Historic

Michigan Steel

Launch

1908

http://antiquengines.com/Michigan_Steel_Boat_Co._Photos.htm

Name- Magnolia

Hull Number

None

16 FT

In 1905 The Michigan Steel Boat Company bought out the old Detroit United Railway car barns property on Jefferson avenue from Olds Motor Works. About 700 men will be employed in building steel and wooden boats and canoes. The Detroit corporation recently bought out W. L. Luke & Co. of Oldtown, me and the business will be moved to Detroit. Mr. Luke was formerly super-intendent of the Old town Canoe Co. and he has come to Detroit to take charge of this branch of the company's work. Another branch of industry will be the construction of wooden launches of which 2,000 will be undertaken. The plan is to build these at a popular price and put them on the market. Steel boats to the number of 5,000 will also be constructed. The old and new property will have a total of 5,000 square feet of covered floor space. The Michigan Steel Boat Co. has for some time been manufacturing Automobile bodies and a force of 300 men was employed in this work this year turning out forty-five a day. The firm marketed boats under the Michigan Steel Boat Co. and Detroit Boat Co. brands, and were likely also resold and marketed by third parties under other brand names. Period advertisements stated that Michigan Steel Boat Co. and Detroit Boat Co. manufactured 64 different styles of boats ranging in size from 14 to 35 feet.

In-House Note

This craft comes from the 1000 Islands Museum.