He Specializes In Uni-System Power Units, Components

He Specializes In Uni-System Power Units, Components COMBINES Miscellaneous 25-2-19 Back in the winter of 1969, Dennis Reiners needed a snow blower in a hurry and ended up buying a New Idea Uni System power unit with a blower on it. "At that time, there were a lot of Uni-Systems around and New Idea had some special financing available to help dealers get them off their lots," he recalls. It didn't take Reiners long to become an avid Uni user, adding a corn picker and a combine during the next couple of years. By 1972, Reiners, of Mitchell, South Dakota, had accumulated enough information and experience on Unis that people began calling him for help in finding machinery and parts. At that point, he began buying and selling used Uni System power units and attachments. "People who never owned one don't realize just how useful and cost-effective this system could be," he insists. For those not familiar with Uni Systems, they were first introduced by Minneapolis Moline in the 1950's. The MM Uni System line included the power unit, two corn picker models (one-row and two-row), a picker-sheller, and a combine for small grains and soybeans. Other machinery companies saw promise in the idea and introduced their own tools to fit it. The Uni System gained some converts, but not enough and in the mid 1960's, New Idea bought rights to the concept and reintroduced it. It became the standard for corn pickers used in the sweet corn and seed corn industries, but other uses lagged. Still, New Idea continued to produce other attachments for the power units, including combines and snow blowers. Over the years, Reiners has bought and sold many Uni-System power units and attachments. "Some people build their own attachments, or modify what they already have to fit the Uni," he says. One of his customers put a three-point hitch on his Uni and now uses it for cultivating weeds out of row crops. Reiners notes there are several companies still interested in making implements for Uni power units, although New Idea no longer makes it. He currently has three Uni power units on hand: an 803C; an 802 with a husking bed picker on it; and an older 709 with a 9 ft. snow blower. He also has a chopper, husking beds, a combine and some other attachments. "You never know when I might sell one or someone will offer me another," he says. He's interested in buying power units and implements in good condition, and he usually knows of someone who's interested in buying one. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dennis Reiners, Reiners Machinery, 40976 257th Street, Mitchell, S. Dak. 57301 (ph 605 996-1542; Website: www.reinersranch.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.