Twin Coach

Twin Coach was an American vehicle manufacturing company established in Kent, Ohio, in 1927 by brothers Frank and William B. Fageol after they left the Fageol Motor Company. The business was created around an unconventional bus design developed by William Fageol. In this construction, the body served as an integral structural frame, while two engines were used to provide the power needed for a relatively large passenger load. The twin-engine concept supplied the inspiration for the Twin Coach name and helped distinguish the company in the North American bus market. The company’s principal business was the manufacture of buses for urban transit, intercity service, specialized delivery work, and other commercial applications. It produced conventional motor buses powered by gasoline and, in at least some cases, propane, as well as vehicles with gas-electric drive. Between 1927 and 1934 alone, Twin Coach built more than 1,100 motor buses. Its vehicles were used in the United States and in cross-border transportation, including passenger service through the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel between Michigan and Ontario. Twin Coach was also an important North American trolley-bus producer. Trolley-bus production ran from 1928 through 1951 and totaled approximately 670 vehicles supplied to 16 American cities, together with two export orders: eight vehicles for Manila, Philippines, in 1928 and four for Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 1951. Seattle Transit System was the company’s largest trolley-bus customer, purchasing 177 vehicles between 1940 and 1943. In 1940, Twin Coach developed an articulated trolley-bus prototype known as the Super Twin, contributing to the early history of articulated electric buses in North America. Only two such vehicles were built, and neither led to series production. Beyond road vehicles, the company made marine engines, including Fageol-branded six-cylinder gasoline or propane engines and four-cylinder marine engines. It also manufactured aircraft and truck components. These activities allowed the business to continue in industrial manufacturing after its bus operations changed ownership. In 1955, the bus division was sold to Ohio-based Flxible and merged with that company. Flxible used the Twin Coach name alongside its own for several years, although bus branding under the Twin Coach name had ended by about 1963. The marine-engine and aircraft-related operations continued separately. The marine division was sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company in 1958, and the remaining production moved to Cheektowaga, New York. In 1962, the company changed its corporate name to Twin Industries. A related operation, Highway Products, produced small postal vehicles, mobile post offices, military and commercial small boats, missile launchers, and other specialized equipment. The Twin Coach name was revived briefly as a product brand beginning in 1969 for a small bus. Highway Products also produced the Cortez motor home. In 1970, the business was sold to Alco Standard and became its subsidiary; it continued producing Twin Coach vehicles and Cortez motor homes until entering bankruptcy in 1975. Twin Coach therefore survives primarily as a historical commercial-vehicle name rather than as an independent operating brand.

Twin Coach originated in 1927 when brothers Frank and William B. Fageol left the Fageol Motor Company and established a new manufacturing business in Kent, Ohio. Their initial product strategy centered on buses using a distinctive construction method. The body was designed to act as the vehicle’s frame, and two engines were installed to support higher passenger capacity. William Fageol patented the concept, and the resulting vehicles were marketed under the Twin Coach name, which was also sometimes rendered as Fageol-Twin Coach. The company entered motor-bus production immediately and expanded into a variety of commercial configurations. Its vehicles used internal-combustion power, including gasoline and propane, and the company also produced a limited number of gas-electric buses. More than 1,100 motor buses were built between 1927 and 1934, while production continued into the 1950s. Twin Coach vehicles served American operators and were also used on international or cross-border routes, including passenger transportation through the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel. Trolley buses became a major part of the company’s historical importance. Production extended from 1928 to 1951, with roughly 670 trolley coaches delivered to 16 United States cities. The first and last trolley-bus orders were export orders: eight vehicles for Manila in 1928 and four for Belo Horizonte in 1951. The company’s largest trolley-bus customer was Seattle Transit System, which acquired 177 vehicles between 1940 and 1943. Twin Coach also experimented with articulated trolley buses. Two Super Twin prototypes were built: one in 1940 and another initially constructed as a gasoline bus in 1946 before conversion to trolley-bus operation in 1948. Their articulation permitted vertical movement but not horizontal movement. The prototypes did not enter series production, although one later became preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum. Twin Coach diversified beyond buses. Its product portfolio included Fageol six-cylinder gasoline or propane marine engines, four-cylinder marine engines, aircraft components, truck components, and small delivery vehicles. This diversification became increasingly important after the bus manufacturing operation was sold to Flxible in 1955. Flxible merged the bus business into its own operations and for a period marketed some buses with both the Flxible and Twin Coach names. The Twin Coach name was removed from bus marketing by approximately 1963. The marine-engine and aircraft-related operations continued under the Twin Coach identity after the bus sale. In 1958, the marine division was sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles, while the remaining production moved from Ohio to Cheektowaga, New York. The corporate name changed to Twin Industries in 1962. A related unit known as Highway Products manufactured specialized products including small postal vehicles, mobile post offices for rural service, small military and commercial boats, missile launchers, and other equipment. Highway Products revived Twin Coach as a product brand in 1969 for a small bus. The operation also produced the Cortez motor home. In 1970, it was sold and became a subsidiary of Alco Standard. Production of the Twin Coach small bus and Cortez motor homes continued until the subsidiary’s bankruptcy in 1975. The historical Twin Coach enterprise consequently passed through several corporate forms, with its bus operations absorbed by Flxible and its later industrial activities carried on through Twin Industries and Highway Products. The brand is now defunct as an independent manufacturer.

