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Schukraft was a highly-regarded Chicago
wagon and truck body
builder that was virtually unknown outside of the area. The firm was
unique in that
three generations of the Schukraft family - Wm. Schukraft (I) (b.1841);
Wm.
Schukraft (II) (b.1873); Wm. Schukraft (III) (b.1908) - controlled it
from beginning
to end. A related family-owned firm, Schukraft Tire Supply, served as
Chicagoland’s largest Goodrich Tire distributor during the thirties and
forties,
and into the 1950s as the Chicago Tire Company.
Although the Schukrafts withdrew from
business in the 1970s,
they left a magnificent 3-story factory - constructed in 1925 - that
most
recently served as the home of of Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions.
William Schukraft (I), the firm’s founder,
was born in Germany
during November of 1841. He emigrated to the United States after the
Civil War,
marrying Hellan R. ???? another German immigrant in 1870.
His first Chicago listing is from the 1873
Chicago Business Directory
under Carriages:
“Schukraft & Bro., 40 N. Green”
The name of his brother is unknown, and
within the year he
had taken on Ernest C. Hessler (b. May. 14, 1859-d.Nov. 21, 1891) as a
partner,
their listings in the 1874 Chicago Directory follows:
“Schukraft & Hessler (William Schukraft
& Ernest
Hessler), mfrs. carriages and wagons 40 N. Green.”
“William Schukraft (Schukraft &
Hessler), r. rear 49 N.
Green.”
“Ernest Hessler (Schukraft & Hessler),
bds. 526
Milwaukee Ave.”
Ernst Charles Hessler was born in Mittelburg
Germany on May
14, 1859 (one source lists March 6, 1858) to Gottlieb Christian and
Marie
Sophie (Fritz) Hessler. The family emigrated to the United States and
Ernest took
a position with the Schukrafts as an apprentice and in 1874 as a
partner.
During that time William and Hellan
Schukraft’s marriage was
blessed by the birth of two children, Hellan in 1871 and William (II)
in 1873.
Four more children joined the family during the ensuing years, their
listing in
the 1900 US Census follows:
“William Schukraft (I) (b. Nov. 1841 in
Germany) Wagon Mfr.;
Hellan R. (b. Oct. 1844 in Germany) Married in 1870; Children: Hellan
(b. Aug.
1871) occ. Milliner; William (II) (b. Mar. 1873) occ. Wagon Mkr.;
George (b.
Mar. 1874-d.May 2, 1904) occ. Wagon Mkr.; Sophie (b. Nov. 1877) occ.
school teacher;
Elizabeth (b. Dec. 27 1880-d.Jan 5, 1967 – m. Pearson) occ. school
teacher;
Fred (b. Apr. 2, 1885-d. Feb. 14, 1966) occ. Wagon Mkr. Schukraft.”
1874 Chicago Directory:
“Schukraft & Hessler (William Schukraft
& Ernest
Hessler), mfrs. carriages and wagons 40 N. Green.”
“William Schukraft (Schukraft &
Hessler), r. rear 49 N.
Green.”
“Ernest Hessler (Schukraft & Hessler),
bds. 526
Milwaukee Ave.”
1876 Chicago Directory:
“Schukraft & Hessler (William Schukraft
& Ernst
Hessler), wagons 40 N. Green.”
“William Schukraft (Schukraft &
Hessler), r. 64 N.
Sangamon.”
1878 Chicago Directory:
“Schukraft & Hessler (William Schukraft
& Ernst
Hessler), wagons 108 W. Lake.”
“William Schukraft (Schukraft &
Hessler), r. 58 N.
Desplaines.”
Schukraft bought out Hessler’s interest in
1884, and by the
end of the decade brought his two eldest sons into the business which
conducted
business in the style of Wm. Schukraft & Sons.
1887 Chicago Directory:
“William Schukraft, carriages, 108 W. Lake;
h. 241 Fulton.”
1888-89 Chicago Directory:
“William Schukraft, blacksmith, 108 W. Lake;
h. 241 Fulton.”
