The Glastex Company, founded in Tinley Park, Illinois, produced a range of fiberglass products including fiberglass fibers for industrial use. Beginning in 1953, Glastex began to manufacture fiberglass boats, making it one of the earliest builders of molded fiberglass boats in the United States. From 1953 to 1962, Glastex built "Speed Queen" boats.
Glastex Company president and founder, William J. Horvath, expanded the company to a 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m2) facility in Monmouth, Illinois after an early-1958 zoning dispute regarding manufacturing use of the 7-acre (28,000 m2) property and the 9,000-square-foot (840 m2) building located there. In 1958, Glastex employed twenty-two people and produced on average six boats a day before expanding to Monmouth later that year. Felt Enterprises bought the Glastex Company in 1961. The Monmouth, Illinois facility began building Sea Star Boats in 1968 and continued until 1981. Reorganized in 1982, Felt Enterprises built Mach I Boats until 1991. In 1993, the company was reorganized again and was known as Envision Boats, Inc. which operated until 2009.
Speed Queen Boats were manufactured from 1953 to 1962. The first model was designed by company founder William J. Horvath. Fourteen feet in length, the first model was a centerdeck-style, all fiberglass runabout that could accept outboard motors up to 50 hp (37 kW). Additional sixteen and eighteen-foot models were added in 1958 and 1959.
Sea Sprite Boatsedit
Sea Sprite Boats were built for a marine dealer in North Webster, Indiana by the Bee Boat Company of Paxton, Illinois beginning in 1962. Overwhelmed by several contracts, the production of Sea Sprite Boats was contracted to the Glastex Company of Monmouth, Illinois. In 1968, Melvin Redeker, formerly of the Bee Boat Company, bought Sea Sprite and moved production to Crescent City, Illinois, operating as the Sea Sprite Boat Company in 1969. The Sea Sprite Boat Co. eventually became known as United Marine Corporation and was based in Watseka, Illinois. Melvin Redeker sold in 1984 to Robert F. Smith and a fire gutted the factory in 1990 which along with bankruptcy, led to the end of production of Sea Sprite Boats. I have a 1998 Sea Sprite so the company did not stop production in 1990
Sea Star Boatsedit
Ohio Marine of Minerva, Ohio marketed Sea Star Boats before the brand was taken over by the Glastex Company sometime around 1968. Production in Monmouth, Illinois continued until 1981.
Ski Star Snowmobilesedit
Glastex manufactured Ski Star snowmobiles for the 1971 and 1972 model years, with Kohler engines in choices of a 292 single cylinder or a 440 twin cylinder model. There is a strong resemblance and some common part sharing between the Ski Star models and the Boatel Grand Prix models made in Mora, MN.
Referencesedit
Chicago Sunday Tribune. March 30, 1958. Section SW, Page 2.
Wangstad, Lee. "Classic Boats." Popular Boating Magazine. June 2002.
glastex, company, founded, tinley, park, illinois, produced, range, fiberglass, products, including, fiberglass, fibers, industrial, beginning, 1953, began, manufacture, fiberglass, boats, making, earliest, builders, molded, fiberglass, boats, united, states, . The Glastex Company founded in Tinley Park Illinois produced a range of fiberglass products including fiberglass fibers for industrial use Beginning in 1953 Glastex began to manufacture fiberglass boats making it one of the earliest builders of molded fiberglass boats in the United States From 1953 to 1962 Glastex built Speed Queen boats Glastex Company president and founder William J Horvath expanded the company to a 47 000 square foot 4 400 m2 facility in Monmouth Illinois after an early 1958 zoning dispute regarding manufacturing use of the 7 acre 28 000 m2 property and the 9 000 square foot 840 m2 building located there In 1958 Glastex employed twenty two people and produced on average six boats a day before expanding to Monmouth later that year Felt Enterprises bought the Glastex Company in 1961 The Monmouth Illinois facility began building Sea Star Boats in 1968 and continued until 1981 Reorganized in 1982 Felt Enterprises built Mach I Boats until 1991 In 1993 the company was reorganized again and was known as Envision Boats Inc which operated until 2009 Contents 1 Speed Queen Boats 2 Sea Sprite Boats 3 Sea Star Boats 4 Ski Star Snowmobiles 5 ReferencesSpeed Queen Boats editSpeed Queen Boats were manufactured from 1953 to 1962 The first model was designed by company founder William J Horvath Fourteen feet in length the first model was a centerdeck style all fiberglass runabout that could accept outboard motors up to 50 hp 37 kW Additional sixteen and eighteen foot models were added in 1958 and 1959 Sea Sprite Boats editSea Sprite Boats were built for a marine dealer in North Webster Indiana by the Bee Boat Company of Paxton Illinois beginning in 1962 Overwhelmed by several contracts the production of Sea Sprite Boats was contracted to the Glastex Company of Monmouth Illinois In 1968 Melvin Redeker formerly of the Bee Boat Company bought Sea Sprite and moved production to Crescent City Illinois operating as the Sea Sprite Boat Company in 1969 The Sea Sprite Boat Co eventually became known as United Marine Corporation and was based in Watseka Illinois Melvin Redeker sold in 1984 to Robert F Smith and a fire gutted the factory in 1990 which along with bankruptcy led to the end of production of Sea Sprite Boats I have a 1998 Sea Sprite so the company did not stop production in 1990Sea Star Boats editOhio Marine of Minerva Ohio marketed Sea Star Boats before the brand was taken over by the Glastex Company sometime around 1968 Production in Monmouth Illinois continued until 1981 Ski Star Snowmobiles editGlastex manufactured Ski Star snowmobiles for the 1971 and 1972 model years with Kohler engines in choices of a 292 single cylinder or a 440 twin cylinder model There is a strong resemblance and some common part sharing between the Ski Star models and the Boatel Grand Prix models made in Mora MN References editChicago Sunday Tribune March 30 1958 Section SW Page 2 Wangstad Lee Classic Boats Popular Boating Magazine June 2002 http www fiberglassics com library Speed Queen Retrieved 2010 12 06 http www fiberglassics com library Sea Sprite Retrieved 2010 12 06 http www fiberglassics com library Sea Star Retrieved 2010 12 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Glastex amp oldid 1133221607, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