1. 1975Subsidiary enters bankruptcy

   The operation associated with Twin Coach and Cortez motor homes enters bankruptcy, ending the brand’s later manufacturing phase.

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2. 1970Highway Products becomes an Alco Standard subsidiary

   The business is sold to Alco Standard and continues making Twin Coach vehicles and Cortez motor homes.

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3. 1969Twin Coach name is revived for a small bus

   A related Highway Products operation begins producing a small bus marketed under the Twin Coach name.

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4. 1962Corporate name changes to Twin Industries

   The company adopts the name Twin Industries as its activities move beyond the original bus business.

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5. 1958Marine division is sold

   The marine division is sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company, while the remaining operations relocate to Cheektowaga, New York.

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6. 1955Bus operations are sold to Flxible

   Twin Coach’s bus manufacturing operations are sold to and merged with Ohio-based Flxible.

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7. 1951Trolley-bus production ends

   The company completes its trolley-bus production period with an order for four vehicles for Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

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8. 1940Super Twin articulated trolley-bus prototype

   Twin Coach develops an articulated trolley-bus prototype, one of only two Super Twin vehicles ultimately built.

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9. 1928Trolley-bus production begins

   Twin Coach begins producing trolley buses and receives its first export order, for eight vehicles for Manila, Philippines.

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10. 1927Twin Coach is founded in Kent

    Frank and William B. Fageol establish Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, after leaving the Fageol Motor Company.

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Twin Coach was positioned as an innovative American commercial-vehicle manufacturer, particularly known for structurally integrated bus bodies, twin-engine bus designs, transit buses, and trolley buses. Its later identity expanded into industrial equipment, marine propulsion, aerospace and truck components, postal vehicles, and recreational vehicles.

• Twin Coach motor busesCommercial buses1927

  Twin Coach’s core product line consisted of buses powered primarily by internal-combustion engines. The company’s early design used an integral body structure and twin engines, an arrangement intended to support larger passenger loads. Vehicles were supplied for transit, intercity, cross-border, delivery, and other commercial applications. More than 1,100 motor buses were produced between 1927 and 1934, with bus production continuing until the Flxible acquisition.

• Twin Coach trolley busesElectric transit vehicles1928

  The trolley-bus line was produced from 1928 through 1951. Approximately 670 trolley coaches were sold to 16 American cities, including 177 units supplied to Seattle Transit System. Twin Coach also completed export orders for Manila and Belo Horizonte. The line made the company one of the more significant North American trolley-bus builders of the 1930s and 1940s.

• Super TwinArticulated trolley-bus prototypes1940

  The Super Twin was Twin Coach’s articulated trolley-bus experimental program. Two vehicles were built, one in 1940 and a second converted from a gasoline bus in 1948. Their articulation joint permitted vertical movement but not horizontal movement. The prototypes did not lead to series production, but they represented an early North American attempt to apply articulation to trolley-bus design.

• Fageol marine enginesMarine engines

  Twin Coach produced marine propulsion equipment under the Fageol name, including six-cylinder gasoline or propane engines and four-cylinder marine engines. Marine-engine manufacturing was part of the company’s diversification away from buses and continued as a separate activity until the division was sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company in 1958.

• Twin Coach small busSmall commercial bus1969

  A related Highway Products operation revived the Twin Coach name in 1969 for a small bus. The product represented a later, brand-focused use of the name after the original bus manufacturing operations had been absorbed by Flxible.

• Cortez motor homesRecreational vehicles

  Highway Products also produced Cortez motor homes during the period after the operation became an Alco Standard subsidiary. Production continued alongside the Twin Coach small bus until the associated business entered bankruptcy in 1975.

• 1970Sale to Alco StandardM&A

  Highway Products controlled a diversified range of specialized products and had revived Twin Coach as a small-bus brand.

  What changed. The business was sold to Alco Standard and operated as its subsidiary.

  Aftermath. Twin Coach buses and Cortez motor homes continued for a period before the associated operation entered bankruptcy in 1975.

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• 1958Sale of the marine division to Crofton ManufacturingM&A

  Following the bus sale, the company continued operating through marine-engine and aircraft-related activities.

  What changed. The marine division was sold to Crofton Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles.

  Aftermath. The remaining operations relocated to Cheektowaga, New York, and later adopted the Twin Industries name.

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• 1955Sale of the bus manufacturing operations to FlxibleM&A

  Twin Coach’s principal bus business was transferred to Flxible, another Ohio-based bus manufacturer.

  What changed. Flxible acquired and merged the bus operations, initially retaining Twin Coach branding alongside its own name in some marketing and vehicle identification.

  Aftermath. The Twin Coach name disappeared from regular bus marketing by approximately 1963, while the marine, aircraft, and specialized-product activities continued separately.

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1. Twin Coach