Although fragments already existed, the rental industry was born in that era of boundless optimism that was post-World War II America. People were moving around the country, looking for new opportunities and it was in that era of movement that the fast growth of trailer rentals took hold. After that, as young families built new lives and bought new homes, the do-it-yourself fix-up trend took hold and the initial customer base for tool and equipment rentals was the homeowner market as well as the small contractors that were building homes, offices, bridges and roads all across America.
According to legend, the beginning of rental was during The Great Depression. Although similar things probably happened in other places around the same time, one story is that legendary rental pioneer Same Greenberg, was trying to sell trucks when a guy came up to him and said, “I need a truck for a day, can I use that truck for $5?” Greenberg said, “We haven’t see $5 for a while here. Sure we’ll rent you the truck,” and the idea was born to keep renting trucks since they weren’t selling.
Others say rental dates back to the 1890s in the French Quarter in New Orleans where companies would rent china and other party equipment.
Houston-based F.W. Gartner Co. opened for business in March 1923 as a construction distribution center. As the Gartners told RER 50 years later, in 1929 they couldn’t pay for a shipment of equipment, the suppliers couldn’t afford to ship it back to the factory and the contractors had no money to buy it with. So the Gartners began renting to bring in money to pay the manufacturer and discovered it was a good business.
In the early days of rental, it was wide-open and experimental. There were no formulas, standards or guidebooks, no established ways of doing things, no metrics to measure by, no operating systems, no rules of thumb. People in different parts of the country were developing their own rental business styles and they began to meet and talk and compare notes. People shared ideas and tips, not worried that their fellow entrepreneurs might come in one day and compete against them and use the information against them.
A young publishing entrepreneur named Jim Gartland recognized the potential of rental and devoted two years to studying the market before launching National Rental Yard Register in Oct. 1957. He painstakingly combed through hundreds of telephone directories to compile the magazine’s first mailing list.
The magazine was the first of its kind and quickly took hold. Just beginning around the same time was the American Association of Rental Operations, which later became the American Rental Association. National Rental Yard Register, later shortened to Rental Yard Register and then Rental Equipment Register, became its official publication, helping the association serve its membership and provide a voice for ideas to be exchanged and information passed on to this growing group of entrepreneurs.
The magazine provided an opportunity for rental people to share best practices, to learn about greater professionalism, image, efficiencies and systems.
In the 1950s and ’60s, “We Rent Almost Anything” seemed to be the mantra for the emerging equipment rental market. One of the principal selling points of the industry was making the general public aware of the rental concept, the fact that almost any tool or piece of equipment could be rented. In-depth analysis about whether individual items were profitable was no widespread. The primary target was the homeowner. The typical rental center rented tools and equipment as well as camping equipment, home healthcare supplies (commonly known as “sickroom” supplies), party items (commonly called “soft goods”) as well as appliances such as televisions, which were popular rental items. Even furniture, refrigerators, washing machines and rollaway beds made their way into a lot of rental centers, and baby care items, such as cribs, were popular as well.
Most rental companies were family-owned and the term “mom-and-pop” operation was accurate.
Sept. ’57
On Sept. 25, 1957, nine black students entered Little Rock Central High School under the protection of 1,000 members of the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army.
Oct. ’57
The first issue of National Rental Yard Register is published and mailed to 4,000 rental dealers. Publisher/editor Jim Gartland obtains names of 4,000 rental businesses by searching through telephone directories from around the country and writing the addresses by hand. The magazine is published monthly beginning Jan. 1958.
1957
The first large scale American nuclear power plant goes into operation in Shippensport, Pa., in 1957 and will service Pittsburgh.
1957
In 1957, Berry Gordy Jr. invests $700 to found “Motown Records.”
Oct. ’57
Bill Grasse, co-owner of Acme Rents, begins RenTopics column, which would continue for 40 years, believed to be the longest-running column in the history of business journalism. The first issue profiles Acme Rents, founded in the 1930s by Grasse’s father Palmer Grasse as Acme Truck Rentals. When World War II broke out, obtaining tools became almost impossible. Palmer Grasse set out across the United States buying up used tools wherever he could find them to develop the rental business, eventually sold to sons Bill, Bob and Don, and daughter Peggy.
