 On the Easter weekend of March 27-29, 1970, our family moved from Marengo, Illinois to Plymouth, Wisconsin. The company my Dad had worked for in Hampshire, Illinois, Playschool, had just been purchased by Milton Bradley and were relocating the plant to New Jersey.
We had moved to Marengo from Appleton, Wisconsin in 1964, and were now looking to move back to Wisconsin. Dad quickly found a job before our move, and thus on Monday, March 30, 1970, he began work at a company in Plymouth, Wisconsin known as Gilson Brothers, a manufacturer of lawn and garden equipment- roto tillers, snow blowers, cement mixers, cast iron grills, mini bikes, go karts and even snowmobiles. Much of Gilson’s product line was privately labeled for Montgomery Ward as well. Dad’s responsibility was as Gilson’s inventory control manager, a position he dedicated himself to from March 1970 until early 1973. During that time, he even purchased one of their snowmobiles for our family to use. Skipping ahead 50 years; since our family invests itself in motorsports history, Jacques was able to find a Gilson 434 model, manufactured in March of 1971, right in the middle of my Dad’s tenure of being responsible for inventorying every part that made up that very sled. It never raced, it never competed, but every part was looked over by Del Dresang. A worthy piece for our shop. Soon to be restored.  The lone Yamaha made the show at Eagle River yesterday, locking in the final front row position for today's World Championship.
The lone 4-stroke engine to ever make the WC final. A privateer Yamaha sled representing a brand getting out of the sport, piloted a vintage racer in his first attempt at the WC. Go blue. |
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Kettle Moraine Preservation & Restoration
[email protected] Hubertus, Wisconsin 'Where History and Integrity Meet' |