The closure of the Jim Miller furniture store, located where West Main Street becomes Dayton Springfield Road, concerned me. I was worried about what would go in there or more accurately how long such a large building would sit empty. When I walked into the door of Super Scout Specialists LLC this last Sunday I was thrilled to find a fascinating combination of a business and museum and a positive addition to our community.
Super Scout Specialists LLC, 6711 Dayton Springfield Rd, has been here for a couple of years, but I just now walked into it for the first time. Shame on me for not checking it out earlier.
Everything, and I do mean everything, you’d ever want to see connected to IH Scouts can be found there, or they will know where to send you. You can feel the love and appreciation for International Harvester Scout, the light (Medium/Heavy) duty trucks, and all things about the company.
With a focus on IH products made in the Springfield plant like the Travelall, the display room has an example of just about every kind of the vehicles IH made.
The walls are covered with decades of showroom displays and posters. The evolution of marketing art captured my interest.
In addition to the vehicles, pickups, tractors, and SUVs there are lawn mowers, refrigerators, lawn equipment, and radio control trucks all amazingly made by International Harvester.
Glass cases hold displays of toys, models, and International Harvester collectables.
“If it’s International Harvester or related we carry it,” said owner John Glancy.
Needing room to grow, this business moved here from its overflowing storefront on Bechtel in Springfield. And they admit they could still use more space.
“All this wouldn’t fit in there,” said owner John Glancy, one of four brothers.
Their father, the late Robert T. Glancy, Sr. was General Manager of the International Harvester IH dealership across from the Springfield plant. All of these brothers are involved in one way or another in these new endeavors.
All worked at one time with IH, and their admiration for IH grew into parts and maintenance of the vehicles. Their parts catalogue grew into a store and garage.
At the request of Navistar, John Glancy and Rod Phillips started Scout/light Line Distributors, Inc. which handles OEM Scout & Light Line SLL parts. Rod Phillips retired from the business in 2001 and it continues next door to Super Scout Specialists.
Super Scout Specialists in Enon is now the retail and aftermarket warehouse store for SLL. Luckily both businesses are next door to each other which I imagine makes shipping between them a breeze.
All the details of the family links to International are on their website superscoutspecialists.com. It is complicated but proves their deep connection and knowledge.
Now much of what you see at the front of this business is actually part of the museum display. The items for sale in the back include new and used parts that fill an entire huge warehouse. The garage portion uses these to repair IH vehicles in all conditions. They do not do restorations there but they do have recommendations for people who need body work and paint.
There are also tshirts, books, bumper stickers, decals, and, in keeping with the times, International Harvester masks for sale. Loved the masks.
When I explained how I’ve always enjoyed the light blue Travelall in the Heritage Center of Clark County, I was treated to a lovely story of how Robert Glancy Jr prepared his former vehicle for display. He had found it in Phoenix. At that time it had four gas tanks and a winch in front, because it had been to the tip of South America twice. Not just once but twice.
I must admit I’ll never look at the museum display quite the same. That is one tough Travelall and worthy of being enshrined. It is a tribute to the sturdiness and resilience of International Harvester.
One of the nice things about Super Scout Specialists is that you can look over the vehicles more closely than the one at the museum and walk around them. There is even one like it for sale. Glancy hopes to expand his “Vehicle for Sale” inventory when the pandemic is over.
One of the stars of the showroom is a Scout that was prominent in the 1980 horror film Humanoids from the Deep. I saw the previews and think I’ll pass on watching it, but it is fun thinking of that vehicle being driven by Doug McClure as he fought monsters.
Since it is difficult to find interesting things to do with our teenagers during this pandemic, I think Super Scout Specialists is the perfect outing for teens, boys or girls, who find the automotive industry fascinating.
It is also a great place for former IH employees, and for local history buffs who want to remember the company’s glory days. Since there are even a couple of restaurants/bars nearby with outside dining or take out, why not make it a day?
Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, visit their website at superscoutspecialists.com or call 937-525-0000.