Find

catalog

Catalog Number
2017.33.92
Title
5th Wheels
Date of Origin
1975
Manufacturer
Holland Hitch?
Artist/Author
none
Materials
paper
Dimensions
8.5 X 0.2 in.
Description
Holland Hitch catalog, 38 pages long, cream colored catalog with dark purple/gray photo of a fifth wheel on the front cover.
History
HOLLAND HITCH
In 1920 Gerrit Den Besten, Henry Ketel and Albert Hulsebos arrived in Holland, MI to manufacture tractor hitches. They named their company Holland Hitch.

The location of their first factory was Seif Brewery at 149-57 West 10th Street. Den Besten was responsible for inventing many of the hitches.

Over the years production shifted from tractor hitches to truck hitches as the trucking industry developed. Equipment produced by Holland Hitch for trucks included fifth wheels, pintle hooks and coupling gears.

During WW2 production shifted towards the needs of the military beginning in 1940 with an army contract for 1,600 pintle hooks. In 1943 a new $40,000 plant at Eighteenth Street and Ottawa Avenue was constructed. By the end of WW2 Holland Hitch had shipped one million hooks to the military.

Colonel Henry Geerds took over as director of Holland Hitch in 1946. In 1976 William Beebe, Geerds’ son-in-law, became president of the company. Beebe served in WW2 and began working for Holland Hitch upon his return to Holland. Beebe retired in 1983. His son-in-law, Richard Muzzy Jr., succeeded him as president.

By 1993 the company had four divisions—Holland Hitch, Holland Hitch Canada, Holland Hitch International, and the Binkley Company. In 2004 Tom Thomas became president.
Gift of
SAF Holland