Difference between revisions of "MFG"

Latest revision as of 13:14, 7 April 2021

The Molded Fiber Glass Boat Company (MFG)

Union City, Pennsylvania

History written by Jim Coffman

Molded Fiber Glass Corporation was founded by Robert S. Morrison in Ashtabula, Ohio in 1948. MFG's intentions were to mass-produce commercial products by using polyester resins and fiberglass reinforcements, (in short, FRP-Fiberglass Reinforced Plastics). In 1950, the MFG Sheet Co. was formed. Because of their success thus far, another division was warranted. In 1952, the MFG Tray Co. was started in Linesville, Pa. In 1953, they needed yet another division, due to acquiring the contract with Chevrolet Motor Company to produce the fiberglass body components for the Corvette. This division was MFG Body Co., formed in Ashtabula, Ohio.

In 1954, MFG felt it needed another product other than the Corvette. So to have another product line, one they felt would be very successful, they decided to produce boat hulls for another company. Did you ever wonder where the lapstrake hull design came from for MFG's boats?: Lyman Boat Co. MFG took a Lyman hull, tooled up, and produced a mold from it. They then took the finished hull and presented it to Lyman to show them what they could do for their boat, in fiberglass. Result of this business proposal, Lyman Boat Co. said...,No.

Now, the ironic part of history, MFG never wanted to produce boats. They only wanted to produce hulls for another company. As a matter of fact, Robert Morrison wasn't a boater, he didn't even have a true interest in boats. So after their pitfall with Lyman, and being tooled up to produce hulls, they had no choice. Finish what they started. So they produced their own deck, attached it to the hull copies, and formed Molded Fiber Glass Boat Co. in Union city, PA in 1955.

So now, MFG has their own line of boats, without ever having the intention. Now they needed to name the models they were producing. Best way to come up with names, and to keep in the spirit of their surroundings, look at the map. All of MFG's models were named after surrounding cities. MFG's boat production proved to be a great success.

In 1959, MFG Boat Co. decided to try producing two models completely out of fiberglass, the Edinboro, and the Oxford, another success. Come 1960, only one model still had a wood deck, the Celeron. The following years greeted MFG with continuing growth, the boating community anxiously awaited for the following years releases.

In 1965, for undetermined reasons, MFG Body Co. in Ashtabula bought Crestliner Boats. But MFG did not move Crestliner's operations to Union City. They left operations at Crestliner's current plants, as well as retaining the Crestliner name. Once in awhile, a Crestliner boat came through with MFG markings. Reason for this is unexplained as well, possibly a marketing test.

In 1968 MFG Boat Corporation began producing boats for Sears. These models were the Sears Gamefisher and later the Adventurer series boats. The Sears line was produced in Ashtabula, not Union City as one might think. According to one MFG contact, this continued into the very early 80's.

In 1972, MFG Corporation sold off Crestliner, and concentrated on production of their own models. 1977 brought a new line into their plants. MFG began production of fiberglass hoods and other components for Outboard Marine Corporation. This continued on into the 80's. As for the Boat Co. themselves, the 80's meant the end of MFG Boats.

Epilogue

It is in my opinion, researching the history of MFG Boat Co., information became very vague. Late summer of 2002, I had the opportunity to talk with Richard Morrison, the son of Robert Morrison, the founder. Our conversation was via telephone, whereas, I had to make an appointment to call him at his office. A huge percentage of the information contained above is the result of our conversation.

There are a couple of points I wanted to add to this page, but before I receive confirmation, I will keep them to myself. As receive any further information, I will update this page. If anybody has any valid documentation on the history and would like to share it, please feel free to contact me.

Model Information

1955 to 1959 MFG outboard boat models
1960 to 1962 MFG outboard boat models
1965 to 1967 MFG outboard boat models
1968 to 1971 MFG outboard boat models

1955

1955 Information Thanks to Lee Wangstead

1955 Brochure, Page 1
1955 Brochure, Page 2
1955 MFG ad

1956

1956 Brochure

1956 Brochure, Page 1
1956 Brochure, Page 2
1956 Brochure, Page 3
1956 Brochure, Page 4

1956 Miscellaneous

1956 MFG Ad 1
1956 MFG Ad 2
November 1956 MFG article

1957

1957 Brochure Thanks to Jim Whaley

1957 Brochure, Page 1
1957 Brochure, Page 2
1957 Brochure, Page 3
1957 Brochure, Page 4
1957 Brochure, Page 5
1957 Brochure, Page 6

