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Highway
Trailer Corporation in World War Two
Edgerton, WI
1917-1957
1957-1958 owned by Trans Continental Industries
1958-1965 as Highway Trailer Industries
1965-1972 owned by General Acceptance Corporation
1972-? owned by XTRA
This page updated 1-3-2023.
In 1917, James Menhall began the Highway
Trailer Corporation in Beloit, WI. He leased the Edgerton Wagon
Works in Edgerton, WI to begin production. The original products
were small two-wheel trailers that a farmer could tow behind his car to
take produce to farmer's markets and the small grocery stores of the
era. It also made a version for transporting livestock.
The company expanded
its product line several years later by manufacturing truck trailers.
It is unknown when the trailer building operation ceased in Edgerton.
The Highway Trailer Corporation won the
Army-Navy "E" Award four times during World War Two.
Highway Trailer World War Two Products:
The company had $26,933,000 in government contracts during World War
Two. It also had a plant in nearby Stoughton, WI which produced earth
augers and truck and trailer parts for the war effort. The
Stoughton plant had
$4,893,000 in military contracts.
Table 1 - Highway Trailer
Corporation's
Major World War Two Contracts - Edgerton, WI Plant
The information below
comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply
Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was
published by the Civilian Production Administration, Industrial
Statistics Division. Table added 4-13-2022 |
|
Product |
Contract Amount |
Contract Awarded
|
Completion
Date |
| Trailers -
Navy |
$185,000 |
6-1941 |
1-1942 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$89,000 |
9-1941 |
1-1942 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$134,000 |
7-1941 |
8-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Army |
$553,000 |
9-1941 |
8-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Army |
$1,196,000 |
1-1942 |
9-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Army |
$941,000 |
1-1942 |
5-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Army |
$156,000 |
2-1942 |
6-1942 |
| Trailers -
Army |
$422,000 |
4-1942 |
8-1942 |
| Trailers - Navy |
$368,000 |
6-1942 |
8-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Army |
$74,000 |
6-1942 |
6-1942 |
| Trailer Units -
Navy |
$456,000 |
7-1942 |
12-1943 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$224,000 |
7-1942 |
9-1943 |
| Semi Trailers -
Army |
$401,000 |
7-1942 |
8-1943 |
| Semi Trailers -
Army |
$212,000 |
7-1942 |
10-1943 |
| Drive Assemblies
- Army |
$97,000 |
7-1942 |
11-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Navy |
$143,000 |
8-1942 |
11-1942 |
| Trailers Semi -
Navy |
$435,000 |
8-1942 |
10-1942 |
| Trailers
Machinery - Navy |
$178,000 |
10-1942 |
5-1943 |
| Trailers - Navy |
$84,000 |
10-1942 |
1-1943 |
| Tools- Army |
$149,000 |
11-1942 |
6-1943 |
| Machinery Road -
Army |
$656,000 |
11-1942 |
8-1943 |
| Trailer Parts -
Army |
$580,000 |
11-1942 |
11-1943 |
| Trailers Bomb -
Navy |
$423,000 |
12-1942 |
3-1943 |
| Trailers - Navy |
$95,000 |
12-1942 |
2-1943 |
| Trailers - Army |
$220,000 |
12-1942 |
7-1943 |
| Tools- Army |
$587,000 |
2-1943 |
12-1943 |
| Trailers- Navy |
$84,000 |
3-1943 |
6-1943 |
| Machinery Road -
Army |
$697,000 |
5-1943 |
5-1944 |
| Metal Plates -
Army |
$80,000 |
5-1943 |
12-1943 |
| Trailers Bomb -
Navy |
$1,421,000 |
5-1943 |
4-1944 |
| Trailers Bomb -
Navy |
$3,611,000 |
5-1943 |
12-1943 |
| Trailers - Navy |
$77,000 |
5-1943 |
9-1943 |
| Earth Auger Parts
- Army |
$354,000 |
6-1943 |
1-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$143,000 |
6-1943 |
6-1944 |
| Van Trailers -
Navy |
$149,000 |
6-1943 |
12-1943 |
| Trailers - Army |
$248,000 |
7-1943 |
12-1943 |
| Communication
Equipment - Army |
$114,000 |
7-1943 |
10-1944 |
| Earth Borer Parts
- Army |
$65,000 |
7-1943 |
6-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$383,000 |
7-1943 |
7-1943 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$278,000 |
7-1943 |
1-1944 |
| Elect Maint Equip
- Army |
$69,000 |
9-1943 |
12-1944 |
| Communication
Equipment - Army |
$302,000 |
9-1943 |
11-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Army |
$5,441,000 |
9-1943 |
4-1945 |
| Trailers - Army |
$132,000 |
10-1943 |
3-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Navy |
$130,000 |
3-1944 |
8-1944 |
| Two Wheel Dollies
- Navy |
$58,000 |
3-1944 |
5-1944 |
| Trailers - Navy |
$90,000 |
4-1944 |
11-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Navy |
$234,000 |
5-1944 |
7-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Navy |
$500,000 |
11-1944 |
12-1944 |
| Semitrailers -
Navy |
$113,000 |
12-1944 |
3-1945 |
| Slip Pole
Trailers - Army |
$1,977,000 |
1-1945 |
9-1945 |
| Trailers K37 -
Army |
$365,000 |
1-1945 |
6-1945 |
| Trailers K37 -
Army |
$281,000 |
3-1945 |
11-1945 |
| Trailers K37 -
Army |
$351,000 |
3-1945 |
12-1945 |
| Semitrailers -
Navy |
$175,000 |
5-1945 |
12-1945 |
| Total
|
$26,922,000 |
|
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Table 2 - Highway Trailer
Corporation's
Major World War Two Contracts - Stoughton, WI Plant
The information below
comes from the "Alphabetical Listing of Major War Supply
Contracts, June 1940 through September 1945." This was
published by the Civilian Production Administration,
Industrial Statistics Division. Table added 4-13-2022 |
|
Product |
Contract Amount |
Contract Awarded
|
Completion
Date |
| Earth Augers
- Army |
$879,000 |
7-1943 |
11-1944 |
| Construction
Equip Pts - Army |
$99,000 |
3-1944 |
9-1944 |
| Earth Augers
- Army |
$670,000 |
4-1944 |
12-1945 |
| Earth Borer
Parts - Army |
$58,000 |
9-1944 |
12-1944 |
| Earth Augers
- Army |
$286,000 |
1-1945 |
12-1945 |
| Earth Augers
- Army |
$215,000 |
3-1945 |
6-1946 |
| Truck Parts -
Army |
$1,179,000 |
3-1945 |
8-1945 |
| Trailer Parts
- Army |
$98,000 |
4-1945 |
8-1945 |
| Earth Augers
- Army |
$1,409,000 |
5-1945 |
9-1946 |
| Total |
$4,893,000 |
|
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Table 3 - Highway Trailer Corporation World War Two Trailers Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of
Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945."