1957
Elvis Presley’s draft notice arrives in Dec. 1957. In early 1958 Elvis is inducted into the U.S. Army at the Memphis Draft Board. Pvt. Presley goes to Fort Hood, Texas, for basic training and is stationed there for six months.
1958
In 1958, Bill Grasse’ RenTopics columns become popular, usually written in the form of questions rental readers would send in with Grasse’s well-researched answer. An early sample:
Q: Many pieces of our equipment must stand out in the weather. Have you run across any simple plan or idea to keep this equipment dry?
A: Oh Yes! Take a truck inner tube. Cut around the middle on the inside, then cut in pieces 12” to 14” in length. These pieces will cover most of the small equipment. You will find they are shaped like an umbrella.
Jan. ’58
American Associated Rental Operators president Leonard Hawk announces it is making National Rental Yard Register its official publication.
Feb. ’58
Jim Gartland writes about how to assess the value of a rental business for a possible sale, a topic still written about and discussed in 2007.
Dr. Zhivago is published in the U.S. in 1958. Banned in the USSR, Dr. Zhivago won author Boris Pasternak the Nobel Prize, which he was forced to decline due to political forces at home.
Feb. ’58
AARO holds third annual convention in Denver.
Feb. ’58
On Feb. 3, 1958, Alaska is admitted to statehood, followed by Hawaii on Aug. 21.
1958
The 64-color assortment of Crayola crayons (with the built-in sharpener) debuts in 1958.
1958
In 1958, Crest toothpaste inaugurates the "Look, Ma! No cavities!" ad campaign.
April ’58
Gartland writes about the openness of rental center owners in regard to sharing information: “They honestly and frankly speak to each other. Divulging information and practices that will help the other firm. The reasoning behind this might be obvious, but briefly it is because rental men know that the future of this infant industry lies with the success of each individual rental firm. They know and sincerely believe that the more conscious the public becomes of rental services and facilities, the better off each will be in the years to come.
“It is a commendable characteristic and has proven its value in the birthplace of rentals.”
1958
Sweet n' Low is introduced as an artificial Sweetener, using saccharin instead of sugar. Sweet'N Low received U.S. trademark patent No. 1,000,000 in 1958.
1958
In 1958 Harry Winston, Inc. donates the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution.
July ’58
Thief who stole more than $20,000 worth of equipment from Southern California rental yards is apprehended.
1958
The price of 1st class U.S. postage is raised in 1958 to 4 cents from 3 cents where it had been for 26 years.
1958
The first domestic jet-airline passenger service is begun in 1958 by National Airlines between New York City and Miami.
1958
Rental center owners were lobbying telephone companies for a listing in the category of rental — tools and equipment — rather than be part of dozens of vague sub-classifications.
1958
In 1958, Richard P. Knerr and Arthur K. Melin, of Wham-O, manufactured a plastic hoop in a variety of bright colors called the Hula-Hoop.
1958
Modern consumer credit is born in 1958. The American Express Company introduces a charge card meant to compete with the successful Diners Club card. The Bank of America introduces the BankAmericard, which will become the Visa card.
Dec. ’58
Dec. 28, 1958 issue of Life magazine features Sam Greenberg and his Sam’s U-Drive rental center in Van Nuys, Calif. Panoramic photo shows 38 people and 29 different types of equipment, showing scope of this new industry. Feature was focused on the do-it-yourself home repair trend helping fuel the growth of young rental industry.
1959
The American Football League (AFL) is formed with eight teams in 1959. In 1966, it merged with the NFL.
1959
In 1959, Oklahoma repeals its 51-year-old Prohibition law leaving Mississippi the only "dry" state in America.
Feb. ’59
The national business publication Changing Times, published by the Kiplinger organization, writes about the growing rental business.
Feb. ’59
The day the music died. A plane crash kills singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) on Feb 3, 1959.
1959
Vince Lombardi signs on to coach Green Bay Packers in 1959, a job he would hold until 1968. Lombardi took the losing Packers to winning back-to-back NFL titles in 1961 and 1962, and Super Bowls I and II in 1966 and 1967.
March ’59
Rich Lanoha, Denver, Colo., is elected AARO president.
April ’59
Gartland speaks out against rate wars. “I have heard other rental men say the rate will be what the traffic will bear! It is surprising, and rather alarming, to hear this statement, for these men are letting their customers run their business by setting rental rates. True every business must be competitive and, by and large, customers do, by their purchasing power, direct price of sale items.
