Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company
Encyclopedia
The Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company located in Kalamazoo, Michigan
, was a railroad-equipment manufacturer and, later, a materials-handling company that was founded in 1883 and closed in the 1990s. It made four passenger vehicles for use at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.
(GR&I). By 1901, the company had changed its name to Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company. It manufactured hand and push cars
, motor cars
, velocipedes, jacks, tanks, stand pipes and other products needed for railroad work. The company moved to a larger factory on Reed Street (also next to the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
) that still stands today.
In the early 1940s, the company diversified into the materials handling field with a "Speed Truck" line, early ancestors of today’s personnel and material vehicles used as intra-plant transportation in many corporations. Many of these Speed Trucks used the same Wisconsin 16-hp air-cooled engine in Kalamazoo railroad motor cars. Eventually, this product line grew to include a platform model; a dump model; and a runabout, a one-person, no-cargo version. A final name change in the early 1950s, to the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company, reflected this growing non-railroad business.
ignition was still standard in 1960. Kalamazoo railroad motor cars were good sellers overseas, particularly in South America
and Australia
. In fact, the generic term for railroad motor car in Australia was "Kalamazoo". In contrast, the company was never were more than a minor player within the United States, most railroads having just a few of the cars around. Perhaps the company's best-known war-time product was "Galloping Gertie", a railroad motor car with a large target above it used for gunnery practice.
Larger railroad motor cars were the models 27A (10 men capacity), 27AW-F (10 men capacity), and 38B-F (14 men capacity). Adding side steps could double the number of men carried. The 27A had an air-cooled four-cylinder Wisconsin engine with magneto ignition and a Zenith carburetor that developed 22 horesepower. The 27AW-F and 38B-F had a water-cooled four-cylinder Ford
engine that developed 40 hp. Other products in 1960 that ran on the rails included a power tamping jack, a ballast equalizer with plow and sweeper, a spike driver and a line of trailers and push carts. Track gauges and levels, plus portable setoff assembly and take off rails rounded out the catalog.
, and all future railroad equipment was built in South Carolina
under the Tamper brand. Tamper merged with Fairmont in the 1990s, which was then bought by Harsco Corporation
.
Meanwhile, the company continued to build Speed Truck products. The model K45 was the largest platform truck in their 1960s catalogs with a 3,000-pound payload. The model 2500 platform truck could carry 2,000 pounds, as could the Model E1900 Low Bed Electric. The Kal-Truk was a three-wheel carrier most often used as a dump truck. It could carry 3,000 pounds. Finally, there was a small Electric Runabout, the "Economizer," which was a personnel carrier only.
The company manufactured four passenger vehicles for use at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. This custom model was called an "Escorter" and a total of 150 were made. In 1966, the Hawk family of Kalamazoo, who had owned a controlling interest in the company since 1953, bought out the remaining shares.
The only reminder of the company today in Kalamazoo is a faded name on the front of its former factory in Reed Street, Kalamazoo. However, a number of Kalamazoo railroad motor cars and Speed Trucks are still in use around the world.
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
, was a railroad-equipment manufacturer and, later, a materials-handling company that was founded in 1883 and closed in the 1990s. It made four passenger vehicles for use at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.
Foundation and diversification
The Kalamazoo Railroad Velocipede and Car Company was founded in 1883 by George Miller and Horace Haines in Kalamazoo with a capital stock of $45,000. The factory at Pitcher Street in downtown Kalamazoo was next to the Grand Rapids and Indiana RailroadGrand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
(GR&I). By 1901, the company had changed its name to Kalamazoo Railway Supply Company. It manufactured hand and push cars
Handcar
A handcar is a railroad car powered by its passengers, or by people pushing the car from behind. It is mostly used as a maintenance of way or mining car, but it was also used for passenger service in some cases...
, motor cars
Speeders
Speeders is a reality television program on truTV that began airing in the summer of 2007.Unlike the more action-packed and felony-oriented show COPS, this show consists of clips of individuals being pulled over for offenses, most commonly speeding, as well as other things such as seat belt...
