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Berchtold Equipment Company is the oldest family-operated equipment company in Kern County, and one of the oldest in the state. The Berchtold family is proud to be heading into its 96th year of business at 330 East 19th Street, in Bakersfield, CA.
The company was founded in 1910 when Joseph Berchtold opened a feed and seed store, which also carried walking plows, cultivators, and planters.
The business prospered due to the fast, friendly service that Joseph always 'signed his name to'. In the 1920's Berchtold started selling Rumley, Fordson, Allis-Chalmers and Hartparr tractors. In 1930, he added the Minneapolis Moline Tractor and Equipment line and the company's name became Berchtold Grain and Implement House.
In 1945, E.G. "Berch" Berchtold took over the business for his father, and with his wife Frankie, an inseparable partnership and second generation in the business began.
Berch and Frankie had only six employees at the grain and implement, so they each played many roles in building the business. No task was ever too big or too small for them, as they had a goal in mind and were building a business they knew would prosper and grow. The motto has always been "You're growing or you're going, and 'diversify'." And, they did just that.
In 2001, Berch and Frankie retired and Steve, Mark, Jeff, and Marcia Berchtold took over the business with Mark Berchtold heading the company as President. In 2006, Tim Berchtold assumed the position of Construction Equipment Sales Manager.
Today, the Bakersfield location employs approximately 40 people in the 30,000 square foot building, and the company property covers nearly three acres of ground. In November 1987, Berchtold Equipment opened its first branch store in Santa Maria which now employs approximately 15 people and is managed by Gary Gross. In 1994, the second branch store opened in Delano which now employs approximately 15 people and is managed by Mike Newcomb.
Combined, the three stores service a wide area of Central California and the Coast. The dealership now handles New Holland tractors, hay equipment & implements, Kubota tractors & implements, Bobcat skid steer loaders & implements, AGCO Spra-Coupe sprayers, Harlo forklifts, Upload forklifts, Kawasaki Mules & ATV's; and Gearmore, Bush Hog, and Woods implements.
Berch and Frankie, along with Steve, Mark, Jeff and Marcia, attribute much of their success to many long, hard hours in each working day and to many loyal employees, some of who have been with the company 30 or 40 years.
The Berchtold family looks ahead to a 100-year celebration and strives to serve their customers with the same individual attention and quality that began with a man named Joseph Berchtold.