1957 Miscellaneous

1957 MFG Ad
1957 MFG Article

1958

1958 Brochure Thanks to Jim Maier

1958 Brochure, Page 1
1958 Brochure, Page 2
1958 Brochure, Page 3
1958 Brochure, Page 4
1958 Brochure, Page 5
1958 Brochure, Page 6
1958 Brochure, Page 7
1958 Brochure, Page 8

1958 Miscellaneous

1958 MFG Magazine Ad
1958 MFG Magazine Ad
1958 MFG Magazine Ad
1958 MFG Magazine Ad
1958 MFG "Five Beauties for '58" Ad
1958 MFG New Models Article
1958 MFG New Models Article
1958 MFG New Plant Article

1958 Mercury Boathouse Bulletins

1958 MFG Cambridge Mercury Mark 58E test
1958 MFG Cambridge Mercury Mark 78E test
1958 MFG Suburban Mercury Mark 28test

1959

1959 Brochure

1959 Brochure, Page 1
1959 Brochure, Page 2
1959 Brochure, Page 3
1959 Brochure, Page 4

1959 Miscellaneous

1959 MFG Magazine ad
1959 MFG Magazine ad
1959 MFG Ad
1959 MFG Celoron Ad

1960

1960 Brochure

1960 Brochure, Page 1
1960 Brochure, Page 2
1960 Brochure, Page 3
1960 Brochure, Page 4
1960 Brochure, Page 5
1960 Brochure, Page 6

1960 Miscellaneous

1960 MFG Magazine Ad
1960 MFG 19' Seaway Ad

1961

1961 Information

1961 Article, Part 1
1961 Article, Part 2
1961 Article, Part 3
1961 Article, Part 4
1961 Article, Part 5
1961 Article, Part 6

1962

1962 Brochure

1962 Brochure, Page 1
1962 Brochure, Page 2
1962 Brochure, Page 3
1962 Brochure, Page 4
1962 Brochure, Page 5
1962 Brochure, Page 6

1963

1963 Brochure

1963 Brochure, Page 1
1963 Brochure, Page 2
1963 Brochure, Page 3
1963 Brochure, Page 4
1963 Brochure, Page 5
1963 Brochure, Page 6
1963 Brochure, Page 7
1963 Brochure, Page 8

1963 Miscellaneous

1963 Pricelist, Page 1
1963 Pricelist, Page 2
1963 MFG Magazine ad

1964

1964 Brochure Pricelist thanks to Janet Lowry

1964 Brochure, Page 1
1964 Brochure, Page 2
1964 Brochure, Page 3
1964 Brochure, Page 4
1964 Brochure, Page 5

1964 Pricelist

1964 Pricelist, Page 1
1964 Pricelist, Page 2
1964 Pricelist, Page 3
1964 Pricelist, Page 4

1965

1965 Brochure

1965 Brochure, Page 1
1965 Brochure, Page 2
1965 Brochure, Page 3
1965 Brochure, Page 4
1965 Brochure, Page 5
1965 Brochure, Page 6
1965 Brochure, Page 7
1965 Brochure, Page 8
1965 Brochure, Page 9
1965 Brochure, Page 10
1965 Brochure, Page 11
1965 Brochure, Page 12
1965 Brochure, Page 13
1965 Brochure, Page 14
1965 Brochure, Page 15
1965 Brochure, Page 16
1965 Brochure, Page 17
1965 Brochure, Page 18
1965 Brochure, Page 19

1965 Miscellaneous

1965 MFG Magazine ad 1
1965 MFG Magazine ad 2
1965 MFG Westfield Custom I/O MerCruiser 60 test

1966

1966 Brochure

1966 Brochure, Page 1
1966 Brochure, Page 2
1966 Brochure, Page 3
1966 Brochure, Page 4
1966 Brochure, Page 5
1966 Brochure, Page 6
1966 Brochure, Page 7
1966 Brochure, Page 8
1966 Brochure, Page 9
1966 Brochure, Page 10
1966 Brochure, Page 11
1966 Brochure, Page 12
1966 Brochure, Page 13
1966 Brochure, Page 14
1966 Brochure, Page 15
1966 Brochure, Page 16
1966 Brochure, Page 17
1966 Brochure, Page 18
1966 Brochure, Page 19
1966 Brochure, Page 20
1966 Brochure, Page 21
1966 Brochure, Page 22
1966 Brochure, Page 23
1966 Brochure, Page 24

