Thompson - Revision history

HandyAndy at 19:40, 1 December 2010

2010-12-01T19:40:08Z

HandyAndy: added category

2010-10-26T16:21:17Z

added category

HandyAndy at 20:30, 25 June 2010

2010-06-25T20:30:38Z

HandyAndy: added user-friendly info

2010-05-28T17:19:41Z

added user-friendly info

HandyAndy: updated in response to forum post

2010-05-26T15:17:42Z

updated in response to forum post

HandyAndy: Created disambigation page, moved Thompson Bros to new page

2010-05-03T16:41:56Z

Created disambigation page, moved Thompson Bros to new page

Show changes

HandyAndy: Added links to winner, aero-craft, crownline, cruisers inc

2010-04-27T14:25:34Z

Added links to winner, aero-craft, crownline, cruisers inc

Cc1000 at 22:53, 5 March 2010

2010-03-05T22:53:35Z

Cc1000 at 00:17, 5 March 2010

2010-03-05T00:17:26Z

Cc1000: added timeline

2010-03-05T00:08:03Z

added timeline

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:40, 1 December 2010
Line 5:		Line 5:


−	* [[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co. of New York, Inc.]], was established in 1925 as a branch factory of Thompson Bros. at Cortland, NY. They became independent company in January 1959.	+	* [[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co. of New York, Inc.]], was established in 1925 as a branch factory of Thompson Bros. at Cortland, NY. They became an independent company in January 1959.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 26 October 2010
Line 12:		Line 12:

	{{disambig}}		{{disambig}}
		+
		+	[[Category:Disambiguation]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:30, 25 June 2010
Line 8:		Line 8:


−	~~(Click on the blue text~~ to ~~be redirected to each manufacturer's page).~~	+	[[Main Page\|Back to Main Page]]


−	~~[[Main Page\|Back to Main Page]]~~	+	{{disambig}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:19, 28 May 2010
Line 7:		Line 7:
	* [[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co. of New York, Inc.]], was established in 1925 as a branch factory of Thompson Bros. at Cortland, NY. They became independent company in January 1959.		* [[Thompson (New York)\|Thompson Boat Co. of New York, Inc.]], was established in 1925 as a branch factory of Thompson Bros. at Cortland, NY. They became independent company in January 1959.

		+
		+	(Click on the blue text to be redirected to each manufacturer's page).


	[[Main Page\|Back to Main Page]]		[[Main Page\|Back to Main Page]]

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 * [[Thompson Bros|Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co.]], a boat-builder based in Peshtigo, Wisconsin and builder of lapstrake-construction boats.
-* [[Thompson (New York)|Thompson Boat Co.]], an unrelated company which built lapstrake-construction boats in Cortland, New York.
 [[Main Page|Back to Main Page]]

