A Rural Craftsman Brings Vintage Equipment Back to Life
It’s been said that once you find your calling in life, and you’re fortunate enough to parlay that calling into a career, you’ll never work a day in your life.
Just ask Alvin Troyer. A lifetime resident of rural Ligonier, he was born curious, raised to be creative, and has now found success as a master of mechanics. As a youngster, “knee high to a grasshopper,” as he describes himself, he was drawn to machinery of all kinds. Not simply for the allure of it all, but to experiment with dismantling objects and piecing everything back together.
Troyer’s family has strong roots in the area, and the memories of his upbringing are both idyllic and formative in shaping the course of his life. He vividly remembers being particularly drawn to tractors and was always eager to help his father work on them.
“Anything with pistons involved, we were always fixing things,” he says. “I guess I’m a gearhead.”
As Troyer grew older, he discovered that he was exceptionally skilled in restoring vintage farming equipment. Not only was he able to repair tractors and the like, but he was also capable of designing intricate reproduction parts that were perhaps considered obsolete on account of the age of the equipment.
Eventually, Troyer purchased the farmstead on which he was raised, and his folks moved to a nearby place. The generations of Troyer family members became fully committed to creating a business together, cultivating each of their unique talents.
Troyer had considered calling the enterprise Sycamore Hollow, inspired by a cherished memory of a magnificent tree from the home of his youth. But then the name The Piston Doctor came to mind, and after seeking out the opinion of his wife, Ruth, she thought it would be the perfect name for the fledgling business. So Troyer chose that name, and the business has flourished for nearly four years.
Since his youth, Troyer has amassed an impressive repertoire of skills and talents, all based solely on his natural ability to focus on an issue and find a way to remedy the problem. Not only has he become renowned for his reputation to rebuild and recreate parts for antique tractors, but he has also completed full-on restorations and overhauls, from pistons to crankshafts. And as impressive as that is, the fact is even more so when his specialty is older, pre-1950s models, with the goal of getting them to a fully operational level.
“No owner’s manuals,” he adds with a laugh.
Some of his more fascinating projects are the ones in which Troyer was working entirely with random pieces and was tasked with creating a running machine at the completion of the puzzle of parts. He recalls one customer who was convinced that his equipment was beyond hope, having been burned in a fire. Still another brought his machinery to Troyer, hopeful for a miracle to come from the four skids of loose parts that were left for Troyer to untangle. And with the help of his network of family and friends, the customers were ultimately thrilled with the results.
Troyer stays busy virtually year-round with his growing family and the branching out of The Piston Doctor to new grounds, with loyal assistance from his family. Troyer works part time at a local trailer factory, but his first love continues to be rooted in his hobby turned career. His father, Andy, lends his capabilities to the breakdown and rebuilding processes, while his mother, Edna, works in the clerical part of the business. Troyer’s wife, Ruth, takes care of harness repair, and their oldest son has already demonstrated an affinity for following in his father’s footsteps. Family friend John Schrock complements the workings by sharing a number of various skills as well.
Business has been so successful, in fact, that guests will notice a new complex of buildings at The Piston Doctor’s Ligonier home base. Most recently, Troyer has been a presence at the Midwest Tool Expo, and he is excited for a personal endeavor he’s been pondering for a long time.
“I’m working on building my own steam engine,” he says. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever worked on.”
He also plans to continue making his way around the demonstration circuit, meeting with fellow enthusiasts and collectors.
As for marketing The Piston Doctor, it seems that word of mouth is speaking the loudest for the Troyer family. Alvin Troyer has become somewhat legendary in that not only is he willing to accept a challenge, but surpass it as well. Just like he always wanted.
The Piston Doctor is located at 6316 W. 825 N. in rural Ligonier, Indiana. To call Alvin Troyer and schedule an appointment, leave a voice mail message for him at 260-241-6113.
