Los Angeles Trailer Company
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The Los Angeles Trailer Company was founded in late 1914 by John Neil Patterson and Guy A. Norton. The two men relocated from Detroit, MI, Patterson in charge of sales and Norton, an engineer, in charge of production. It is generally accepted that the Los Angeles Trailer Company was the first dedicated trailer company west of the Mississippi and is a pioneer in the field. They manufactured the first trailers built of new material throughout including the frame and axle. J. Neil Patterson was already well known for his accomplishments that included an accomplished athlete and Olympic champion and the first to cover the entire route of the Lincoln Highway in 1913 from coast to coasts. Later he served as a Captain in the Air Service, enlisting on September 20, 1917. He first served as district manager of production with headquarters in San Francisco with a rank of first lieutenant, supervising Aviation and Signal Corps production work. Later he was promoted to Captain and transferred to Detroit where he was put in charge of battle and bombing plane production where he served until the end of the war.
The story continues that sometime during late 1915 two brothers, E.W. Bennett and H. C. Bennett, operating a lumberyard in Phoenix, AZ saw a customer drive into their yard with a small Ford pulling a two wheel trailer. The man purchased several bags of cement and loaded them on the small trailer. At this time delivery of material to a job site was still frequently done by team of horses and wagon, a very time-consuming process. The brothers examined the trailer, finding it bore the name plate "Los Angeles Trailer Company". Realizing the possible savings with such a trailer E. W. Bennett went to Los Angeles to purchase one. Instead he ended up buying a half interest in the trailer factory. The following year, 1916, the brothers sold their lumber business and moved to Los Angeles to join Patterson and Norton.
Sometime around July of 1916 the Los Angeles Trailer Company incorporated at 500 shares of capital stock valued at $50,000 ($989,073 in 2010 dollars). No doubt the fledgling company enjoyed a cash infusion with the buy-in by the Bennett brothers. J. Neil Patterson served as the president and general manager while Guy A. Norton served as vice-president and chief engineer. It is unclear the role the Bennett brothers took during this year and 1917. The trailers manufactured were 2 and 4 wheel trailers for commercial work that ranged from small 500 lbs to 10 tons in capacity. Trailers manufactured by the Los Angeles Trailer Co. were known by the brand name Utility Trailers.
At the time of this writing it is unclear as to the exact date the Los Angeles Trailer Company came out with their Brintnall Camping Trailer. But it is suspected the year was either 1915 or more likely 1916. The only advertisement found so far is from the Automobile Trade Journal from 1916. Given the size and importance of this company one would expect to find more advertisements or articles. The advertisement claims a patent was allowed, so further research is required to validate that. Discovering the patent will be a major breakthrough as all claims have to be substantiated. The Brintnall Camping Trailer featured the shortest trailer body on the market (which implies 1916 when other camping trailers were manufactured), and a unique design. The short body unfold both front and back to form one double spring bed with easy storage access. A tent covered both the trailer and a tent room on the side. This design was similar in fashion to the Campbell Camping Trailer, also from the Los Angeles area.
After World War I broke out in April 1917 J. Neil Patterson enlisted in September of that year at the age of 32. He never returned to an active role in the Los Angeles Trailer Co., although for a time he held the vice-president spot. Upon his release from the Army Air Service J. Neil Patterson founded the Patterson Motor Truck Company to manufacture 2, 3 and 5 ton trucks, tractors and trailers. The company was also located in Los Angeles. E. W. Bennett took over the president and general manager's spot at the Los Angeles Trailer Co. The two companies were not connected. It is unknown how long Patterson remained affiliated with the Los Angeles Trailer Co. but it is clear the Bennett brothers now ran the show. Guy A. Norton continued work with them and applied for trailer patents in 1918.
On May 24, 1921 the Los Angeles Trailer Co. changed the name of the corporation to Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company. The company still exist today and will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2014.
Other than the Brentnall Camping Trailer it is unclear if Utility Trailer Mfg. continued manufacturing camping trailers after 1917 or not. Again, I suspect not. No advertising literature has been found and no mention of such. Utility Trailer Mfg. focused on heavy duty hauling trailers and refrigerator trailers, something they do quite well.
John Neil Patterson was born in Detroit, MI on July 27, 1885 and passed away in Los Angeles, CA on December 20, 1948.