(Courtesy of Guest Blogger and HGR Customer Harriet Haxton)
In the word’s of Harriet about her and her husband’s most recent purchase:
“Calvin says you’re always interested in seeing what people do with the stuff they buy from you. Check out the pics of our most recent purchase. We call it the Lunar Lander Dog Food Bin. The first pic shows it in almost-original condition, with the exception of the position of the float. We like it sticking out of the top rather than hidden inside. Calvin added a Delrin stopper to the float tube so it hangs on the side of the bin while we’re scooping kibble. Pretty cool, eh?
Thanks for your patience with our many questions and keep up the good finds!”
We did a little Q&A. Here is more information about the Haxtons:
Q: How did you find out about HGR?
A: Calvin found HGR online through searching, searching, searching
Q: How long ago did you start shopping here, and why?
A: Calvin has been buying tools from HGR for a couple of years for his job shop which uses old machine tools. No CNC for him! He even uses equipment of my grandfather’s from the early 20th century and late 19th.
Q: What types of items have you bought? What do you look for?
A: He wants stuff for the shop. If he finds something weird, interesting or potentially useful for me, he shows it to me. Before the “Lunar Lander,” we got a stainless steel commercial kitchen floor cabinet. Our house is a pre-1860s log house. It has no built-in cabinets anywhere. We have an old Hoosier, a six-foot steel commercial shelving unit and a very old one-piece enamel sink/drainboard for counter space and storage. Now it’s considered “industrial chic” but we just like sturdy stuff that’s cheap and easy to clean. Brand new commercial kitchen fixtures are horrendously expensive! Besides, finding something unexpected from you at a bargain price is great fun!
Q: I understand that you are from Maryland. Have you ever visited us in person?
A: Visiting you was on our agenda on our last visit to Ohio (in June). Brake problems forced us to leave early. But we still plan to some day! We heat with wood; so, we don’t travel much in winter.
Q: What field do you work in?
A: I worked in the software industry for 23 years. 9/11 killed off most of my customers and the idea of dressing up and commuting long distances (95 miles and 2 hrs/day was typical) killed my incentive to stay in the industry. So, I got a job at my local post office, and I’ve been a rural mail carrier ever since. I am now part of my local community instead of just being a weekend visitor.
Q: Your email says “Haxton Ranch.” What kind of ranch do you have?
A: The name “Haxton Ranch” is a bit of a joke. I’m from California, where folks have ranches, not farms. The name is a permutation of Ranch Calvinian, which is a play on the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. We’re not like that, but our minds work in flexible ways. But we do have land, and I used to have two Tennessee Walking Horses (both mares). Finances (the postal service does NOT pay as well as the software industry), a propensity to break bones more easily in old age, and an inability to just let my horses be pasture decoration all led me to let go of my childhood dream. I did train and compete with my young mare and rode the older horse in all weather, terrain and venues. Lots of fun, but horses are very expensive pets. Tell
(Since the Haxton’s shop online with the help of their sales rep, we asked them for a photo and got this selfie! Now we know what some of our long-distance customers look like. Harriet added the disclaimer that Calvin had just had surgery and hates having his picture taken; so, this photo is extra special. He was willing to do it for HGR! Thanks, Calvin.) 