What if trailers had a noble lineage, like a Great Dane? Right here in Savannah, the legacy of Great Dane trailers began. The Great Dane, not the dog, but the trailer company, started its journey in 1900 as the Savannah Blowpipe Company. Imagine, not sleek trailers, but sheet metal systems designed to move sawdust and woodchips in sawmills. By 1916, the company broadened its horizons, evolving into Steel Products Co., reflecting its diverse steelwork. Then came the Great Depression. Roosevelt’s New Deal spurred highway construction. Steel Products Co. seized the opportunity. They began designing trailers for freight hauling. The company assembled a team of experienced trailer builders. Their creations were dubbed “Great Danes,” inspired by the breed’s stature and strength. Initially, they produced flatbeds. By 1934, tank trailers and enclosed vans joined the Great Dane family. Each state had different regulations for truck size and weight. Great Dane’s innovative solution was to use thin, high-tensile steel, creating lighter yet robust trailers. During World War II, the company answered the call to produce heavy-duty trailers. Post-war, the demand for fresh produce surged. This led to the creation of their first refrigerated trailer in 1947. These “reefers,” initially cooled produce vans with ice bunkers and blowers, quickly evolved into the Sno-Zone Reefer line. The 1950s marked a pivotal moment for Great Dane. Eisenhower’s National Interstate and Defense Highways Act brought federal regulations for truck size and weight. Great Dane rose to the challenge, building bigger, longer, yet still lighter trailers. The aluminum van trailer and tandem axle became national staples. The company’s reach expanded with sales outlets throughout the Eastern United States. In 1958, Steel Products Co. officially became Great Dane Trailers, Inc. The company’s logo, the signature dog oval, transformed from black to red, symbolizing the change. The Great Dane continued its journey, venturing into piggyback trailers for railroads in 1961 and maritime containers in 1963. Although Great Dane’s manufacturing eventually moved from Savannah, the city remains a part of the company’s DNA. The Great Dane’s story is a testament to adaptation and innovation, a journey that began right here in Savannah.
Great Dane
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