Toledo Shipbuilding Company Explained

The Toledo Shipbuilding Company was a shipyard located on Toledo, Ohio.[1]

History

The Toledo Shipbuilding Company was founded in 1905 when a syndicate of investors purchased the Craig Shipbuilding Company in Toledo, Ohio.[2] The group was composed of Lyman C. Smith (Smith Typewriter Company); Horace S. Wilkinson (United States Transportation Company); Charles B. Calder (American Shipbuilding Detroit); and Alexander McVittie (American Shipbuilding Detroit).[2] The company was incorporated with share capital of $1,000,000.[2] Frank E. Kirby was named as the ship architect and engineer.[2] They focused on bulk freighters.[2] In 1917, they built the Tours and Limoges for the French; and were commissioned to build seven freighters for the United Kingdom which were later requisitioned by the United States Shipping Board (USSB).[2] They went on to build an additional 30 ships for the USSB[2] (including 8 Design 1020 ships). After World War I, due to a post-war glut of ships, they focused on repair work.[2] They returned to shipbuilding in 1920 and launched 14 ships through 1930.[2] During the Great Depression, they returned to ship repair.[2] During World War II, Toledo Shipbuilding built the USCG icebreakers Storis (1942) and Mackinaw (1944).[2] In 1945, they built their last vessel, barge P. M. 88.[2] In 1945, they were purchased by their main rival, the American Shipbuilding Company via its subsidiary Delta Shipbuilding Company and renamed as AmSouth Toledo.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tim. Colton. Craig Shipbuilding, Toledo OH (Linn & Craig [1869-1882], J. Craig & Sons [1883-1889], Blythe Craig Shipbuilding [1890-1893], Craig Shipbuilding [1893-1905], Toledo Shipbuilding [1906-1945] and AmShip Toledo [1945-1982])]. 20 August 2015 . shipbuildinghistory.com . 4 April 2021.
  2. Web site: Matthew J. . Weisman . Paula . Shorf . Boats Built at Toledo, Ohio - A Comprehensive Listing of the Vessels Built from Schooners to Steamers from 1810 to the Present - Toledo Shipbuilding Company (1905-1945) . toledoport.org.