thompson OR thompson bros.?

[andre lafrance]

I was looking in the ACBS directory the other day in order to call some of the owners and noticed an individual who also had a 15' Thompson. however, his boat was listed under Thompson brothers. just curious as to what the difference is between the two - I'm just guessing it has something to do with where they were built. or maybe they were constructed differently. appreciate any information BEFORE I call him/her. thanks...

[Bill Dunn]

Thompson Brothers is a boat built in Peshtigo, Wi. Thompson is from Cortland, N.Y. Most of the time a boat from Peshtigo is just referred to as a "Thompson" unless you are talking specificly about where it was built.
Bill

[LancerBoy]

They are used interchangeably. Many people do not have any clue which "Thompson" built their boat. Here is the story in a nutshell.

Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co. was established in 1904 at Peshtigo, WI and incorporated in 1912. In 1925 they opened a branch factory at Cortland, NY. It was a branch operation, not independent.

In 1953 second generation Thompson men (Ray, Roy, Grant, Glenn, Bob, Ted, Jr.) established Cruisers, Inc. at Oconto, WI. It was a completely separate entity but it was created with the full knowledge and blessing and cooperation of Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co. and the first generation Thompson men.

On 01 January 1959 the three Thompson family owned boat manufacturing operations (Peshtigo, Cortland, Oconto) were split amongst various family branches: Ray and family got Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co.; Roy and Grant got Cruisers, Inc.; and a new corporation was established at Cortland, NY called Thompson Boat Company of New York, Inc. with Bob, Ted, Jr., and Glenn as owners. The latter was now completely independent of Peshtigo and started to compete against Peshtigo.

In January 1962 Chris-Craft purchased Thompson Boat Company of New York, Inc. at Cortland. Chris-Craft did not purchase Thompson Bros. Boat Mfg. Co.

Peshtigo ceased making wooden boats in 1969. Cortland stopped wood boat production in 1965. The last wooden boat by Cruisers, Inc. was in 1966.

Chris-Craft closed the Cortland plant in 1974 (they started making fiberglass boats there in 1963). Peshtigo's Thompson went bankrupt in 1980. A dealer bought the assets from the bankruptcy court and moved everything to St. Charles, MI where they lasted until 2002. Cruisers Yachts still operates at Oconto.

Andreas

[andre lafrance]

thanks for the information. now to make my call...