Marmon-Herrington
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive manufacturing |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Founder | Walter C. Marmon, Arthur William Sidney Herrington |
| Headquarters | Louisville , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Axles, transfer cases, trucks, trolleybuses |
| Owner | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Parent | Marmon Holdings |
Marmon-Herrington Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer specializing in axles and transfer cases designed for trucks and various other vehicles. Established in 1931 by business partners Walter C. Marmon and Arthur William Sidney Herrington, the firm originally concentrated on military vehicle production and all-wheel-drive (AWD) system conversions. A notable collaboration with Ford Motor Company led to the creation of AWD trucks and commercial vehicles. Initially based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Marmon-Herrington later moved its headquarters to Louisville, Kentucky and currently operates as a subsidiary under Berkshire Hathaway. Its range of products encompasses military and commercial axles, transfer cases, trucks, as well as trolleybuses.
History
Emerging in 1931 as a successor to the high-end Marmon Motor Car Company, Marmon-Herrington redirected its efforts from luxury automobiles to manufacturing AWD trucks during the economic difficulties of the Great Depression. The partnership between Walter C. Marmon and former military engineer Arthur W. Herrington shaped the company’s focus toward producing military-grade vehicles and converting existing models into AWD configurations. Initial contracts included manufacturing 33 T-1 4x4 aircraft refueling trucks equipped with Hercules engines, later expanding to supply 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles for both U.S. and Persian military forces used in logistics and towing operations.
By 1932, the company pioneered the first AWD truck-trailer combination and developed heavy-duty trucks for pipeline construction projects in Iraq. Marmon-Herrington’s distinctive strength was its ability to convert standard vehicles into AWD variants, securing domestic and international military contracts. Their Ford-based AWD conversions earned widespread recognition within armed forces.
In 1936, Marmon-Herrington produced the T9 Ford–Marmon-Herrington half-track for the U.S. Army, introducing design features that were subsequently incorporated into World War II armored half-tracks. Additionally, the company engineered armored cars for South African military use, which were extensively deployed by British Commonwealth troops during the North Africa Campaign.
Throughout World War II, the U.S. Ordnance Department appointed Marmon-Herrington to develop the M22 Locust airborne light tank following a request from the British Air Commission, underscoring its prominent role in military vehicle innovation.
The firm also manufactured specialized airport fire apparatus (MB-1 and MB-5 models), primarily serving U.S. military needs; postwar versions marketed as "Brush Breakers" targeted civilian firefighting sectors.
Marmon-Herrington’s expansion is characterized by a concentration on specialized vehicle manufacturing supported by substantial government contracts, leveraging advanced engineering capabilities and strategic collaborations to sustain its influence in military and commercial vehicle component markets.
Trolley buses
In 1946, Marmon-Herrington ventured into the transit bus industry by introducing its first electric trolley bus, marking a strategic shift from wartime vehicle production. Their trolley coaches featured lightweight monocoque construction combined with robust double-girder sidewalls, resulting in some of the most successful postwar models. Key customers included the Chicago Transit Authority, which placed an unprecedented order of 349 units during 1951–52, alongside other urban transit systems such as those in San Francisco, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. The principal models—TC44, TC48, and TC49—were designated according to their seating capacities. Limited-run variants like the TC40 and TC46 served particular clients before being superseded by the TC48.
Between 1946 and 1959, Marmon-Herrington manufactured a total of 1,624 trolley buses at its Indianapolis facility. San Francisco phased out its fleet by 1976; Philadelphia followed suit in 1981. Several of these vehicles were later resold to Mexico City's Servicio de Transportes Eléctricos (STE), where they remained operational into the early 2000s after undergoing body refurbishments by Mexican company Moyada. By the late 1950s, demand in North America declined due to transit system closures and fleet modernization efforts. The company's last trolley bus deliveries were exports to Recife and Belo Horizonte in Brazil—65 and 50 TC49 units respectively—shipped during 1958–59; some continued service until as late as 2001.
The Illinois Railway Museum maintains two former Chicago Transit Authority Marmon-Herrington trolley coaches along with one originating from Milwaukee.
1960s to present
During the early 1960s, ownership of the company transferred to the Pritzker family, who ceased complete vehicle production and sold truck designs to Marmon Motor Company, a firm operating under the Marmon brand name. In 1963, Marmon-Herrington's principal manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Indianapolis were shut down. The remaining business units merged into an entity that took on the name Marmon Group in 1964. Throughout the Cold war era, Marmon expanded its product range by entering the aircraft, missile, and rocket ground support equipment sectors via its Chicago-based subsidiary Cardair.
Currently, Marmon-Herrington focuses on transforming commercial trucks into all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles and produces transmissions, transfer cases, and axles designed for heavy-duty applications. Its components are utilized in both contemporary military vehicles and commercial trucks. Additionally, the company provides front-drive axles and transfer cases tailored for medium- and heavy-duty truck markets.
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway purchased a controlling interest in Marmon Holdings, which includes both the Marmon Group and Marmon-Herrington, thereby enhancing its industrial manufacturing holdings.