The Ernest Holmes Companywas an American manufacturer of vehicle recovery systems, based in Chattanooga, ? Ernest Holmes, snr is credited with inventing the tow truck in 1916. The company was sold to Dover Corporation in 1973. [[Miller International bought the brand name in ?
History[]
The towing industry was created in 1916 in the city of Chattanooga, after Ernest Holmes, Sr., a mechanic of Chattanoogan, assisted a friend recover his car using three poles, a pulley and a chain hooked to the chassis of a 1913 Cadillac. After patenting his invention, Holmes began manufacturing towing and wreckers equipment for sale to automotive garages for use retrieving and towing wrecked or disabled cars. He opened a manufacturing facility at a small shop on Market Street, Chattanooga.
Ernest Holmes, Sr. died in 1943, and was succeeded by his son. Ernest Holmes, Jr. who ran the company until he retired in 1973. That year the company was sold to the Dover Corporation. At this time the founder’s grandson, Gerald Holmes, left the company and started a new one, Century Wreckers. He built his own manufacturing facility in nearby Ooltewah, Tennessee, and quickly rivalled the original company with his modern hydraulically powered wreckers.
Eventually, the assets of both companies were bought by Miller Industries, which also boughtout several other wrecker builders. Miller has retained the Century facility in Ooltewah where both Century and Holmes branded wreckers are manufactured. The Miller company also manufactures Challenger Wreckers.
Products[]
Holmes FW-20 5th wheel wrecker unit
Some of the equipment offered included;
- Holmes FW-20 a Sth Wheel wrecker unit
- Road-rail truck crane - built ona FWD Corporation chassis. - Details here
- Holmes 515 Traffic King - Here
- Holmes equipment carriers -
- C171 sliding bed car recovery truck body. - Manual here
- C172
- list others here
See also[]
- Breakdown truck - UK term for recovery vehicle
- Road Recovery Association - trade body for recovery operators.
References / sources[]
External links[]
- Old Adverts on Ebay