1967

1967 Brochure Brochure thanks to Lee Wangstead

1967 Brochure, Page 1
1967 Brochure, Page 2
1967 Brochure, Page 3
1967 Brochure, Page 4
1967 Brochure, Page 5
1967 Brochure, Page 6
1967 Brochure, Page 7
1967 Brochure, Page 8
1967 Brochure, Page 9
1967 Brochure, Page 10
1967 Brochure, Page 11
1967 Brochure, Page 12
1967 Brochure, Page 13
1967 Brochure, Page 14
1967 Brochure, Page 15
1967 Brochure, Page 16

1967 Miscellaneous

1967 MFG Magazine ad
1967 MFG Magazine ad

1968

1968 Brochure

1968 Brochure, Page 1
1968 Brochure, Page 2
1968 Brochure, Page 3
1968 Brochure, Page 4
1968 Brochure, Page 5
1968 Brochure, Page 6
1968 Brochure, Page 7
1968 Brochure, Page 8
1968 Brochure, Page 9
1968 Brochure, Page 10
1968 Brochure, Page 11
1968 Brochure, Page 12
1968 Brochure, Page 13
1968 Brochure, Page 14
1968 Brochure, Page 15
1968 Brochure, Page 16

1968 Miscellaneous

MFG in a 1968 Evinrude ad
1968 MFG Magazine ad

1969

1969 Brochure Thanks to Kelly Wood

1969 Brochure, Page 1
1969 Brochure, Page 2
1969 Brochure, Page 3
1969 Brochure, Page 4
1969 Brochure, Page 5
1969 Brochure, Page 6
1969 Brochure, Page 7
1969 Brochure, Page 8
1969 Brochure, Page 9
1969 Brochure, Page 10
1969 Brochure, Page 11
1969 Brochure, Page 12
1969 Brochure, Page 13
1969 Brochure, Page 14
1969 Brochure, Page 15

'1969 Miscellaneous

1969 MFG Magazine ad
1969 MFG Magazine ad
1969 Article, Part 1
1969 Article, Part 2
1969 Article, Part 3
1969 MFG Challenger Mercury 110 and 75 test

1970

1970 Brochure

1970 Brochure, Page 1
1970 Brochure, Page 2
1970 Brochure, Page 3
1970 Brochure, Page 4
1970 Brochure, Page 5
1970 Brochure, Page 6
1970 Brochure, Page 7
1970 Brochure, Page 8
1970 Brochure, Page 9
1970 Brochure, Page 10
1970 Brochure, Page 11
1970 Brochure, Page 12
1970 Brochure, Page 13
1970 Brochure, Page 14
1970 Brochure, Page 15
1970 Brochure, Page 16

1971

1971 Brochure

1971 Brochure, Page 1
1971 Brochure, Page 2
1971 Brochure, Page 3
1971 Brochure, Page 4
1971 Brochure, Page 5
1971 Brochure, Page 6
1971 Brochure, Page 7
1971 Brochure, Page 8
1971 Brochure, Page 9
1971 Brochure, Page 10
1971 Brochure, Page 11
1971 Brochure, Page 12

1972

1972 Brochure

1972 Brochure, Page 1
1972 Brochure, Page 2
1972 Brochure, Page 3
1972 Brochure, Page 4
1972 Brochure, Page 5
1972 Brochure, Page 6
1972 Brochure, Page 7
1972 Brochure, Page 8
1972 Brochure, Page 9
1972 Brochure, Page 10
1972 Brochure, Page 11
1972 Brochure, Page 12

1973

1973 Brochure Thanks to Ted Sampanes

1973 Brochure, Page 1
1973 Brochure, Page 2
1973 Brochure, Page 3
1973 Brochure, Page 4
1973 Brochure, Page 5
1973 Brochure, Page 6
1973 Brochure, Page 7
1973 Brochure, Page 8
1973 Brochure, Page 9
1973 Brochure, Page 10
1973 Brochure, Page 11
1973 Brochure, Page 12
1973 Brochure, Page 13
1973 Brochure, Page 14
1973 Brochure, Page 15
1973 Brochure, Page 16

