Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company- A New Early 20th Century Business in Longmeadow

On the corner of Longmeadow Street and Edgewood Avenue a stucco building was built in 1916.  It was advertised as containing four stores, a garage and a large hall that could seat 400 people.  It was built by Chaplin & Chaplin and the cost was about $35,000.  

[click image to enlarge]
Photo: Emerson Collection
Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth/ Longmeadow Historical Society

A business that was located in this block from 1918- 1924 was the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company.  Charles H. Martin was the president and treasurer.  Herman G. Farr was the secretary.  The business office was located at 21 Besse Place in Springfield, MA.  This business specialized in manufacturing Martin Rocking Fifth Wheels.  A Fifth Wheel is the name given to the specialized hitch that allows a trailer to attach to a motorized vehicle. It was a rounded shape, so it was called a Fifth Wheel (see figure 1 below).  The Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel rocked on hinges, so the trailer behind the vehicle was able to adjust to rocky and unpaved roads/ streets.  In the past horses had been pulling wagons with cargo to the destinations.  This mechanism made it easier for motorized vehicles to be used (see figure 2 below).

Figure 1: Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Advertisement
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Figure 2

Mr. Martin had moved to the Springfield, MA area at the turn of the 20th century to work in Springfield's automotive industry.  He designed a tractor for the Knox Company (in Springfield) when he was employed there.  After partnering with Herman Farr, another inventor who received a patent for this product, the Martin Rocking Fifth Wheel Company was formed.

This invention made shipping products from one location to another so much easier.  The term "fifth wheel" is still used today for the connecting mechanism that tractor trailers currently use!          

 Sources:  Springfield Republican- Jun 9, 1918, Apr 10, 1920, May 11, 1922 and May 18, 1922, 1918 Springfield, MA Directory, 1918 and 1920 Longmeadow, MA Directory.

Written by Judy Moran