..the first MFG Boats

For the 1955 model year, MFG introduced three 15-foot models. They were named the Union, the Cambridge, and the Erie - after Union City, PA; Cambridge Springs, PA; and Erie, PA, the latter two close to Union City. The Union was the basic model with steering from the transom, and retailed for $295! The Cambridge had a split console amidships with cable steering, and retailed for $495. The Erie was the fancy model and sold for $695. All models had the same fiber glass reinforced plastic hull, initially made in Ashtabula, OH, and subsequently in Union City, PA.

This was a watershed event for the marine industry. The FRP boat was a big hit with boaters!

By the early '60's, most of the small boat manufacturers had switched to FRP. Those who chose not to, well - they missed "the boat"!

..The early Covettes Part 3

Union City, is a small town approximately 25 miles south of Erie, in northwestern PA. During the 20th century there were several good furniture manufactures located in Union City, and it was particularly well know for good dining room tables and chairs.

Some of these furniture companies eventually closed. One was located at 55 Fourth Avenue, in a solid (they don't build them like that anymore!) three story building. Some of the woodworking equipment was left in the building and many of the former employees still lived in the area.

The local electric company, Penelec, convinced MFG to set up a boat manufacturing plant in the unoccupied building. This made good sense for several reasons: (1) Union City was only 65 miles from MFG's headquarters in Ashtabula, permitting inexpensive shipment of boats hulls from Ashtabula to UC; (2) we needed to build wood transoms, seats and decks for the boat hulls and the building had most of the equipment and skilled people nearby; (3) the building was inexpensive to purchase; and (4) MFG managers could commute there from Ashtabula in about an hour. Except Bob Morrison, who made it in 45 minutes.

So, we moved in late 1954 and introduced three 15-foot models. And that is when the fiber glass boat was born. TBC.

P.S. Can you name the models? An MFG tie to you, if you can!

...Early Corvettes--Part 2

In 1954, after several months of producing fiber glass reinforced plastic parts for the new Corvette, we received a very disturbing phone call from Chevrolet informing MFG that the Corvette was going to be out of production for an extended period. WHAT?

MFG had created a new company, the MFG Body Company, and built a new plant on Benefit Avenue in Ashtabula, OH. The only thing the MFG Body Company manufactured was Corvette parts - so this put us in a bit of a squeaky situation.

What to do ? Nothing like a good crisis to stimulate action !

MFG thought the FRP might make a good material for use in boat hulls. So we made the tooling for a 15-foot boat hull and took the FRP hull to a boat manufacturer who was making all hulls and decks out of wood.

This boat manufacturer turned us down, claiming the new material, FRP, would never be used in marine applications! A couple of others said "No" as well. Not quite what we wanted to hear!

What would you do in this situation? In Part 3, I will tell you what MFG did.

The early Corvettes

There were 300 1953 Corvettes produced - all of them "prototypes", but still cars that could be enjoyed. I believe the projection for the first production Corvettes, 1954, was 8,000 units.

Well, the '54 Corvettes were cute, but lacked a lot for a sports car, and expected sports car performance. In addition, there were some problems, such as the plexiglass side windows which eventually became translucent, and a convertible top that washed your hair when it rained.

After several months of production, about 3,500 units, Chevrolet called MFG and told us to stop building Corvette parts. WHAT?! We built a new plant, the MFG Body Company, and the only thing we did there was Corvette parts! Ashtabula, we have a problem!

So we needed to do SOMETHING, or go broke. And that is the subject of another blog.