LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

The Republican Centennial Edition, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa
Thursday, July 12, 1956, Section Two, Page 14
Transcribed by Shirley Plumb, June 30, 2019

EDGAR PURDY, TV & MARINE SERVICE

    Edgar Purdy moved to Wapello in 1937 and started a car repair shop and a line of Auto parts in the old red barn located on the premises of the fine shop built there today.

    Located 315 Merchant street, just two blocks north of Wapello Theatre and there is plenty of parking space.

    This was constructed in 1943 and is a 24 by 40 feet, two story shop in which he is equipped to repair all types of motors including the popular outboard motors which he now specializes in.

    In 1950, Purdy realized the need of efficient radio and TV repair service so he signed up for a correspondence course which he successfully completed and stared servicing all makes of radio and TV and also took on the line of Sylvania television sets.

    This proved to be a successful venture and by 1954 it was necessary to build another addition of 20 by 28 feet as a show room and repair shop. And the volume of his business was so great that he sold out his auto parts business to the Western Auto Store of Wapello and in its place he put in a line of the most popular boats such as Cruiser Craft, Lone Star, Cadillac, Grumman Canoes, Arkansas Traveler, John Boats and Meyers Aircraft Boats.

    In 1954 he obtained the franchise to sell and service the Johnson Sea horse outboard motor and he was recently appointed by the Gale Products Company (Sea King motors, etc.,) as their official service station for this entire territory.

    With 15 years’ experience equipping servicing and repairing boats and outboard motors of all types and a large parts department, Purdy draw trade from this entire area to the extent that he, at the present day, is building another addition of 20 by 44 feet to the present building to be used for further marine expansion service.

    Mrs. Purdy was the former Melba Schmalfeldt of Davenport, Ia. and the couple have five children, Jeanette, Tommy, Kenneth, Arthur and Miriam.