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Named after an Indian tribe, the Menominee was a
long-lived but obscure make from Wisconsin. Originally made in 1500 and
20001b models, the range had extended up to 3 Y2 tons by 1917, and in 1923
ran from 1 to 6 tons plus two bus chassis, for 16/20 passengers and 25
passengers. Engines were always Wisconsin, and other components came from
familiar suppliers such as Cotta and Detlaff for transmissions and Columbia,
Shuler and Timken for axles. Despite small scale production Menominees were
sold as far a field as Michigan and New York; a New York bus operator
claimed in 1923 that his Menominee single-decker was the largest unit of
its type in the state. The smallest model was a 1-tonner known as the Hurry
ton.
In 1928 Menominee's neighbor, the Four Wheel Drive Auto
Company, acquired the firm as a subsidiary, renaming the operation the
Utility Supply Company. While a few Menominees were built from then on,
F.W.D.'s main purpose was to acquire a source for the supply of utility
bodies, pole trailers and similar equipment needed for the production of its
own vehicles. Nevertheless Menominees continued to be listed, the 1932 range
running from 1 V2 to 8 tons in company with three bus chassis, the largest a
35-passenger unit. A new line was introduced in 1933, now with Waukesha
engines and the usual other components. These remained in 'production' until
1937, but by then the plant was largely occupied on the production of bodies
for FWD.
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