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
-When the recreational boom of the fifties hit, Thompson took full advantage of the demand for outdoor recreational products. They had two factories turning out wooden boats and canoes. Cruisers, Inc. of Oconto, Wisconsin began operations in 1953 as a second-generation venture. They also made wooden boats, concentrating upon clinker or lapstrake hulls. Thompson Skis, Inc. of Crivitz, Wisconsin, another family enterprise was making wooden water skis, aquaplanes, and disks.
+When the recreational boom of the fifties hit, Thompson took full advantage of the demand for outdoor recreational products. They had two factories turning out wooden boats and canoes. [[Cruisers Inc.|Cruisers, Inc.]] of Oconto, Wisconsin began operations in 1953 as a second-generation venture. They also made wooden boats, concentrating upon clinker or lapstrake hulls. Thompson Skis, Inc. of Crivitz, Wisconsin, another family enterprise was making wooden water skis, aquaplanes, and disks.
 <br><br>
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
-Classic boat expert Lee Wangstad suspects that Thompson probably made a production agreement with Molded Fiber Glass Company (MFG), which was based at Ashtabula. Somewhere along the line, however, something went awry. A full-page advertisement was taken out by Thompson Brothers in the trade paper The Boating Industry on 15 October 1955. It stated that contrary to previous announcements, Thompson would not have molded fiberglass clinker boats in their 1955 or 1956 lines. One explanation for Thompson abandoning fiberglass may be due to the fire that destroyed the vast majority of their Peshtigo factory in March 1955. They may have decided to focus their energies on rebuilding the facility and letting new ideas pass by for the time being.
+Classic boat expert Lee Wangstad suspects that Thompson probably made a production agreement with [[MFG|Molded Fiber Glass Company (MFG)]], which was based at Ashtabula. Somewhere along the line, however, something went awry. A full-page advertisement was taken out by Thompson Brothers in the trade paper The Boating Industry on 15 October 1955. It stated that contrary to previous announcements, Thompson would not have molded fiberglass clinker boats in their 1955 or 1956 lines. One explanation for Thompson abandoning fiberglass may be due to the fire that destroyed the vast majority of their Peshtigo factory in March 1955. They may have decided to focus their energies on rebuilding the facility and letting new ideas pass by for the time being.
 <br><br>
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
-In late 1964 Thompson consummated an agreement with Crownline Boats of Cairo, Illinois. Crownline made hulls for Thompson; the 14-foot G1400 and 15-foot G1500 models. Thompson was making the full V Super Deluxe 17-footer at Peshtigo. When Crownline went bankrupt in early 1965, Pete Thompson drove to Cairo and picked up the Thompson molds and brought them to Peshtigo.
+In late 1964 Thompson consummated an agreement with [[Crownline|Crownline Boats]] of Cairo, Illinois. Crownline made hulls for Thompson; the 14-foot G1400 and 15-foot G1500 models. Thompson was making the full V Super Deluxe 17-footer at Peshtigo. When Crownline went bankrupt in early 1965, Pete Thompson drove to Cairo and picked up the Thompson molds and brought them to Peshtigo.
 <br><br>
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
-In 1971-72 they built a new factory at Peshtigo especially suited for construction of fiberglass boats. The product line was expanded through the acquisition of Tom Sawyer Boats and Sidewinder Boats in 1974. Production of both lines was moved to Peshtigo. In late 1977 Thompson acquired the assets of Winner Boat Company as well. Winner’s product line was moved from Dickson, Tennessee to Peshtigo.
