NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. — Dick Dickerhoff is a self-proclaimed “old-timer.”

The owner of Dickerhoff Electric, Inc. said something that his grandfather drilled into his head when he was a kid has forever stayed with him: “If my grandfather said it once, he said it a thousand times. People will always remember quality and customer service over price,” Dickerhoff said. “Not that price isn’t important, it is – but what customers care about most is quality.”

Dickerhoff has been running his two-man operation for the past 33 years in North Manchester. Begun as a full-service power supplier by his father, Dickerhoff for the past three decades has focused exclusively on a wide selection of generators.

Most of his products, however, are tractor-driven PTO generators.

“I’ve done business with Wind Power Corporation for quite a long time. Of course they’re known as Winco now, and we have Gillette Manufacturing in Indianapolis and their fine products, and we carry MTU Onsite Energy,” Dickerhoff said.

He handles sales, while Tom Bucher holds down the operation’s service and parts division, an area Dickerhoff said is key to the business’ success.

“We do most of our business in the ag market, and tractor-driven generators are what we sell the most,” he explained. “And when a customer needs a part or service in any way, we make sure his need is met as quickly as possible.”

Dickerhoff said most of the products he sells are put in use right away.

“My business is mostly emergency related, and in that sense weather-related problems usually are part of it,” he said. “So, we have to make sure we’re selling quality equipment at a fair price and that we stand by that equipment if our customer needs help after the sale.”

The annual Indiana-Illinois Farm and Outdoor Power Equipment Show is one venue Dickerhoff said is valuable because of its location, layout and timing of the event.

“It’s certainly not the largest show, but it has been a decent show for me. It’s big enough for everyone to walk around, see everything, and it is at the end of the year when farmers are ready to make purchases,” Dickerhoff said.

The show is next Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 13-15, in the West Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Parking costs $3 at the fairgrounds; there is no charge to enter the show.

Hours for the event are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday.

Dickerhoff Electric is located at 12152 N. State Road 15 in North Manchester, Ind., and can be reached at 260-982-2390.