“The rental business is somewhat different and no rental owner in his right mind will alter carefully considered rates based on their costs and maintenance because a customer will not pay a specified amount.”
1959
The Barbie doll is invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel), whose own daughter was called Barbara. Barbie was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City.
1959
In 1959, Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500 auto race.
April ’59
RYR survey reveals 28 percent of customers are contractor, 63 percent homeowner, 9 percent retail sales.
1959
The Boston Celtics win over Minneapolis Lakers in the 1959 NBA championship. It is Boston's 8th consecutive NBA championship.
1959
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2 in 56th World Series in 1959. The White Sox have taken their first pennant since the "Black Sox" scandal of 1919. It is also the first time a World Series game played west of St Louis.
Nov. ’59
Thousands attend grand opening of New Mexico Equipment Co. in Albuquerque.
1959
The aluminum beer can is introduced by Coors of Golden, Colo., in 1959.
1959
Bonanza and The Twilight Zone debut on television in 1959.
1960
Ray Charles wins the Best Pop Male Vocal Grammy for “Georgia On My Mind” in 1960.
Feb. ’60
AARO entitles its Long Beach, Calif. “The Surging ‘60s” in anticipation of the new decade. It’s the association’s fifth annual convention.
Feb. ’60
More than 500 attendees at Long Beach AARO convention take a side trip to visit Sam’s U-Drive. At the conclusion of the convention, RYR publisher Gartland presents first annual “Rental-Man-of-the-Year Award,” to be given annually by Rental Yard Register. First recipient is Leonard Hawk (pictured), first president of AARO, for his “untiring efforts in establishing a national organization that has grown in just five short years to a highly respected and rapidly growing association.”
Feb. ’60
RYR estimates portable generator rental market in U.S. at $45 million.
Feb. ’60
More than 225 United Rent-Alls franchise operators attend training clinic in Lincoln, Neb. United Rent-Alls now has 250 stores, up from 165 at beginning of 1959.
March ’60
A Rate Committee is established to research the possibility of rate standardization for equipment rental. Clive DeNio of DeNio Rentals in Des Moines, chairs the group.
May ’60
The Tulsa Tribune writes feature on growing rental industry, reporting that there are 28 rental firms in the city.
June ’60
AARO executive director C.A. “Ziggy” Siegfried visits Salt Lake City to determine its suitability as a future convention site. He meets with AARO director Howard Burnett of Rent-It Center, SLC, and the city’s mayor, J. Bracken Lee.
1960
The price of gas in 1960 is $0.31, while the cost of a dozen eggs is $0.57.
June ’60
RYR offers first Rental Rate Book, which offers “suggested” rental rates on tools and equipment. It is priced at $2 for RYR subscribers, $5 for non-subscribers.
1960
John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon meet for the first televised Presidential debate in 1960. Kennedy goes on to win the election and become the youngest President of the United States.
1960
In 1960, M&M’S Peanut Chocolate Candies adds three new colors — red, green and yellow — to the original brown color.
Oct. ’60
E.B. Smith, president of franchise rental organization United Rent-Alls, estimates there are more than 4,500 small rental stores in the U.S. doing over $100,000 volume per year. Smith says rental business is increasing 25 percent per year, and estimates United Rent-Alls volume at around $10 million for the past year, with about 300 locations.
Nov. ’60
Hertz Corp. announces plans to enter equipment rental field on national basis, hiring Harlan Liss, veteran rental operator from South Bend, Ind., as vice president and GM of Hertz Rent-All Corp. The company opens its first rental store in Chicago, with emphasis on “invalid needs and party rentals.” Hertz announces plans to lease store in downtown Manhattan to display rental items, setting up a 25,000-square-foot warehouse in Long Island to service Hertz stores in the N.Y. area. It plans to open stores in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx in 1961.
Jan. ’61
Rental Yard Register changes name to current Rental Equipment Register. Publisher Gartland explains that the phrases “rental store” or “rental center” were taking over, making the term “yard” out-dated. Also, rental businesses were often listed under “Soft Goods” in Yellow Pages, and the phrase “yard” was easily misunderstood.
Jan. ’61: Rental Yard Register changes name to current Rental Equipment Register. Publisher Gartland explains that the phrases “rental store” or “rental center” were taking over, making the term yard out-dated. Also, rental businesses were often listed under “Soft Goods” in Yellow Pages, and the phrase “yard” was easily misunderstood.
