Charles H. Martin of Martin Rocking 5th Wheel
Charles H. Martin was able to capitalize on Herman Farr's invention of the 5th wheel
August's Motto, You can pull more than you can carry
Charles Hay Martin was born October 8, 1867 in Findley, Ohio to parents John Calhoun Martin (b:1839) and Florence Hay (b:1839). John and Florence were the parents of four children; Charles Hay Martin (b: 1867, Findley, Ohio), John A. Martin (b: 1870, Ohio), William C. Martin (b: 1873, Indiana), and Florence H. Martin (b: 1877, Indiana).
Martin’s first job was traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery company in Ohio. At 21 he worked for the W.J. White Company. He went to Europe to introduce White Chewing Gum. Besides traveling Europe, his assorted sales jobs took him all over the United States as well. In 1899 he pursued an interest in the automobile industry. This interest brought him to Springfield, Massachusetts where he partnered with Hinsdale Smith in the purchase of an automobile company. He eventually ended up working first as a salesman, and later as an engineer for the Knox Motor Company.
While employed by Knox as a salesman, Charles spent two years in Puerto Rico, in the Spanish West Indies introducing the island’s first automobiles. After leaving Knox he became sales manager for R.L. Morgan of Morgan Truck. While at Morgan he designed a road tractor which he later sold to Knox Motor Company. The vehicle was given the name Knox Motor Tractor.
It was while working at Knox that Martin met Herman G. Farr, also an engineer for Knox. Farr had developed a device that was destined to revolutionize the semi-trailer industry, the Fifth Wheel.
Martin’s first job was traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery company in Ohio. At 21 he worked for the W.J. White Company. He went to Europe to introduce White Chewing Gum. Besides traveling Europe, his assorted sales jobs took him all over the United States as well. In 1899 he pursued an interest in the automobile industry. This interest brought him to Springfield, Massachusetts where he partnered with Hinsdale Smith in the purchase of an automobile company. He eventually ended up working first as a salesman, and later as an engineer for the Knox Motor Company.
While employed by Knox as a salesman, Charles spent two years in Puerto Rico, in the Spanish West Indies introducing the island’s first automobiles. After leaving Knox he became sales manager for R.L. Morgan of Morgan Truck. While at Morgan he designed a road tractor which he later sold to Knox Motor Company. The vehicle was given the name Knox Motor Tractor.
It was while working at Knox that Martin met Herman G. Farr, also an engineer for Knox. Farr had developed a device that was destined to revolutionize the semi-trailer industry, the Fifth Wheel.
Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Co
In 1915 Martin founded the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company, acting as the company’s president. Farr’s invention was patented and the official documents listed Martin as the assignee. Farr’s invention would be the cornerstone product for the company. Farr became the company’s secretary for his contribution. Martin also created an automobile he dubbed the Scootmobile, a two passenger car weighing a mere 150 pounds. He advertised that it would get 75 miles to a gallon of gas and attain a speed of up to 30 mph. There is no evidence he was ever successful at selling his Scootmobile to a mass market.
Charles Martin married Julia Cobb of Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 5, 1893. They had one daughter, Mabel Florence born September 16, 1896 in Los Angeles, California. Mabel was a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Cornell University and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Cornell.
John A. Martin listed as the inventor of the Tractor Trailer Attachment, US1259120, patented March 12, 1918, was Charles Martin’s younger brother.
Charles Martin married Julia Cobb of Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 5, 1893. They had one daughter, Mabel Florence born September 16, 1896 in Los Angeles, California. Mabel was a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Cornell University and graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Cornell.
John A. Martin listed as the inventor of the Tractor Trailer Attachment, US1259120, patented March 12, 1918, was Charles Martin’s younger brother.