, velocipedes, jacks, tanks, stand pipes and other products needed for railroad work. The company moved to a larger factory on Reed Street (also next to the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad
The Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad at its height provided passenger and freight railroad services between Cincinnati, Ohio and the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan, USA...
) that still stands today.
In the early 1940s, the company diversified into the materials handling field with a "Speed Truck" line, early ancestors of today’s personnel and material vehicles used as intra-plant transportation in many corporations. Many of these Speed Trucks used the same Wisconsin 16-hp air-cooled engine in Kalamazoo railroad motor cars. Eventually, this product line grew to include a platform model; a dump model; and a runabout, a one-person, no-cargo version. A final name change in the early 1950s, to the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company, reflected this growing non-railroad business.
Product line
A 1960 catalog shows two models of lightweight utility railroad motor cars, used for patrol cars, inspection and section use. The 56W contained an air-cooled Wisconsin 4 cycle 2-cylinder motor, rated at 16.4 horsepower (hp). Transmission was a synchromesh gearbox with 2 speeds forward and 2 speeds reverse. A roller chain connected the transmission to the rear axle. Timken roller bearings, 16" insulated wheels and cast iron four-wheel brakes were standard, all adding up to a weight of 895lbs without a cab. The 57W contained an air-cooled Wisconsin 4 cycle 1-cylinder motor, rated at 9.2 horsepower. Weight of this model was 790lbs. Extra equipment included two different types of cab, gong, coupler, electric starter and generator. Perhaps surprisingly, magnetoMagneto
A magneto is a type of electrical generator.Magneto may also refer to:* Magneto , permanent magnetic alternating current rotary generator* ignition magneto, magnetos on internal combustion engines...
ignition was still standard in 1960. Kalamazoo railroad motor cars were good sellers overseas, particularly in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In fact, the generic term for railroad motor car in Australia was "Kalamazoo". In contrast, the company was never were more than a minor player within the United States, most railroads having just a few of the cars around. Perhaps the company's best-known war-time product was "Galloping Gertie", a railroad motor car with a large target above it used for gunnery practice.
Larger railroad motor cars were the models 27A (10 men capacity), 27AW-F (10 men capacity), and 38B-F (14 men capacity). Adding side steps could double the number of men carried. The 27A had an air-cooled four-cylinder Wisconsin engine with magneto ignition and a Zenith carburetor that developed 22 horesepower. The 27AW-F and 38B-F had a water-cooled four-cylinder Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
engine that developed 40 hp. Other products in 1960 that ran on the rails included a power tamping jack, a ballast equalizer with plow and sweeper, a spike driver and a line of trailers and push carts. Track gauges and levels, plus portable setoff assembly and take off rails rounded out the catalog.
Sale of railroad business
In 1968, the railroad business of the company was bought out by Tamper Inc. of Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
, and all future railroad equipment was built in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
under the Tamper brand. Tamper merged with Fairmont in the 1990s, which was then bought by Harsco Corporation
Harsco Corporation
Harsco Corporation is a diversified, worldwide industrial company based in the United States. Harsco operates in 54 countries and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company provides industrial services and engineered products that serve some of the world’s largest and most...
.
Meanwhile, the company continued to build Speed Truck products. The model K45 was the largest platform truck in their 1960s catalogs with a 3,000-pound payload. The model 2500 platform truck could carry 2,000 pounds, as could the Model E1900 Low Bed Electric. The Kal-Truk was a three-wheel carrier most often used as a dump truck. It could carry 3,000 pounds. Finally, there was a small Electric Runabout, the "Economizer," which was a personnel carrier only.
The company manufactured four passenger vehicles for use at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. This custom model was called an "Escorter" and a total of 150 were made. In 1966, the Hawk family of Kalamazoo, who had owned a controlling interest in the company since 1953, bought out the remaining shares.
Final years
Despite a number of strikes by the union workforce, the Kalamazoo Manufacturing Company continued building its personnel and materials carriers, reaching the company centennial in 1983. The firm continued its existence until the 1990s, then closed so quietly it was not reported in the local newspaper.The only reminder of the company today in Kalamazoo is a faded name on the front of its former factory in Reed Street, Kalamazoo. However, a number of Kalamazoo railroad motor cars and Speed Trucks are still in use around the world.