Feb. ’61
Sam Greenberg of Sam’s U-Drive honored by AARO as “Rental Man of the Year.”
Feb. ’61
AARO changes name to American Rental Association.
March ’61
Utah Rental Operators Association unites with organizations representing other types of rental such as trailers and automobiles to lobby state legislature to pass anti-embezzlement legislation with teeth to prevent conversion of rented equipment.
May ’61
Rental center thief sentenced from one to 14 years in prison for series of equipment thefts in Southern California.
June ’61
Hertz Rent-All Corp. opens first franchise outlet in Norfolk, Va..
Aug. ’61
On Aug. 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall was erected and became a symbol of the Cold War. The wall divides the city of Berlin for more than 28 years.
Oct. ’61
Oct. 8 issue of Los Angeles Times highlights growth of rental industry in Southern California. Headline is “Southland Rental Yards’ Popularity is Phenomenon of Last 20 Years.”
Nov. ’61
Briggs & Stratton introduces “Easy-Spin” starting system, designed to improve starting efficiency by 50 percent on four-stroke engines on lawnmowers.
1961
Minimum wage is $1.25 an hour in 1961.
Dec. ’61
Hertz opens a rental branch on Madison Ave. in the heart of New York City.
Feb. ’62
Richard Lanoha, then of United Rent-Alls, becomes president of ARA. Lanoha would later go independent of United, establish an independent company called Rent-It Center and then Center Rentals.
1962
Pop artist Andy Warhol paints his famous Campbell’s soup cans in 1962.
March ’62
On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain sets the NBA single-game scoring record by tallying 100 points for the Philadelphia Warriors in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks.
April ’62
In April of 1962, the Census Bureau reports the median value of U.S. homes at $11,900.
April ’62
Contractors credit rental equipment from Acme Rents as playing a key role in enabling contractors, rushing to complete construction on Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, to finish the massive project in time for the start of the 1962 baseball season. When Acme Rents ran out of trucks, the contractor rented bicycles to speed up communication and coordination on the project. When Acme ran out of bicycles, it supplied bicycles belonging to the staffs’ children for a number of days.
1962
In 1962, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson begins its 30-year-run on NBC.
Sept. ’62
Continental Rental & Sales Corp., Philadelphia, Pa., rents and sets up more than 13,000 chairs in Independence Square for a speech by JFK. Continental provided all the equipment at the event.
Sept. ’62
In September of 1962, ABS Television broadcasts its first color program, The Jetsons.
Nov. ’62
Sears, the department store chain, which already operates Sears rental departments, opens a rental center in Fresno, Calif., completely separate from the main store. Rental items, in addition to concrete equipment and an array of material handlers and power tools, include movie cameras and rifles.
Dec. ’62
RER acquires Wichita, Kan.-based Trailer Lot & Rental Equipment Journal and prepares to incorporate the magazine with a separate section dealing with trailer rentals beginning in Feb. 1963.
Feb. ’63
A Canadian rental company CISCO Ltd. tells RER its rental business increased 110 percent from Sept. ’62 through Jan. ’63.
March ’63
Milton Cohen named GM of Hertz Rent-All Division of the Hertz Corp. Harlan Liss, former general manager, appointed vice president of the marketing division.
March ’63
Sears closes all rental operations after a one-year trial program is unprofitable.
May ’63
On May 1, 1963, Jim Whittaker is the first American to climb Mt. Everest.
Aug. ’63
Martin Luther King delivers his “I Have A Dream” speech on Aug. 28, 1963 from the steps on Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Sept. ’63
California Rental Association and Equipment Rental Association to holds combined convention in Long Beach in Sept. Registration fee for rental people is $2 per person.
1963
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Pete Rose receives the 1963 Rookie of the Year distinction.
Jan. ’64
United Rent-Alls holds national rental store trade clinic in Pittsburgh. URA, as of Sept ’63, has more than 400 stores in 49 states, doing retail business of more than $16 million annually.
Jan. ’64
Bekins Van & Storage Co. signs Los Angeles pharmacies to act as rental agents.
Feb. ’64
United Rent-Alls enters one-way truck rental business.
Feb. ’64
The Beatles make their debut appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in Feb. 1964 and sing “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.”
