Wagon Builders, Tank Fitters

Most of the eastern U.S. oilfields were in rugged terrain which required staunch wagons to haul heavy equipment. An early eastern wagon builder was the Kramer Wagon Works which was located in Oil City, Pennsylvania, and dates to the 1860’s. Kramer wagons became known in all the oilfields because they were specially adapted to carry oil well supplies. The Kramer people were accustomed to fitting their standard wagons with special devices and tanks were one of them. Kramer tank wagons were in use in many of the areas served by bulk stations.

During the Great War the United States Army bought hundreds of Kramer wagons for use in Europe.

Pennco Industries, Inc. (formerly Pennsylvania Furnace and Iron Company) of Warren, Pennsylvania, along with their furnace and boiler business also manufactured tanks for tank wagons in the early 1900’s. When the company was incorporated in 1907, their tank line had become a growing part of their business even though the company was principally involved in making gas stoves, furnaces and other items. The first Pennco tank wagons generally carried a cylindrical 300 gallon boiler-like tank, which was the same capacity tank that Pennco later mounted on truck chassis in 1918. As the means of transport changed heavily to motorized vehicles, Pennco went on to make aluminum and stainless steel tanks for tank trucks and trailers. The company plant grew to a six acre installation in the 1960’s. The company no longer exists.

Besides the two fitters mentioned above, there were many more companies in the U.S. and abroad that made tanks and fitted them on wagons and eventually on motor trucks.