+In 1971-72 they built a new factory at Peshtigo especially suited for construction of fiberglass boats. The product line was expanded through the acquisition of Tom Sawyer Boats and Sidewinder Boats in 1974. Production of both lines was moved to Peshtigo. In late 1977 Thompson acquired the assets of [[Winner|Winner Boat Company]] as well. Winner’s product line was moved from Dickson, Tennessee to Peshtigo.
 <br><br>
@@ Line 90: / Line 90: @@
-Most boats made by Thompson were designed in house. Roger Devroy began working for the firm in 1969, ultimately becoming the principal designer of the boats. Having no formal training, he instinctually knew where to place interior components, engine, and how to shape the hull. Often times he would design a hull, make the mold, plug a hull from it and test the basic hull on the Saginaw River near St. Charles. If performance was not up to snuff, he would adjust the mold and start over. It was not until about 1990 that Thompson brought a trained designer on staff.
+Most boats made by Thompson were designed in house. Roger Devroy began working for the firm in 1969, ultimately becoming the principal designer of the boats. Having no formal training, he instinctively knew where to place interior components, engine, and how to shape the hull. Often times he would design a hull, make the mold, plug a hull from it and test the basic hull on the Saginaw River near St. Charles. If performance was not up to snuff, he would adjust the mold and start over. It was not until about 1990 that Thompson brought a trained designer on staff.
 <br><br>
-When Thompson relocated to St. Charles, they occupied the old Browning Aero-Craft boat works. The facility was old and not suited for production line manufacturing. But they had to make due with what was available. In addition, Browning left large amounts of toxic wastes in and near the plant. Thompson inherited these problems and was held responsible for their cleanup. They also suffered two fires in 1987. Thompson moved into a brand new 150,000 square foot facility in 1988. It was the most modern and well laid out operation in the boating industry after completion.
+When Thompson relocated to St. Charles, they occupied the old [[Aerocraft|Browning Aero-Craft]] boat works. The facility was old and not suited for production line manufacturing. But they had to make due with what was available. In addition, Browning left large amounts of toxic wastes in and near the plant. Thompson inherited these problems and was held responsible for their cleanup. They also suffered two fires in 1987. Thompson moved into a brand new 150,000 square foot facility in 1988. It was the most modern and well laid out operation in the boating industry after completion.
 <br><br>
@@ Line 130: / Line 130: @@
 File:Thompsonb55003.jpg | 1955 Brochure p3
 File:Thompsonb55004.jpg | 1955 Brochure p4
 </gallery>
@@ Line 139: / Line 137: @@
 File:Thompsona63001.JPG | 1963 Ad 1
 File:Thompsona63002.JPG | 1963 Ad 2
 </gallery>
 [[Main_Page|Back to Main Page]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:53, 5 March 2010
Line 120:		Line 120:
	For more Thompson history, see Rhude’s articles in Classic Boating magazine (Sept.-Oct. 1999), The BoatHouse magazine (April 1998), and The Brass Bell magazine (Summer 2000). The Thompson Dockside magazine and website also offers Thompson et.al. history (www.thompsondockside.com). <a href="www.thompsondockside.com" target="www.thompsondockside.com">www.thompsondockside.com</a>		For more Thompson history, see Rhude’s articles in Classic Boating magazine (Sept.-Oct. 1999), The BoatHouse magazine (April 1998), and The Brass Bell magazine (Summer 2000). The Thompson Dockside magazine and website also offers Thompson et.al. history (www.thompsondockside.com). <a href="www.thompsondockside.com" target="www.thompsondockside.com">www.thompsondockside.com</a>

