Glastex

The Glastex Company, founded in Tinley Park, Illinois, produced a range of fiberglass products including fiberglass fibers for industrial use. Beginning in 1953, Glastex began to manufacture fiberglass boats, making it one of the earliest builders of molded fiberglass boats in the United States. From 1953 to 1962, Glastex built "Speed Queen" boats. After 1962, they were marketed as Sea Star Boats. Finally, after a mid-70's reorganization of the company, Mach I Boats were built.

Glastex Company president and founder, William J. Horvath, expanded the company to Monmouth, Illinois after an early-1958 zoning dispute regarding manufacturing use of the seven-acre property. In 1958, Glastex employed twenty-two people and produced on average six boats a day before expanding to Monmouth later that year.

peed Queen Boats

Speed Queen Boats were manufactured from 1953 to 1962. The first model was designed by company founder William J. Horvath. Fourteen feet in length, the first model was a centerdeck-style, all fiberglass runabout that could accept outboard motors up to 50HP. Additional sixteen and eighteen-foot models were added in 1958 and 1959.

References

"Chicago Sunday Tribune." March 30, 1958. Section SW, Page 2.

Wangstad, Lee. "Classic Boats." "Popular Boating Magazine". June 2002.

http://www.fiberglassics.com/speedqueen.htm