17 million gallons of gasoline are spilled each year during refueling of lawn equipment according to the EPA.  This can be avoided by using a No-Spill gas can and not topping off the gas tanks when refueling lawn mowers, trimmers, and other power tools.   This is not your average gas can!  No-Spill  Research has manufactured the most user-friendly, EPA compliant fuel can on the market today.  It’s professional quality construction will provide you with a very long service life.  Being self venting and self sealing allows a safe & easy pouring system.  It’s thumb button control lets you decide how fast and how long the fluids will flow.  The No-Spill fuel can comes with a no questions asked lifetime guarantee so if it leaks or fails in normal use, we simply replace it.  Stop by today and see the real difference between No-spill fuel cans and the others.   www.nospill.com has all the details.

LEHR has developed a full line of environmentally friendly power trimmers.  With the simply twist-in of a propane canister you will be really to go.  These machines easily start with no need to choke or prime the carburetor.  Being propane powered there is never be any fouling or gumming of the fuel system plus they are non toxic to the ground water and soil.  Just think about not having to deal with messy mixing, transporting or store of gasoline and oil.   Propane is very efficient allowing the trimmer to operate  on one cylinder for two hours and exceeds all of EPA’s 2001 emission standards.  Stop by soon and  check these new trimmers out.  www.golehr.com

With the management team of Gordon Hunt & Read Clarke in place, 1983 brought the establishment of Heidleburg, Inc.  Clarke’s Hardware was acquired from Arthur Clarke in addition to the purchase of store #4 — Bradley’s Hardware in Wolfeboro, NH.  Both stores were expanded and their retail formats were updated to reflect the national trends in the industry.  The additional sales space and merchandise expansion brought great growth and excitement to the business.  Both locations put more emphasis on  increasing product offerings with a focus on staff knowledge.  Core departments of paint, plumbing, hardware, electrical and lawn & garden supplies were expanded.  Even in the current time of recession, the entrepreneurial momentum continued with increased staff to meet the growth of  business demands.

The second location for Clarke’s Hardware was New London, New Hampshire.  The new shopping center was being built and Clarke’s Hardware would become its anchor store.  Occupying 5,000 square feet of retail space, the business expanded its product offerings and increased its payroll to include four full-time employees.   Within five years the store expanded again into the Home Center, focusing on building supplies and cabinet displays.  This was short lived, however, and by 1979 the store was converted back to full scale hardware, with an emphasis on paint and lawn supplies.  Further expansion continued with the hiring of additional staff and the opening of store number three in Claremont, NH .  Surviving only nine months due to lack of supporting sales, store #3 was closed, but the quest for more locations continued.  Gordon Hunt joined the company’s management staff in the fall of 1979 and Read Clarke was asked to join management in 1982.  Reorganization, expansion and growth followed with this leadership team.

The history of Clarke’s Hardware began on April 15, 1950 with the purchase of the first store being on Cape Cod.  Village Hardware as it was known then was 1,000 square feet of general hardware items. It had one part-time employee and its sole proprietor being Arthur Clarke.  In 1960 the store was expanded to 3,200 square feet for more retail space, display atrium and storage area.   Product offering was expanded with the joining of its first hardware cooperative buying group.  Operating in this style continued until 1972 when the store was sold and Arthur & his wife, Joan moved their family & business to New London, New Hampshire.