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of
Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and
Progress Branch
January 21, 1946. |
|
Type |
Model |
1940 |
1941 |
1942 |
1943 |
1944 |
1945 |
Total |
|
Semi Trailer, 3-ton, 2W, Van |
SKD 1742A (1941), SKD2043, SKD 2269 (Steel), SKD 2316
(Wood), SKD 2353 |
|
193 |
18 |
383 |
80 |
|
674 |
|
Semi Trailer, 3-1/2-ton, 2W, 16 foot, Stake and Platform |
SKD 2267 |
|
|
|
237 |
|
|
237 |
| Semi Trailer,
6-ton, 2W, Animal and Cargo |
|
|
|
339 |
|
|
|
339 |
| Semi Trailer,
6-ton, 2W, Van |
|
|
|
854 |
121 |
|
|
975 |
| Semi Trailer,
6-ton, 2W, Platform |
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
|
49 |
| Semi-Trailer,
7-Ton, 2W, Cargo |
|
|
|
970 |
|
|
|
970 |
| Semi-Trailer,
8-1/2-Ton, 2W, C.S.&P. |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
| Semi-Trailer,
10-Ton, 2W, Stake & Platform |
Model 1025 |
|
|
|
|
1,297 |
703 |
2,000 |
| Trailer, 8-Ton,
Full Track |
|
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
8 |
| Trailer, 4W, Gas,
5000 Gallons |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Total |
|
14 |
193 |
2,231 |
741 |
1377 |
703 |
5,259 |
Author's Note
and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office
of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for
vehicles for the U.S. Army during World War Two. It also purchased
vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and Lend-Lease. However,
there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles
including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S.
Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy
Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct
purchases.
This 2-1/2-ton slip pole trailer, with
bolster, that Highway Trailer built for the Army Corps of Engineers is a
prime example of a vehicle that is not comprehended in Table 3.
This trailer is on display at the WWII American Experience Museum in
Gettysburg, PA. Author's photo added 1-3-2023.
Author's photo added 1-3-2023.
This image is looking at the back end of the
trailer. It shows the adjustable slip section where the two pieces
of square tubing meet. This allows the trailer to be adjustable in
length. Author's photo added 1-3-2023.
This is a view of the rear section of the
trailer. Author's photo added 1-3-2023.
This photo shows where the front section of
the square tubing attaches to the truck's pintle hook. Author's
photo added 1-3-2023.
This trailer used a GMC CCKW-353 as its
prime mover. The Highway Trailer-built slip pole trailer was used
to carry two bridging pontoons. Author's photo added 1-3-2023.
Here is another good example of why I have the
disclaimer for Table 3. This Highway Trailer-built U.S. Navy Mark 3, Mod 1
bomb trailer is not listed in Table 3, as it is a non-Army trailer.
This is one of the many unique military artifacts on display at the
Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. The trailer has a Mark
14 torpedo on it. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
The ID shows that the Indiana Military
Museum obtained the trailer from the nearby Crane Naval Ammunition
Depot. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
This U.S. Navy Ordnance document shows that
there were three versions of the Mark 3, Mod 1 bomb trailer.
Attached to the Federal Model 94x43
truck tractor is
a Highway Trailer Company Model 1025 two-wheel 10-ton semi-trailer.
Author's photo.
Both units are on display at the Army
Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, VA. This is another museum
with lots of Army transportation vehicles. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
The Highway Trailer Model 1025 is one of
2,000 built during World War Two. Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Author's photo.
Highway Trailer Signal Corps Trailers:
The company also built an unknown number of U.S. Signal Corps K-37 and
K-38 two-wheel trailers.
The K-37 was a telephone construction and
cable-hauler trailer.
The K-38 was a telephone cable splicer
trailer.
Highway Trailer built 674 of these.
Highway Trailer built 237 of these.
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