The Hytrol Story

“new and narrower” Model A (which at that time was called the “Handy Boy”). There was also a unique system using wheel conveyor with the Model FJ booster conveyor. The conveyor was running during the display and moved a carton back and forth. On the side of the carton was the Hytrol slogan at that time, “Conveying Products to Profits.” Tom took several orders for his dealers right there during the show! Like the meeting before, this one was another success for Hytrol. But more importantly, these meetings instilled in Tom the notion that regular gatherings of all his dealers and distributors could be very beneficial to everyone. It brought his people closer. It gave everyone the feeling of belonging to the Hytrol Family. And that was definitely good. Hytrol was still manufacturing and selling under the Colson name, as well as selling through the Hytrol dealer organization. But there was an issue between the Hytrol dealers and Colson’s distributors. Colson sold everything at a hefty 50 percent discount. Hytrol’s dealers were having ever-increasing difficulties competing with this discount. With tensions mounting, Tom saw the threat to the Hytrol dealers from Colson. He called Colson and terminated the agreement. Almost immediately, Tom began receiving letters from Colson’s distributors, wanting to sell the Hytrol line. He needed a good man to handle the ever-increasing Hytrol dealer network. He knew there was only one person who could effectively take on this chore. Tom Loberg called Sam Leone and once again asked him to come to work for Hytrol. Sam was now interested and ready to come to work for Tom. On June 16, 1961, Tom, Chuck, and Sam met at the Oasis Restaurant, a rest facility between Chicago and Milwaukee. This restaurant was unusual in that it was built over the interstate. The three sat down and worked out all the details of Sam’s employment. The three men shook hands, and Sam became an official member of the Hytrol Family. Sam was excited. He had always been very impressed with the Hytrol line and now he was in a position to market and sell these conveyors. Sam told Tom, “This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel!” During his years with Colson, Sam had seen time and time again, how easy it was to sell Hytrol. With the simple Hytrol design, he had been able to easily teach new salesmen who knew nothing about conveyors how to price and sell Hytrol. Sam felt his new job was going to be as easy as falling off a log! But, as time would tell, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Sam was given a desk at the West Allis Hytrol factory and went straight to work. He immediately began to analyze the Hytrol dealer organization. He set new policies and began to standardize the whole dealer program. He also made changes in some of the territories when he didn’t