March ’64
Bekins sells its rental operations to Abbey Rents and exits rental business. Abbey later becomes major player in party rental.
March ’64
New Ohio conversion law fines people $50 for not returning rental equipment.
1964
In 1964, Coach John Wooden wins the first of many NCAA championships with the UCLA Bruins.
Nov. ’64
Nationwide Leasing Co., Chicago, acquires A to Z Equipment Rental and its 65 stores from founder Vic Neumann.
Jan. ’65
Hertz Corp. purchases Houston-based Boehck Engineering Co., officially entering the heavy equipment rental market. Hertz makes other acquisitions in Tennessee, Illinois and North Carolina.
1965
A major flood devastates Rich Lanoha’s Rent-It Center in Denver. Rental companies from around the country, in recognition of Lanoha’s contributions to the rental industry as a whole send him equipment to help rebuild and also to rent to customers to keep income coming in.
Aug. ’65
California and North Carolina pass conversion laws, making unreturned rental equipment stolen property.
1965
The miniskirt style takes off in London in 1965. Mary Quant took the idea from the 1964 designs by Courreges and made them even shorter for her boutique Bazaar.
Dec. ’65
California Rental Association convention in Palm Springs draws 1,200 registrants.
Feb. ’66
More than 2,000 attend ARA convention in Washington, D.C.
March ’66
Franchise company A to Z Rentals adds 40 branches, reaches 100 branches.
May ’66
California Rental Association devises form letter for return of overdue equipment on rent.
June ’66
J.I. Case establishes “national dealer rental system” manufacturing construction equipment specifically for rental, stating that 1 in 5 AED members had rental operations. Case vice president of marketing Morris Reid says: “Rental of equipment has become a way of life in North America.” The entire Case construction equipment line of five models of rubber-tired tractors, four sizes of four-wheel-drive loaders, and four crawler tractor models will be made available to rental customers.
July ’66
Industry pioneer Sam Greenberg writes in RER offering 25 tips to improve a “rental yard’s” appearance. Among the tips are: “The rental yard should be paved,” “the rental yard should be fenced,” “the repair areas should be separated from other facilities,” “signs should be part of the building,” “employees should have eating area,” “all equipment should be painted once a year,” “broken or unrentable equipment should be parked in the repair area,” “a rental store should be neat but not too fancy, shouldn’t be as neat as a party goods store,” “restrooms should be maintained daily,” and “large equipment should be placed against the outer walls of the yard or to the rear of the property” to not block vision. And, Greenberg counseled, “unleashed dogs should not rove the yard during business hours.”
Aug. ’66
Industry pioneer Bob Irving, A-1 Machinery Rental Co., Los Angeles, writes that ARA members and AED members have much in common and should develop a dialog.
Sept. ’66
Arcoa Inc. system processes 500,000 or more rental contracts per month for U-Haul’s 8,000 North American dealerships. System also processes dealer commissions.
1966
California begins to require pollution standards for cars in 1966.
Sept. ’66
Bob Elmen, owner of Elmen Rent-All, Sioux Falls, S.D., publishes Some Operational Aspects of the General Rental Industry, which he sells for $10. Used as the basis for his masters’ degree, Elmen’s writing is based on five years of research and 16 years in the equipment rental business. The book is viewed as the most authoritative book on the rental industry to this point. Book sells out of 500-copy print run in first month, leading to
second printing.
Sept. ’66
Always Rentals, Bellflower, Calif., rents hardwood coffins. The unusual item becomes popular item rented for TV and stage shows, fraternities and sororities for initiation ceremonies, Halloween, parties and more. Receives publicity from TV news shows, national magazines and other news media. Owner Bud Bollman says that the $25 purchase is the cheapest advertising he has ever bought.
Jan. ’67
The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I on Jan. 15, 1967 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles.
April ’67
A contractor-oriented trade publication Construction Methods predicts a 10- to 20-percent increase in rentals in 1967 “with the biggest influx of rentals coming from smaller, financially strapped contractors,” during a period of tight credit access.
The article adds that an increase in heavy equipment rental is a noticeable trend. “A year ago, most all rentals were concentrated in the small equipment field. Now contractors are renting yard cranes, truck cranes, scrapers and rubber-tired backhoes.”
April ’67
Hertz opens 100,000-square-foot facility in Baton Rouge, La.