−
−
−
−	~~== Timeline~~
−	~~Tomahawk Boats ==~~
−
−
−	~~Compiled by Andreas Jordahl Rhude~~
−	~~4054 Wentworth Ave. S.~~
−	~~Minneapolis, MN 55409-1522~~
−	~~612-823-3990 thompsonboat@msn.com~~
−
−	~~12 February 2010~~
−
−
−	~~August 1945 Start of “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company”. Purchase of warehouse of former Daigle property on south side of Somo Avenue in Tomahawk, WI. Make wooden cedar strip row/motor boats.~~
−	~~Partners: Franklin P. Winter, Fred W. Dreger~~
−
−	~~First model built was the 15 ft. “Red Wing” open boat~~
−
−	~~1945-1946 $22,000 sales in first year of operation~~
−
−	~~March 1947 Incorporation of “Tomahawk Boat Sales, Inc.”~~
−	~~50 shares of stock at $100.00 per share~~
−	~~Incorporators: Paul J. Winter~~
−	~~Franklin P. Winter~~
−	~~Fred Dreger~~
−
−	~~April 1947 Tomahawk Boat enlarges factory complex with 36’ x 75’ addition including office and showroom. 2 boats built per day~~
−
−	~~April 1947 Tomahawk Boat Club formed with Franklin P. Winter as first president~~
−
−	~~19-27 April 1947 Tomahawk Boat displays 4 boats at Milwaukee Sports & Vacation Show~~
−
−	~~April 1949 Tomahawk “Beaver” flat bottom plywood resort boat introduced~~
−
−	~~26 December 1951 Incorporation of “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation”~~
−	~~1,000 shares of stock at no par value~~
−	~~Officers: Paul J. Winter, president~~
−	~~Myrtle L. Dreger, vice president~~
−	~~Franklin P. Winter, secretary/treasurer~~
−
−	~~1952 Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation~~
−	~~Officers: Paul J. Winter, chairman & president~~
−	~~Myrtle L. Dreger, vice president~~
−	~~Franklin P. Winter, secretary/treasurer, purchasing agent~~
−	~~William F. Foster, sales manager~~
−
−	~~November 1952 Lloyd G. Mitchell named assistant general manager~~
−
−	~~1954 About 1,000 boats produced annually~~
−
−	~~15 April 1954 Tomahawk boat factory completely destroyed by fire. $200,000 damages. Office safe is recovered and contents are undamaged. 50 employees at time of fire~~
−
−	~~Principals: Franklin P. Winter, general manager & designer~~
−	~~Fred W. Dreger, sales supervisor~~
−	~~Dave Davenport, plant superintendent~~
−	~~Gordon Mitchell, office manager~~
−	~~Mrs. Dave Davenport, stenographer~~
−
−	~~April 1954 Tomahawk citizens form an industrial development corporation to raise funds to keep boat works in town and rebuild factory~~
−
−	~~20 May 1954 Metal framework (Butler type) for new boat factory is erected~~
−
−	~~25 January 1955 Franklin P. Winter obtains US Patent No. 2,700,357 for “Wood Strip Boat Hull Structure and Sealing Means”~~
−
−	~~February 1955 Tomahawk Boat announces it will soon begin production of fiberglass boats in addition to wooden boats~~
−
−	~~05 August 1957 Stockholders: Franklin P. Winter~~
−	~~Paul J. Winter~~
−	~~Fred W. Dreger~~
−	~~Myrtle L. Dreger~~
−	~~Christine K. Dreger~~
−	~~Harold Irmischer~~
−	~~Lloyd G. Mitchell~~
−
−	~~March 1960 Franklin P. Winter, age 41, runs for board of education in Tomahawk~~
−
−	~~December 1960 Tomahawk Boat advertises snow sleighs for sale, one piece fiberglass bodies~~
−
−	28 February 1962 Harley-Davidson Motor Company, maker of motorcycles, purchases 51% majority interest in Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. Boat firm to be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson.
−	~~Officers: Franklin P. Winter, president~~
−	~~William J. Harley, vice president~~
−	~~Lloyd G. Mitchell, secretary~~
−	~~Otto P. Resch, treasurer~~
−
−	~~20 February 1963 Franklin P. Winter resigns as president of Tomahawk Boat Mfg. Corp.~~
−
−	~~05 October 1964 Death of Paul J. Winter at age 83, he was president of Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. 1952-1960~~
−
−	~~24 June 1965 “Statement of Intent to Dissolve” filed with State of Wisconsin~~
−
−	01 July 1965 Boat manufacturing operations cease at Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. Name changed to Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Tomahawk Division – wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Motor Company
−
−	~~22 September 1965 Liquidation auction of all boat building assets of Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp., including work in progress, tooling, molds~~
−
−	~~03 May 1966 Articles of Dissolution filed with State of Wisconsin for “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation”~~
−
−	~~Circa 1969 former Tomahawk Boat workers establish “Hi-Plastics, Inc.” and make fiberglass “Hy-Ryder” brand speed boats at Tomahawk, WI~~
−	~~Officers: Harold Irmischer, president~~
−	~~Patrick Bogie, vice president~~
−	~~Ruth Irmischer, secretary~~
−
−	~~21 February 1996 Death of Franklin P. Winter at age 77, at Shawano, WI. He had been making wooden strip-built boats at Shawano for a number of years after departing Tomahawk Boat in 1963.~~