1891 American Carriage Directory under Carriage
and Wagon Makers:
“Schukraft, Wm. (repairer), 108 West Lake”
Business increased during the 1890s and the
firm relocated
its operations to Schukraft’s residence, its listing in the 1903
American
Carriage Directory under Chicago, Illinois; Carriage and Wagon Makers:
“Schukraft William & Sons (wagon),
237-239-241
Fulton Street”
William Schukraft’s (I) listing in the 1910
US Census
follows:
“William Schukraft (b. Nov. 1841 in Germany)
Wagon Mfr.;
Hellan R. (b. Oct. 1844 in Germany) Married in 1870; Children living at
home:
Sophie (b. Nov. 1877) school teacher; Fred (b. Apr. 2 1885-d.Feb. 14.
1966)
wagon mfr. Schukraft.”
1913 Vehicle Yearbook:
"Schukraft & Sons, Wm., 933-943 Fulton St
(W) Wm.
Schukraft, Jr., president, treasurer, general manager and purchasing
agent;
Fred. Schukraft, secretary."
August 14, 1915 issue of the Economist:
“Froman & Jebsen have completed plans
for a four-story
wagon factory, 100x100 feet, to be erected for William Schukraft
&
Sons, corner of Fulton and Sangamon Sts. It will cost about $65,000.”
Cook County Death records reveal that the
family patriarch William
Schukraft (I) died on February 27, 1916, at the age of 75 and was
buried in
Waldheim Cemetery.
His eldest son’s - William Schukraft (II) -
listing in the 1920
US Census follows:
“Wm. Schukraft 46 yo. b. 1874 in Chicago,
Ill. Builder of
Motor Bodies, spouse Margaret L. Smeaton Jaffrey, the daughter of Dr.
David
Smeaton Jaffrey, Chicago’s pioneer veterinarian. 42yo; Married June 16,
1903; Children:
Jane 15 yo (b.1904); William 12 yo.(b.1908) Schukraft.”
A body constructed on a 1 ½ ton Kissel truck
chassis was
mentioned in a 1917 issue of the Commercial Car Journal:
For the body equipment a contract was made
with William
Schukraft & Sons for a specially designed body with an ornately
decorated
exterior combined with an interior of modern and sanitary type. The
salesmen's
ideas and suggestions were...
1919 Chilton Directory under Bodies, Wood
(Commercial):
“Schukraft. Wm. & Sons, 933-43 Fulton
St., Chicago, Ill.”
1925 issue of Iron Age:
“William Schukraft, 943 Fulton Street.
Chicago, manufacturer
of automobile truck bodies, has plans for a three-story factory on West
Washington
Street, 140 x 225 ft., to cost approximately $275,000 with equipment.
E.H.
Freeman, 64 W. Randolph St. is the architect.”
1925 issue of Manufacturers News:
“Shop: $340,401, 3 sty, 140 x 208, Brk., re.
conc., stone
trim. S.W. corner Washington & *Ann. Archt. E.H. Freeman, 64 W.
Randolph
St. Owner Wm. Schukraft & Sons, 943 Fulton st. Archt. will take
bids soon.
Finishing plans.”
*Ann St. was later renamed N. Racine Ave.
June 26, 1926 Oak Park Leaves:
“Most Beautiful Van in America
“That's the verdict of everyone that has
seen this van and
are in a position to know. In fact, they pronounce it both beautiful
and
practical and the last word in furniture moving equipment.
“The covered wagons which started all this
moving business
back in the days when our great-grandfathers crossed the Blue Ridge
Mountains
and wended their way westward, looking for the ideal home site, has at
last
developed into the motor van which, with its greater speed, improved
riding
qualities, and better appearance, makes long moves in days that once
took
months, delivering the furniture unmarred, and all the time maintaining
a
beauty that is pleasing to the eye.
“The van shown above was designed by Mr.
A.R. Campbell,
Treasurer of The Jackson Storage & Van Company, and built on a Mack
Motor
Bus Chassis by the Wm. Schukraft & Sons, body builders.
