Chicago Motor Coach Company
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Motor Coach Company was founded in 1917 by John D. Hertz
to provide Chicago
's first bus transportation
services, primarily in places where streetcars
were not able to travel. The company grew rapidly and was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority
in 1952.
founded the Chicago Motor Coach Company in 1917 to run bus transport services in Chicago. During the period that he was running this company he was actively involved with many other transport businesses, including taxicab
operation, taxicab manufacture, car rental and the manufacture of coaches and later cars.
He then formed the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company in 1923 as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company
to manufacture buses, many of which were used by the Chicago Coach Company. Hertz sold a majority interest in the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company to General Motors
in 1925 and then the balance in 1943.
By the mid-1920s, the Chicago Coach Company operated with 423 buses and 1,800 employees serving 134 street miles within the city.
In 1952, the company was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority
.
John D. Hertz
John Daniel Hertz, Sr. was an American businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist.-Biography:...
to provide Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's first bus transportation
Public transport bus service
Bus services play a major role in the provision of public transport. These services can take many forms, varying in distance covered and types of vehicle used, and can operate with fixed or flexible routes and schedules...
services, primarily in places where streetcars
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
were not able to travel. The company grew rapidly and was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
in 1952.
History
John D. HertzJohn D. Hertz
John Daniel Hertz, Sr. was an American businessman, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist.-Biography:...
founded the Chicago Motor Coach Company in 1917 to run bus transport services in Chicago. During the period that he was running this company he was actively involved with many other transport businesses, including taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
operation, taxicab manufacture, car rental and the manufacture of coaches and later cars.
He then formed the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company in 1923 as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company
Yellow Cab Company
The Yellow Cab Company is a taxicab company in Chicago which was founded in 1914 by John D. Hertz.-History:The Yellow Cab Company was founded in Chicago in 1914 by John D...
to manufacture buses, many of which were used by the Chicago Coach Company. Hertz sold a majority interest in the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company to General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
in 1925 and then the balance in 1943.
By the mid-1920s, the Chicago Coach Company operated with 423 buses and 1,800 employees serving 134 street miles within the city.
In 1952, the company was purchased by the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
.