About Us
About Us
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History
History
If you're looking for a small family oriented company, with old school values, you've found them! Here's a little bit on who we are, and how we came to be.
Maurice Constantin was the founder of M Constantin & Sons. He founded our company in 1922 which later became Rayne Plane Incorporated. We originated as a mechanic, welding, and farm equipment manufacturing business. Located in the small town of Rayne, Louisiana. Maurice would help farmers however they needed. Anywhere from finding parts for their equipment, to making them himself. By the mid 1940's he had built a reputation for helping farmers in the area. A small rice farmer, who didn't speak any English because he was Cajun French, showed up at the shop and drew up a blade configuration of a land leveler on the the floor with a soapstone. We still use the exact same configuration on our land levelers to this day. This blade set up would allow soil to be mixed better than any single leveling implement on the market. It had two blades in the front to cut the soil, a middle buster to break up any clumps or clods, Along with a few gathering blades to distribute the dirt evenly; then a final blade to distribute the now processed soil. He then asked if we could build it. So, Maurice built the frame, front end, back end, and designed steering which would allow the back wheels of the machine to follow the rear wheels of any tractor. The purpose of the special wheel design was originally to get close to rice levees without destroying them. The farmer was so pleased with the final product he gave M Constantin & Sons the rights to the idea and then we ran with it. Forming Rayne Plane Inc. As a part of M Constantin and sons. In 1947 we began selling our first commercial product, the Rayne Plane land plane. Maurice had split his company into three soon after. Now There was Rayne Plane Inc, Marvin's Engine Service, and Constantin's Parts House. In the 1960's, as Maurice was aging, he gave his three sons each part of the business. Marvin Constantin started to run Marvin's engine service, the mechanic side of things. Dewey Constantin was given the parts house. Then Walter Constantin was given the farm equipment side. Maurice passed in 1969, giving his legacy to his three sons to continue helping the community, farmers, and his part on feeding the growing country.
Maurice's son Walter Constantin was the second generation of the family to own the business. He had Officially started Rayne Plane as it's own company in 1969, changing it's name to Rayne Plane Engineering & Manufacturing. He then began expanding it to as many people and dealers as he could manage. We began producing 13 different types of equipment. We went from a small shop of roughly 5-10 people to having as many as 70 employees in the 1970's. Eventually in 1984 we had grown too big. When the farm industry crashed, we had fell with it. We wouldn't let it be the end of us though.
Ray is Maurice's grandson and the third generation of the Constantin family to own and operate Rayne Plane Inc. After our Bankruptcy in the early 1980's Ray would purchase the business piece by piece. Soon after though, he would have to sell the business back to his father, Walter. Ray had a significant medical condition, an arteriovenous malformation. To treat it he would have to go to Berkley California. After the treatment he was cured in months. He moved back to Lafayette and began working for Sampson Rope as their accountant. By early 2000's Walter was getting older and after his passing Ray took back the mantle in running Rayne Plane. We moved from operating in Rayne to our new location in Church Point Louisiana.
Adrian Constantin is Ray's son and is the fourth generation to own and operate Rayne Plane! Together Ray and Adrian continue to run Rayne Plane to this day.
We take pride in our ability to serve our customers in a manner which is second to none, old school. No BS, we answer the phone when you call. Wherever, Whenever. We pride ourselves on not using an answering service. We understand when a machine is down in the field, you need quick service. We are still supplying parts to just about all the equipment we have built since 1947.
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