Sewall’s Auto Parts on Oak Street, a town fixture, was sold last week. The Gaecklein brothers, David and Kenneth, who have owned the auto shop since they got out of the service in 1971, are ready to retire and have sold the shop to David Rumney.

Sewall’s Auto Parts, which will be TDR Auto Supply Inc., has been at the same location since its opening on July 4, 1927. The original Sewall’s was a garage and employees strictly worked on cars and sold gasoline.

The Gaecklein brothers’ father, John, started working at the shop as a mechanic just before World War II, purchasing it in 1954. When the Gaecklein bothers returned from the service in 1971, they took over the business, where they have worked ever since. Ken Gaecklein has retired, but Dave Gaecklein will be working for another year.

Both Dave Gaecklein and Rumney agree that the store will remain the same, with the exception of a few minor improvements.

“Currently, nothing,” Rumney said. “We are keeping everything the same. We are adding some more inventory, more availability, and different product lines. We are going to branch out more into motorcycles and ATVs.”

Rumney has been in the auto parts industry for 25 years. He can recall the exact date when he started, “April 18, 1988,” he said with pride. “I was in the service as a helicopter technician, and then I did this.”

Rumney has managed auto parts stores before, but this will be the first he’s owned. Rumney gave some of the same reasons for purchasing the store as Gaecklein gave for why he enjoyed working there.

“Great people in a great town,” said Rumney, who is originally from Shapleigh. “And I’m buying it from great people.”