About Us
A LITTLE HISTORY OF WALLY'S TRACTOR HATS
I grew up in a family of 9 boys and 1 girl, on a farm near Viola, Iowa, driving various brands of tractors, but when Dad bought the 77 Oliver at a farm auction, I thought I was in Heaven. That was the best tractor we ever had.
So, after a few other careers, including Driving truck for 13 years, and owning several sports souvenir stores in the Denver area over a 28 year period, then with the sports souvenir business taking a severe downturn, I decided I needed to do something different.
I, like many others ( and you know who you are ! ) got an inkling to grasp onto some kind of remembrance of the "Good Old Days, Back On The Farm". I decided to make up some Oliver Tractor baseball caps, but I knew I needed to address the desire for the old style, high crown cap with an embroidered patch on the front. "Back in the day", they were, made in the USA, foam lined, and the patch was sewn on. Well, those foam caps crumble with age, don't wash well and there isn't much of a supply of American made anything anymore, so I use the best cap made in China. Sewing the patch on isn't economical anymore either, so I use a heat seal process, therefore I am able to make the caps as I sell them, offer more variety, and apply the patches to various other items.
My daughter helps me run the business. She does computer stuff, bookkeeping, makes some of my items, takes phone orders, processes and ships orders, as well as keeping an eye on things while I'm travelling, and sends me things I need when I'm at the shows. I couldn't do it without her help.
My first Tractor Show, selling at, was the Oliver Summer Show in Madison, South Dakota in 2004. I had a 10 X 10 canopy, a 6' table and about 5 different Oliver cap variations. I had such a good time, and sold enough caps, that I decided this was the right thing for me to do. At my very first show, I had several people ask for other brands of tractor caps, and I knew that if I was going to do this, I would need to expand my horizons. Therefore I offer many different brands of tractor caps and many different items with Antique Tractor Emblems applied to them. Like I tell everyone, “I like all old tractors, I just like Olivers the best”.
I try to listen to my customers and get what they want ( within reason ). I believe I offer the best selection of Antique Tractor souvenir items that there is, and I believe that good quality is more important than a cheap price. When I go to tractor shows, I really enjoy hearing people say what an amazing assortment I have.
I appreciate your business, and if you ever have a problem with anything you get from me, let me know. If you like what you get from me, let your friends know.
Watch for me at your favorite Antique Tractor Show ! I try to attend about 20 - 30 each year.