“Mr. C.A. Willard, manager of the Jackson
Storage & Van
Company, says: ‘Mr. Campbell, who spent months in designing this van,
believes
that it goes far to remove all the objections from moving great
distances by
motor van. In other words, it is Mr. Campbell's contention that, while
it was
his object to improve the lines on this van and make it good to look
at, his
major object was to gain better riding qualities and better care of the
household goods moved, thus making it possible to move safely over
greater
distances.’
“‘This object,’ Mr. Taylor says, ‘has been
accomplished by
the use of pneumatic tires, special springs set on rubber, Westinghouse
Shock
Absorbers, and by hanging the body lower over the chassis, and, as a
favorite
old carriage maker once said, we say to you, Truly, sir, it rides like
a
cradle.’
“Aside from the lines the beauty of it is
accentuated by the
nickel-plated windshield, radiator, lamps, door hinges, etc., and by
the
finish, the ground work of which is in two-tone green, contrasted by
the
Company's red spear and the name in gold. The cab is finished in
mahogany and
the seats are upholstered in grey Spanish leather, and two berths are
provided
for the men, thus making it unnecessary for them to leave their load
either
night or day.
“This van being entirely designed by the
Jackson Company,
there is nothing like it anywhere in this country, and warehousemen
everywhere
are very much interested in its appearance and performance.
“In the meantime the Jackson Company are
very proud of their
new van and it goes well with the beautiful storage houses they have
built and
the high standards in general that are maintained throughout their
business.”
1929 Power Wagon:
“In the middle west and the Chicago district
there are a
growing number of aluminum alloy bodies being installed, particularly
of
duralumin construction. Wm. Schukraft & Sons Co., Chicago body
builders,
have constructed and placed in service several interesting
installations. One
of these is a moving van body mounted on a 2-ton Reo for W.C. Reebie
&
Bros. has been highly satisfactory in service. It weighs complete with
cab 1780
lbs., and has ample carrying capacity for the average load of household
goods.”
In 1951 Schukraft constructed an attractive
patrol body on a
1951 Ford F7 chassis for the Chicago Fire Insurance Patrol - Chicago
Patrol No. 5. The unit still exists
and is owned by Chicago Fire Patrol historian Keith Seafield.
According to the following obituary, which
appeared in the Memorials
column of the October 20, 1982 issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly,
the firm remained
in the truck body business into the late 1970s:
“William Jaffray Schukraft ‘28
“Bill passed away on June 20, 1982 in
Northwestern Memorial
Hospital, Chicago. He had lived in Chicago and its suburbs all of his
life,
except for his college years and his four years in the Air Force in WW
II.
“He came to us from Oak Park Ill. High
School, where he
specialized in debating and dramatics. At colleges where he was a
member of
Campus Club, he took the BS degree. He devoted his whole career to
Schukraft
& Co., manufacturers of truck bodies, and retired as executive vice
president a few years before his death.
“He was a member of the University Club in
Chicago, and had
only one remaining relative, a sister, Jane. He made a career of
travelling,
and went to most of Europe and Central America.
“Bill retired from the Air Corps as a
lieutenant colonel and
was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French and the Bronze Star by
the US. A
cup was given to his air depot group for being the best organized unit.
His
citation speaks of sheer determination, organizational ability,
untiring
effort, and so on. The places grounded for want of supply parts were
reduced by
more than 50%.
“We extend our sympathy to his sister, and
assure her that
he will be missed at our future class events.
“The class of 1928.”
The building the Schukrafts constructed in 1925
is still standing and currently
houses a
Goodwill store (30 N. Racine/1201 W. Washington Blvd.) on the first
floo and
high-end office space on the second and third floors. A 2012
advertisement placed
by Pepprcorn Capital, the building’s current owners revels it was
previously
used by Oprah Winfrey’s production company:
“Current tenant, Harpo Productions,
departing in May, 2011.
Completely renovated mechanical systems, biggest freight elevator in
the West
Loop; double truck docks, tons of light on three sides, multiple
kitchens,
fabulous bathrooms, underground parking, close to restaurants and
transportation. Owned and managed by Peppercorn Capital LLC.”
© 2013 Mark
Theobald for Coachbuilt.com with special thanks to Keith Seafield
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