Coachbult.com - Moline Body Company



Moline Mfg. Corp. - 1910s-1932 - Moline Body Company 1932-1981 - Moline, Illinois - 1981-present - Koenig Body Co. - Peoria & Rock Island, Illinois

Unrelated to the Moline Body Corp. 1921-1925, the manufacturer of production automobile bodies for the Velie, Pan American, R&V (Moline)-Knight, and Stearns-Knight.

Moline Body Company – Moline, Illinois 1932-1981 – Primarily Truck Bodies.

Robert Lucius Shoecraft was born 18 Nov 1905 in Clinton, IA. Graduated from the University of Illinois 1927. In 1930 he began work at Moline Manufacturing Corp. until 1932. At the height of the depression, he took over the company renaming it Moline Body Company. - After college, I had a couple of jobs before working for Bawden Brothers in Davenport, Iowa, developing advertising programs and selling advertising.

In 1930, I went to work for Moline Mfg. Corp., where a wide variety of things were made including truck bodies. I acted as Advertising Mgr., then Sales Mgr., but the "Depression" got us in 1932. Banks were closed, money was very scarce, but I went into business for myself with plenty of guts, optimism, bluff and no money! I became a liquidator of Moline Manufacturing's inventory. I hired numerous salesman (on straight commission) made a fair gain for myself.

Those depression days were tough, to say the least. About 25% of the working people were out of work. Moline Body Company had a struggling early existence, but by 1934 had a few employees and I had enough courage to get married! -

Philipp V Koenig, president and chief executive officer of Koenig Body & Equipment in Moline and Peoria IL, died April 20, 2002, at Methodist Medical Center in Metamora IL. He was 58. Born Sept 3, 1943, in Moline, Koenig began working for Moline Body Co there in 1962. In 1981, he purchased the company and served as president of Koenig Body & Equipment until his death. He also was a member of the National Truck Equipment Association.

Unrelated to the Moline Body Corp. 1921-1925, the manufacturer of production automobile bodies for the Velie, Pan American, R&V (Moline)-Knight, and Stearns-Knight.

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Robert Lucius Shoecraft: born 18 NOV 1905 in Clinton, IA. He married Kathryn Teresa Swift 24 NOV 1934 in Davenport, Iowa. He Graduated from Erie High School 1923 and the University of Illinois with a bachelor of Science degree in 1927. In 1930 he began work at Moline Manufacturing Corp. until 1932. At the height of the depression, he took over the company renaming it Moline Body Company. He was Chairman of the Moline City Fire and Police Commission (without pay) for 21 years. He lived at 2933 Forest Hills court, Moline. Robert died 19 MAR 1976, in Moline, IL at 70 years of age and buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Moline, IL.

His son, Robert Logan Shoecraft was born 12 AUG 1939 and died 08 January 1994 at 54 years of age.

Robert Logan Shoecraft: born 12 AUG 1939 in Moline, IL. Married 03 JUN 1961 at St. Anne's Church East Moline, IL. to Dolores Evelyn Braet. He graduated from Moline High School in 1957. President of Moline Body Company. Robert died 08 JAN 1994 in Mesa, AZ at 54 years of age his body cremated. His children did not enter into the body-building field.

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In 1980 our father PHILIPP KOENIG purchased the MOLINE BODY COMPANY,where his father GENE KOENIG had served as branch manager since 1951.

1934-1952 – GENE KOENIG BEGAN WORKING FOR MOLINE BODY COMPANY, GRAIN BODIES, SCHOOL BUSSES AND DUMP BODIES WERE THE MAIN BUSINESS OF THE DAY

1981 – GENE’S SON PHILIPP KOENIG PURCHASED THE PEORIA, IL BRANCH OF MOLINE BODY AND THE KOENIG BODY COMPANY WAS BORN, THE FOCUS WAS GRAIN BODIES AND DUMP BODIES

1982 – PHILIPP PURCHASED THE MOLINE IL BRANCH OF MOLINE BODY AND KOENIG BODY OF MOLINE WAS BORN

83-91 – KOENIG BODY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A LEADER IN THE TRUCK EQUIPMENT BUSINESS WITH EMPHASIS ON THE MUNICIPAL AND CONTRACTOR MARKETS FOR DUMP BODIES AND SNOW AND ICE CONTROL

1992 – FIRE DESTROYED THE ORIGINAL PEORIA BUILDING AND A NEW BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE ORIGINAL SITE

1999 – KOENIG BODY PURCHASED A COMPLETE CYLINDER REBUILDING COMPANY.

2002 – THE MOLINE IL BRANCH HAD TO MOVE TO A LARGER BUILDING IN ROCK ISLAND IL

2002 – PHILIPP’S SON MARK KOENIG HAS TAKEN THE JOB OF PRESIDENT OF KOENIG BODY. UNDER MARKS LEADERSHIP WE WILL REMAIN THE MID-WEST’S LEADER IN THE TRUCK EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY

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Builder's Name: Moline Body Co.
Category:       Commercial Body Builders
Dates:          1932 - 1981
Location:       Moline & Peoria, Illinois
Source of Info: My Grandfather and father
Website:        http://pages.prodigy.net/rs.shoecraft/index.htm
Your Name:      Robert Logan Shoecraft II

"Lucious Shoecraft" to read "Robert Lucious Shoecraft"