building and thus expanded the plant. There was still a loan on the building, and Tom tried to get some short term help. Henry Loberg, Tom’s father, declined his request for a loan. He told his son that his house was paid for, and he didn’t want to take any chances on anything! Tom was a bit peeved at his dad at first, but in effect, it forced him to look elsewhere for a loan. It gave Tom the experience of borrowing money and being obligated to pay it back. Tom went to a man he knew in town, almost a stranger, and asked for a loan. The man agreed and Tom signed a loan agreement. He told the man he’d pay six percent, but the gentleman only charged him three percent. Hytrol Conveyor and the Lobergs entered the 1950’s with a better grip on prosperity. The company was receiving enough orders to keep everyone busy. Tom and Rex Yocum were still traveling to agriculture shows and exhibitions and demonstrating the Hytrol line of feed and seed handling conveyors. One day Tom and Rex were having one of their business conversations, and Tom began talking about branching out from Seedburo. Tom told Rex, “I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.” Rex answered by saying, “Put all your eggs in one basket--- but let ME carry the basket!” Tom chuckled at that and agreed. Rex and Seedburo continued to sell and market Hytrol conveyors. They kept Tom and Chuck and their business going and orders continued to come in. But Tom continued to grow the business. He began designing and manufacturing different kinds of conveyors. As the 1950’s progressed, Hytrol began offering not only seed and feed handling units, but horizontal belt conveyors for other industries. The Models TA and TR conveyors were perfectly suited for manufacturing and assembly operations. Seedburo really couldn’t sell all that Hytrol was producing. 4 l e t m e c a r r y t h e b a s k e t