Article
in Rudder Magazine on Feather Craft Boats
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| Rudder
magazine associated with www.ascb.org had an article by
Roger Schleicher about his discovery of a Feather Craft
Boat. |
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The
following information on the Dumas Boat Company was
copied from www.feathercraftboats.com,
another fine source for Feather Craft information.
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Classic
Boating article by Ray Stockwell
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After
an interview with Frank Kibler in January 2003, Ray
Stockwell wrote an article for Classic Boating Magazine.
Click on the links below to read his article. September/October
2003 issue of Classic Boating
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Contact
Classic Boating @ 262-567-4800 for a copy of the article.
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Pictures
from the article
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Feather
Craft Factory Photos
- July 2003 450 Bishop Street
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| On
a trip down to south Atlanta, Georgia to pick up my brother's
1958 Feather Craft Vagabond II, I stopped by the old Feather
Craft plant on 450 Bishop street and took several pictures. |
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Other
photos from the factory during the early production
days..
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Description:
Feather Craft Company Incorporated; 575 Marietta Street;
[Men fishing]
Date: 11/15/49 Box: LBCB49 Envelope: 110
Notes: 1 negative removed to cold storage. Box 49, Sheet
110. |
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Description:
Feather Craft Incorporated
Date: 12/31/51 Box: LBCB49 Envelope: 111
Notes: 3 negative removed to cold storage. Box 49, Sheet
111. |
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1956
picture of the Feather Craft Factory. |
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Maps
for the Feather Craft Factory
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Feather
Craft boats were built mainly in the State of Georgia.
The
Feather Craft Factory was located in Atlanta, Georgia.
The
different addresses for the various location in Atlanta:
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1951:
575 Marietta Street,N.W. - Atlanta, Georgia
1952: 450 Bishop Street, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia
(red pin)
1956: 450
Bishop Street, N.W. Atlanta 13, Georgia (red
pin)
1969: Industrial
Park Dr., P.O. Box 568, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30245
(Metro Atlanta, GA)
1956: In
Canada: Fleet Manufacturing Ltd, Fort Erie, Ontario
(Fleet Feather Craft)
19**:
Feather Craft of Canada, Welland, On.
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Feather
Craft History - Infomation written
by Lee Wangstad
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As
the name implies, Feather Craft boats were built as
a light-weight alternative to the wood boats of the
post-World War II market. "The company was founded
in 1947 by my unlce, W. Douglas Knight," remembers
Frank Kibler, who would later become president of
Feather Craft. "He was associated with J.T. Knight,
a metal dealer involved in scrap metals and aluminum
before he went out on his own. After the war years,
the aircraft companies were all shifting their production
to other goods. The Aluminum companies were looking
for new markets and gave us a lot of assistance in
gearing up for boat production."
Feather
Craft's unique barrelback design set it apart from
other products in the aluminum boat market. Once the
dominion of the large mahogany runabouts, the unique
tumblehome styling looked just right on the small
outboard runabouts.
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Click
on icon for Lee's article.... |
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Not
much history has yet been obtained for FEATHER CRAFT,
INC. of Atlanta, GA. This site would appreciate any
additional history that anyone out there has, including
factory pictures (exterior and interior). What little
that has been garnered has come from Mr. Frank M.
Kibbler (final operator of the company) and Mrs. Jackie
Slaton (a secretary of the Feather Craft company).
Feather Craft, Inc. of Atlanta, GA was founded by
W. D. (Doug) Knight in 1945. Mr. Knight owned and
served as president of the company until the late
sixties. The company was then sold to Mr. Frank M.
Kibbler, who operated the company until it closed.
The
company operated at three different locations in the
Metro Atlanta area. These were: 575 Marietta St. (off
Northside Dr.), 450 Bishop St. (off Northside Dr.
also) and its final location in Lawrenceville, GA.
In addition to U.S. production Feather Craft boats
were built by Fleet Manufacturing Ltd in Fort Erie,
Ontario Canada: Feather Craft, Inc. built many different
types of boats, but aluminum fishing boats were their
biggest sellers. Probably their most popular model
was the "Vagabond". This model was first manufactured
in 1951 and was designed by Mr. Ralph Aldredge. The
early versions were 14' 1" long and rated at 25 h.p..
By 1959 (last year of production) it had evolved into
a 14' 7" boat rated at 45 h.p.. Originally the Feather
Craft "Vagabond" was offered in aluminum color only,
but later it was also offered in anodized (not painted)
gold or blue (1957, 1958 and 1959). It was thought
that the colors were introduced to attract female
boaters.
These
are and continue to be some of the most unique and
well built aluminum boats ever produced. During the
later years of the company, military landing craft
and foot bridges were built for use in Vietnam. Experience
had already been gained during the Korean War for
this type of aluminum fabrication. Additionally, the
company manufactured components for other marine manufacturers.
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