June ’67
Arrow Rents, Montgomery, Ala., hit with disastrous fire, wiping out $125,000 worth of equipment. Owner Wayne Collett sustains multi-stitch head injury, but recovers quickly. His entire building is destroyed.
June ’67
RER columnist and co-owner of Acme Rents Bill Grasse (pictured) leads group of about 20 rental people to visit rental centers in Alaska.
Sept. ’67
URA moves its headquarters
from Lincoln, Neb., where its franchise operation started in 1948, to Los Angeles.
Jan. ’68
Roy Milling, who founded Northside Tool Rental in Atlanta in 1953, elected
ARA president.
1968
Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In debuts with regulars Goldie Hawn and Lily Tomlin.
April ’68
On April 11, 1968, President Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968, prohibiting discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing. Just a week prior, Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated at the age of 39.
May ’68
A to Z Rental Centers open 47 franchise branches from January to April 1968.
June ’68
Allmand Brothers, Holdrege, Neb., offers a low-cost leasing plan for its lighting units, fuel and fuel/lube units and generators up to 5 kW.
July ’68
RER General Manager John Hagens writes an editorial, without endorsing or opposing the war in Vietnam specifically, stating that an end to the war would result in a lot of benefits for the rental industry. “The tremendous amounts of money being spent overseas on the war will drop dramatically and at long last hundreds of necessary projects in construction will take precedence in this country,” Hagens wrote. “The federal government already has plans ready for large spending in low-cost housing, roads and similar projects once the war has ended.” Hagens added that many of the thousands of returning soldiers would be welcome additions to the rental industry because of the technical skills that they have learned.
The Vietnam War ends in 1975.
July ’68
United Rent-Alls celebrates 20-year anniversary by opening 15 branches in June and July.
Nov. ’68
Carl Kruger, inventor of the “Blue Bird” Lawn Comber, dies.
1969
John Lennon and Yoko Ono marry in 1969.
March ’69
Based on an RER survey of readers, RER reports industry’s annual volume at higher than $900 million and predicts industry rental volume to top $1 billion in 1969. Survey reveals that the average age of responding rental companies is 9.6 years and 85 percent of the stores are single-branch companies. Top contractor rental item by dollar volume is lawn mowers and edgers, followed by chain saws, tillers, floor machines and sewer augers. Best homeowner items by volume are air compressors and tools, pumps, scaffolding, electric hammers and compactors.
March ’69
RER columnist Bill Grasse presented with “Rentalman of the Year” award at ARA convention in Las Vegas, which attracted 2,300 participants.
April ’69
Al Jamison, former all-pro offensive tackle and team captain of the Houston Oilers, and later a radio announcer on Oiler games, elected assistant vice president of Hertz Equipment Rental Corp.
April ’69
TV personality Ed McMahon, best known for his involvement with The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, after becoming advertising spokesman in broadcast and print media for the A to Z Rental franchise, becomes owner of an A to Z franchise location, the company announces.
June ’69
A new corporation, Stone Construction Equipment is formed from the Construction Equipment Division of Stone Conveyor Inc.
June ’69
Green Mountain Rentals, Rutland, Vt., rents more than 100 television sets to people who wanted to watch the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. “I never knew so many people did not own a television set,” wrote manager Rusty Duff in a press release after the fact. Several newspapers in the area printed the story, giving a shot of publicity to Green Mountain and the rental concept.
July ’69
Neil Armstrong is the first man to step on the moon on July 20, 1969.
Aug. ’69
Article debates the pros and cons of a rental company painting or decaling its name on its rental equipment, now a universal practice. Among the arguments against it are that some contractors don’t want it to be known that they rely on rented equipment, and that the contractors’ employees and operators take better care of equipment if they think it belongs to their boss.
Sept. ’69
In Sept. of 1969, the first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Center, N.Y.
Oct. ’69
HERC acquires Air Mac of Washington and Oregon, a construction and industrial rental and sales company with seven branches in the Northwest and operations in the Philippines and Singapore.
1969
400,000 people attend Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, N.Y. in 1969.
Dec. ’69
Nationwide Industries, parent company of A to Z Rental franchises and A to Z Rental Inc., files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Many equipment manufacturers are among the creditors.
1969
JLG Industries Inc. is founded. Early in 1970, the first JLG aerial work platform changes how the world works.