@@ Line 136: / Line 136: @@
 August 1945	Start of “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company”. Purchase of warehouse of former Daigle property on south side of Somo Avenue in Tomahawk, WI. Make wooden cedar strip row/motor boats.
-Partners: Franklin P. Winter
+Partners: Franklin P. Winter, Fred W. Dreger
 			First model built was the 15 ft. “Red Wing” open boat

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:08, 5 March 2010
Line 119:		Line 119:

	For more Thompson history, see Rhude’s articles in Classic Boating magazine (Sept.-Oct. 1999), The BoatHouse magazine (April 1998), and The Brass Bell magazine (Summer 2000). The Thompson Dockside magazine and website also offers Thompson et.al. history (www.thompsondockside.com). <a href="www.thompsondockside.com" target="www.thompsondockside.com">www.thompsondockside.com</a>		For more Thompson history, see Rhude’s articles in Classic Boating magazine (Sept.-Oct. 1999), The BoatHouse magazine (April 1998), and The Brass Bell magazine (Summer 2000). The Thompson Dockside magazine and website also offers Thompson et.al. history (www.thompsondockside.com). <a href="www.thompsondockside.com" target="www.thompsondockside.com">www.thompsondockside.com</a>
		+
		+
		+
		+
		+	== Timeline
		+	Tomahawk Boats ==
		+
		+
		+	Compiled by Andreas Jordahl Rhude
		+	4054 Wentworth Ave. S.
		+	Minneapolis, MN 55409-1522
		+	612-823-3990 thompsonboat@msn.com
		+
		+	12 February 2010
		+
		+
		+	August 1945 Start of “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Company”. Purchase of warehouse of former Daigle property on south side of Somo Avenue in Tomahawk, WI. Make wooden cedar strip row/motor boats.
		+	Partners: Franklin P. Winter
		+	Fred W. Dreger
		+
		+	First model built was the 15 ft. “Red Wing” open boat
		+
		+	1945-1946 $22,000 sales in first year of operation
		+
		+	March 1947 Incorporation of “Tomahawk Boat Sales, Inc.”
		+	50 shares of stock at $100.00 per share
		+	Incorporators: Paul J. Winter
		+	Franklin P. Winter
		+	Fred Dreger
		+
		+	April 1947 Tomahawk Boat enlarges factory complex with 36’ x 75’ addition including office and showroom. 2 boats built per day
		+
		+	April 1947 Tomahawk Boat Club formed with Franklin P. Winter as first president
		+
		+	19-27 April 1947 Tomahawk Boat displays 4 boats at Milwaukee Sports & Vacation Show
		+
		+	April 1949 Tomahawk “Beaver” flat bottom plywood resort boat introduced
		+
		+	26 December 1951 Incorporation of “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation”
		+	1,000 shares of stock at no par value
		+	Officers: Paul J. Winter, president
		+	Myrtle L. Dreger, vice president
		+	Franklin P. Winter, secretary/treasurer
		+
		+	1952 Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation
		+	Officers: Paul J. Winter, chairman & president
		+	Myrtle L. Dreger, vice president
		+	Franklin P. Winter, secretary/treasurer, purchasing agent
		+	William F. Foster, sales manager
		+
		+	November 1952 Lloyd G. Mitchell named assistant general manager
		+
		+	1954 About 1,000 boats produced annually
		+
		+	15 April 1954 Tomahawk boat factory completely destroyed by fire. $200,000 damages. Office safe is recovered and contents are undamaged. 50 employees at time of fire
		+
		+	Principals: Franklin P. Winter, general manager & designer
		+	Fred W. Dreger, sales supervisor
		+	Dave Davenport, plant superintendent
		+	Gordon Mitchell, office manager
		+	Mrs. Dave Davenport, stenographer
		+
		+	April 1954 Tomahawk citizens form an industrial development corporation to raise funds to keep boat works in town and rebuild factory
		+
		+	20 May 1954 Metal framework (Butler type) for new boat factory is erected
		+
		+	25 January 1955 Franklin P. Winter obtains US Patent No. 2,700,357 for “Wood Strip Boat Hull Structure and Sealing Means”
		+
		+	February 1955 Tomahawk Boat announces it will soon begin production of fiberglass boats in addition to wooden boats
		+
		+	05 August 1957 Stockholders: Franklin P. Winter
		+	Paul J. Winter
		+	Fred W. Dreger
		+	Myrtle L. Dreger
		+	Christine K. Dreger
		+	Harold Irmischer
		+	Lloyd G. Mitchell
		+
		+	March 1960 Franklin P. Winter, age 41, runs for board of education in Tomahawk
		+
		+	December 1960 Tomahawk Boat advertises snow sleighs for sale, one piece fiberglass bodies
		+
		+	28 February 1962 Harley-Davidson Motor Company, maker of motorcycles, purchases 51% majority interest in Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. Boat firm to be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson.
		+	Officers: Franklin P. Winter, president
		+	William J. Harley, vice president
		+	Lloyd G. Mitchell, secretary
		+	Otto P. Resch, treasurer
		+
		+	20 February 1963 Franklin P. Winter resigns as president of Tomahawk Boat Mfg. Corp.
		+
		+	05 October 1964 Death of Paul J. Winter at age 83, he was president of Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. 1952-1960
		+
		+	24 June 1965 “Statement of Intent to Dissolve” filed with State of Wisconsin
		+
		+	01 July 1965 Boat manufacturing operations cease at Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp. Name changed to Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Tomahawk Division – wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson Motor Company
		+
		+	22 September 1965 Liquidation auction of all boat building assets of Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corp., including work in progress, tooling, molds
		+
		+	03 May 1966 Articles of Dissolution filed with State of Wisconsin for “Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation”
		+
		+	Circa 1969 former Tomahawk Boat workers establish “Hi-Plastics, Inc.” and make fiberglass “Hy-Ryder” brand speed boats at Tomahawk, WI
		+	Officers: Harold Irmischer, president
		+	Patrick Bogie, vice president
		+	Ruth Irmischer, secretary
		+
		+	21 February 1996 Death of Franklin P. Winter at age 77, at Shawano, WI. He had been making wooden strip-built boats at Shawano for a number of years after departing Tomahawk Boat in 1963.
		+