1974

1974 Brochure

1974 Brochure, Page 1
1974 Brochure, Page 2
1974 Brochure, Page 3
1974 Brochure, Page 4
1974 Brochure, Page 5
1974 Brochure, Page 6
1974 Brochure, Page 7
1974 Brochure, Page 8
1974 Brochure, Page 9
1974 Brochure, Page 10
1974 Brochure, Page 11

1975

1975 Brochure

1975 Brochure, Page 1
1975 Brochure, Page 2
1975 Brochure, Page 3
1975 Brochure, Page 4
1975 Brochure, Page 5
1975 Brochure, Page 6
1975 Brochure, Page 7
1975 Brochure, Page 8
1975 Brochure, Page 9
1975 Brochure, Page 10
1975 Brochure, Page 11
1975 Brochure, Page 12
1975 Brochure, Page 13
1975 Brochure, Page 14
1975 Brochure, Page 15

1976

1976 Brochure

1976 Brochure, Page 1
1976 Brochure, Page 2
1976 Brochure, Page 3
1976 Brochure, Page 4
1976 Brochure, Page 5
1976 Brochure, Page 6
1976 Brochure, Page 7
1976 Brochure, Page 8
1976 Brochure, Page 9
1976 Brochure, Page 10
1976 Brochure, Page 11
1976 Brochure, Page 12
1976 Brochure, Page 13
1976 Brochure, Page 14
1976 Brochure, Page 15
1976 Brochure, Page 16
1976 Brochure, Page 17
1976 Brochure, Page 18
1976 Brochure, Page 19
1976 Brochure, Page 20
1976 Brochure, Page 21
1976 Brochure, Page 22
1976 Brochure, Page 23
1976 Brochure, Page 24

1977

1977 Brochure

1977 Brochure, Page 1
1977 Brochure, Page 2
1977 Brochure, Page 3
1977 Brochure, Page 4
1977 Brochure, Page 5
1977 Brochure, Page 6
1977 Brochure, Page 7
1977 Brochure, Page 8
1977 Brochure, Page 9
1977 Brochure, Page 10
1977 Brochure, Page 11
1977 Brochure, Page 12
1977 Brochure, Page 13
1977 Brochure, Page 14
1977 Brochure, Page 15
1977 Brochure, Page 16
1977 Brochure, Page 17
1977 Brochure, Page 18
1977 Brochure, Page 20
1977 Brochure, Page 21
1977 Brochure, Page 22
1977 Brochure, Page 23
1977 Brochure, Page 24
1977 Brochure, Page 25
1977 Brochure, Page 26
1977 Brochure, Page 27
1977 Brochure, Page 28
1977 Brochure, Page 29
1977 Brochure, Page 30

1978

1978 Brochure

1978 Brochure, Page 1
1978 Brochure, Page 2
1978 Brochure, Page 3
1978 Brochure, Page 4
1978 Brochure, Page 5
1978 Brochure, Page 6

1979

1979 Brochure

1979 Brochure, Page 1
1979 Brochure, Page 2
1979 Brochure, Page 3
1979 Brochure, Page 4
1979 Brochure, Page 5
1979 Brochure, Page 6
1979 Brochure, Page 7
1979 Brochure, Page 8
1979 Brochure, Page 9
1979 Brochure, Page 10
1979 Brochure, Page 11
1979 Brochure, Page 12
1979 Brochure, Page 13
1979 Brochure, Page 14
1979 Brochure, Page 15
1979 Brochure, Page 16

1980

1980 Brochure

1980 Brochure, Page 1
1980 Brochure, Page 2
1980 Brochure, Page 3
1980 Brochure, Page 4
1980 Brochure, Page 5
1980 Brochure, Page 6
1980 Brochure, Page 7
1980 Brochure, Page 8
1980 Brochure, Page 9
1980 Brochure, Page 10
1980 Brochure, Page 11
1980 Brochure, Page 12
1980 Brochure, Page 13
1980 Brochure, Page 14
1980 Brochure, Page 15
1980 Brochure, Page 16

1983

1983 Brochure

1983 Brochure, Page 1
1983 Brochure, Page 2
1983 Brochure, Page 3
1983 Brochure, Page 4
1983 Brochure, Page 5
1983 Brochure, Page 6
1983 Brochure, Page 7
1983 Brochure, Page 8
1983 Brochure, Page 9
1983 Brochure, Page 10
1983 Brochure, Page 11
1983 Brochure, Page 12

MFG Boats in Use

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