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Schelm
Brothers Inc. During World War Two
East Peoria, IL
1936-1961
This page added 2-9-2025
The earliest date in the
historical record for the Schelm Brothers selling trailers is 1936.
In September 1940, the company submitted three bids to Pontiac, IL for a
750 gallon pumper fire engine. The range on the bids was between
$10,800 and $12,500. In 1947, the historical record indicates the
company was producing freezers. In 1955 the company was
manufacturing a line of aluminum fertilizer tanks. The end of the
company came on May 3, 1961, when its equipment was auctioned off in a
public sale. Its state charter was later dissolved by the State of
Illinois in January 1968.
Schelm Brothers World War Two Products: Table 1
shows that the company had $6,404,000 in major contracts to help win
World War Two. $6,015,000 was for the manufacture of M10
ammunition trailers for Army Ordnance. This was 94% of its major
contracts. The company also produced $253,000 worth of assault boats for
the Army Corps of Engineers.
The Schelm Brothers also
announced on August 10, 1941, that it had an Army contract for 55
gasoline trailers to refuel light tanks. The value of the contract
was not provided. This was its first World War Two contract.
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Table 1 - Schelm Brothers
Corporation's Major World War Two Contracts
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, Requirements and Progress
Branch January 21, 1946. |
|
Product - Customer |
Contract Number |
Contract Amount |
Award Date |
Finnish Date |
| Craft Small -
Army |
|
$136,000 |
5-1942 |
10-1942 |
| Boats Assault
- Army Corps of Engineers |
1122-ENG-1154 |
$117,000 |
11-1942 |
4-1943 |
| Ammunition
Trailers - Army Ordnance |
271-ORD-4087 |
$2,182,000 |
6-1943 |
5-1944 |
|
Ammunition Trailers - Army Ordnance |
11022-ORD- |
$3,833,000 |
4-1944 |
5-1945 |
| Ammunition
Trailer Pts M10 - Army Ordnance |
11022-ORD- |
$136.000 |
2-1945 |
9-1945 |
| Total |
|
$6,404,000 |
|
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The largest contribution the Schelm Brothers
made to winning World War Two was the construction of M10 ammunition
trailers. As noted above, it was 94% of its major contracts during
the war. A total of 7,000 M10 trailers were built by at least
three different companies. It is unknown how many each company
produced. This example was photographed in 2014 at the National
Military History Center in Auburn, IN. It was the only time I saw
it at the History Center, as the assets were being sold off to cover
operating expenses. The Center closed in 2021. Author's
photo.
The serial number on the trailer appears to
be 18328. Author's photo.
The photos below are from
"Stream Crossing Equipment, Information Bulletin No. 120, Office of the
Chief of Engineers, March 1944."
The Army Corp of Engineers used two assault
boats for river crossings in World War Two. The original was the
M1 as shown here. The Corps of Engineers began replacing the M1
with the larger capacity M2 as the war progressed. Most likely,
based on the contract dates, the Schelm Brothers produced the M2 shown
below.
The M2 Assault Boat had an overall length of
13 feet and 4 inches and weighed 410 lbs. The sides were made of
7/16-inch mahogany plywood, the bottom was constructed of 3/8-inch fir
plywood, and the transom was made of 3/4-inch fir plywood.
The M2 was designed to transport a 12-man
infantry squad and the three-man engineer crew across the many rivers
and streams encountered by advancing military units. The first
order of business would be to take possession of the far side of a
stream or river. This needed to be held by infantry as the
engineers proceeded to build the necessary bridge to span the stream or
river.
This Google Map image shows a parking lot at
201 Anna Street in East Peoria, IL. This was the former location
of the Schelm Brothers factory.
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