Highway Products, Inc.

Highway Products, Inc. was an American vehicle manufacturer based in Kent, Ohio, founded in 1960 by Joseph Thomas "Joe" Myers. The company was established to build truck bodies for specialty markets, most notably mobile post offices and mail trucks. It also produced small boats for military and commercial customers, missile launchers, and engines, operating largely on government contracts in its early years. Highway Products occupied part of the former Twin Coach factory in Kent, initially leasing space before purchasing a portion of the facility in 1962. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the company diversified into small transit buses and motorhomes. In 1968 it introduced a 25-passenger bus sold under the historic Twin Coach name as the TC-25, followed by the 29-passenger TC-29 in 1969. Both models were powered by the Chrysler 440 engine. Approximately 900 buses were built under the Twin Coach name before production ended in October 1975. Joe Myers sold Highway Products to Alco Standard Corporation in 1970. Under Alco Standard, the Highway Products division also took on the Cortez Motor Home line, which Alco Standard's subsidiary Kent Industries had acquired from Clark Forklift Company in 1970 and manufactured at the Kent facilities. The Highway Products division of Alco Standard declared bankruptcy in 1975, ending production. The company is remembered as a niche builder of specialty vehicles and as the final operator of the Twin Coach bus name.

Highway Products, Inc. was formed in 1960 in Kent, Ohio, by Joseph Thomas "Joe" Myers. The company was created to manufacture truck bodies for specialty markets such as mobile post offices. In addition to mail trucks and mobile post offices, it also manufactured small boats for both military and commercial use, missile launchers, and engines. The company's origins are tied to the former Twin Coach factory in Kent. Twin Coach had been founded in 1927 by brothers William B. and Frank R. Fageol. Twin Coach sold its bus manufacturing operation to Flxible in 1953 and sold its marine engine division in 1958 after Louis J. Fageol retired. Twin Coach then consolidated its remaining aircraft fuselage and wing manufacturing in Cheektowaga, New York. Joe Myers initially leased a portion of the original Twin Coach factory in Kent to produce products for his new company, focusing on small and medium vehicles primarily on government contracts, and then purchased a portion of the factory in 1962. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Highway Products diversified into small transit buses and motorhomes. In 1968 the company introduced a 25-passenger bus and sold it under the Twin Coach name as the TC-25. A 29-passenger TC-29 joined the lineup in 1969; the two models were sized identically, but the TC-29 had an extra row of seats instead of a rear door. The buses were powered by the Chrysler 440 engine. Joe Myers sold the company to Alco Standard Corporation in 1970. Alco Standard's subsidiary Kent Industries bought the Cortez Motor Home line of products from Clark Forklift Company in 1970 and manufactured the motor homes in the Kent production facilities of Highway Products. Approximately 900 buses were built under the Twin Coach name before production stopped in October 1975, due to bankruptcy. The Highway Products division of Alco Standard declared bankruptcy in 1975, ending production. Joe Myers also served as the President of the Davey Tree Expert Company and was married to John Davey's granddaughter, Marilyn Davey.

• 1975

  The Highway Products division of Alco Standard declared bankruptcy; production stopped in October 1975 after approximately 900 buses had been built under the Twin Coach name.

• 1970

  Joe Myers sold the company to Alco Standard Corporation; Alco Standard's subsidiary Kent Industries acquired the Cortez Motor Home line from Clark Forklift Company and manufactured it at Highway Products' Kent facilities.

• 1969

  The 29-passenger TC-29 joined the bus lineup.

• 1968

  Introduced a 25-passenger bus sold under the Twin Coach name as the TC-25.

• 1962

  Joe Myers purchased a portion of the original Twin Coach factory in Kent after initially leasing space.

• 1960

  Highway Products, Inc. formed in Kent, Ohio, by Joseph Thomas 'Joe' Myers to manufacture truck bodies for specialty markets such as mobile post offices.

Specialty vehicle manufacturer serving government and commercial niche markets, later a division of Alco Standard Corporation.

• Twin Coach TC-25

  A 25-passenger small transit bus introduced in 1968, powered by a Chrysler 440 engine.

• Twin Coach TC-29

  A 29-passenger bus introduced in 1969, sized identically to the TC-25 but with an extra row of seats instead of a rear door.

• Cortez Motor Home

  A motorhome line acquired from Clark Forklift Company in 1970 and manufactured at Highway Products' Kent facilities.

1. 1Highway Products, Inc. - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Highway Products - Wikidatawikidata.org